Many Texas residents who are 55 or older may find that they have difficulty finding a new job after becoming unemployed. In fact, an analysis of data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics found that U.S. workers who were in that age bracket were out of work an average of 54.3 weeks as of December 2014, more than twice the length of time for workers who were younger.
The findings are not surprising, considering that approximately 64 percent of workers have reported that they experienced age discrimination in some form. Age discrimination is often caused by a number of assumptions, including the one that younger individuals are more excited about their jobs, are more invested in developing skills and that older workers are slowing down as they head towards retirement. However, many of these assumptions have been shown to be untrue.
There are some suggestions for older workers looking to start new jobs. First, they should use their network. Offering to share valuable skills and services, like mentoring and consulting, can also help. Older workers should also continue to maintain a polished image, including a professional wardrobe. Workers should be aware that, depending on local laws, they may not have to list the dates they earned degrees.
A federal law enacted in 1967 prohibits workplace-associated age discrimination under certain circumstances. It covers people 40 years of age and older, and applies to the interview and hiring processes as well as to actions taken on the job. People who feel that they have been unfairly treated by a prospective employer due to their age may want to have the assistance of an attorney in filing a complaint with the EEOC.
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