The man behind the desk, an executive recruiter, said, 'Tm Chester Caruthers, please sit down." When they were seated, Caruthers said to Smith, "You have a high energy level." Smith was off to a good start.
First, he was properly dressed. Navy blue suit, white shirt, dark blue socks with a small pattern, a good-looking red tie, and highly polished black shoes. When he shook hands with the head hunter, he gave him a firm handshake and looked straight at him. He did everything right. It’s imperative that the over-50 job hunters look sharp, be sharp, and give the impression of being an enthusiastic and vital person who radiates energy and confidence. Watching your weight and diet and exercising regularly are an essential part of your job-hunting campaign. If you present a washed-out image at interviews, you'll have a difficult time getting the job you want.
Create a Winning Image
Smith had all the right things going for him. The head-hunter noted immediately that the applicant was a confident, well-dressed, high-energy person by the way he walked into the room. You are onstage the minute you walk through the interviewer's door, and he or she will be watching you closely for the immediate impression you create, which will be positive or negative. You may be able to overcome a negative image as the interview progresses, but the odds are against it. Start with a positive impression and you increase your chances for success. You never get a second chance to make a first impression.
The Question of Age
"How old are you?"
That was the next question the headhunter asked. Smith smiled and said, "I'm 39 going on 51."
The headhunter casually remarked, "You look much younger than 51," then switched quickly to the interview and the job at hand.
Face it, the subject of age may come up during interviews even though this question is forbidden by law. But some interviewers, intentionally, or because of ignorance or insensitivity, may ask it. How do you handle it?
There is no easy solution. You are looking for a job. You don't want to irk the interviewer and possibly destroy your chances of getting a job. One way to is to gloss over it as Tom Smith did in the preceding anecdote. He made a quick decision to let it pass and go on with the interview. Your answer to the age question depends on your reaction to the situation. The best response under most circumstances is to tell the interviewer that you don't think your age is a problem. You are applying for the job because of your experience, training, and highly qualified skills. Then specify how and why you should be considered for the position in question.
James Challenger, president of Challenger, Gray & Christmas, a Chicago-based outplacement company, says, "Tell them."
A Touch of Humor, Tom Jackson, chairman of Equinox Corp., a New York City human resource consulting company, suggests you might use humor. For example, "I’m old enough to do this job, really." Or, "I don't mind telling you my age, but first let me ask if there are any age restrictions to this job."
In this case, says Jackson, you are gently reminding the interviewer that this is not a proper question to ask. The best answer to the question is to give your age. Some people deduct five or ten years from their ages, but there's always the possibility of being discovered. If you are con fronted with an extreme case of age discrimination (which is difficult to prove) you are better off continuing your job search.
The interview is your chance to claim the job by your performance. Unfortunately, the most qualified people don't always get the job; those who are most adept at interview techniques are the ones who do. It's up to you to convince the interviewer that you are the best person for the job, It'§ that simple.
Dealing with a Younger Person
As a 50-plus professional you've got to be ready for anything. Most important at an interview is to radiate an attitude of confidence. Job hunting today is far different from a short few years ago. Nowadays you have to think in terms of a multicultural workplace with employees from a variety of ethnic backgrounds. You may be interviewed by a black, a Hispanic, an Asian, or by a person half your age or younger. You have to be comfortable talking with such people, and convince them that you are the best person for the job because of the skills and the experience you bring to the workplace. This is a difficult assignment.
When dealing with interviewers, don't look surprised or make a comment such as "I was not expecting to be inter-viewed by a woman." You should appear accepting and at ease to the interviewer.
When interviewing with a younger person, be easygoing and relaxed in the way you comport yourself. If you are kept waiting, don't complain, indicate annoyance, or impatiently tap your feet or fidget. Always be gracious and flexible, to overcome any prejudices the young person may have about dealing with an older individual.
Under the Microscope
Another important point: You are being observed the minute you walk into the reception room.
Treat the secretary behind the desk the same as you would the interviewer or the president of the company. If you are rude or abrupt with the secretary, or complain because you were kept waiting, the word will surely get back to the person you are there to see. More than one job opportunity has been lost by an insensitive job seeker who didn't know the importance of being polite to office personnel. Remember, courtesy doesn't cost anything, but it can pay big dividends.
If a secretary tells his or her boss what a nice person that was, so polite and pleasant — it goes into the plus column. It wouldn't be the first time a secretary's comments resulted in a job hunter's landing a job-or losing it.
