Older workers more settled and secure

Sarah Kearney says older workers are usually more settled and secure

Mature-age people can offer workplaces such an extensive wealth of skills and knowledge that businesses should recognise their potential.

This is the finding from new research that shows 73 per cent of Australians believe that, by the age of 50, finding new employment is practically impossible.

The survey was conducted by career building and networking site linkme.com.au.

It found that most thought getting a job after the age of 45 or 50 was almost impossible.

"Not surprising," says Campbell Sallabank, the CEO of linkme.com.au who also said there is a general reluctance among businesses to hire mature-aged workers.

"It is difficult [for them] to find jobs because some employers get caught up with having a young and dynamic office environment and hire only employees who fit that image," he says.

However, Mr Sallabank believes mature-aged workers represent such an untapped resource in the jobs market that those who ignore them are doing so at their own peril.

"The big thing is that they have a tremendous depth of experience and are a latent workforce ready to work," he said.

"These people might not even be counted as job hunters, but if you can tap in, they are a highly experienced workforce who can provide a valuable levelling influence on a younger office."
Managing director of international workplace assessment company SHL, Sarah Kearney, agrees.

She said mature workers not only inject expertise in their work environment, but exhibit different and often more positive motivations.

"Older employees are more settled and secured. They don't require mentors, so are less intense and less needy," she said.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the average working Australian is 36.4 years old.

Add to this the ageing population and talks of possible labour shortages, and it is inevitable older workers will feature more prominently on the employment landscape.

Among advice offered to mature-age workers includes rewriting resumes to make them achievement-oriented and punchier, and conducting a skills audit to identify overlooked aptitudes in a CV.

Directly approaching employers to impress them with their skills can also give older employees an advantage.

Above all, Ms Kearney says mature-age workers rely on attributes that never fail to impress people.

"Employers are looking for things like reliability, dependability and people they can trust. These are the traits that are much harder to teach," she said.

The Sunday Telegraph, Sunday, July 15 2007