Because of the growing labor shortage, many businesses cannot fill vacant positions. For older workers, this creates an opportunity to reenter the workforce or continue working when they might have otherwise retired. To underscore the size of the problem facing employers, experts predict that between now and 2030, the percentage of workers over 65 will grow faster than any other age group.

With these facts in mind, if you are 60 or older and want to continue working for whatever reason, be it to stay social and connected to your community or reduce debt, many employers will be interested in hiring you.

Preparing for the job hunt

Reentering the workforce from retirement, or staying in the workforce after retirement age, may require more effort than earlier in your career. Yet there’s a lot you can offer a potential employer. Here are some recommendations to help you improve your chances of landing a job.  

Review job postings for critical qualifications

Identify the types of roles you’d like to pursue and the minimum experience and qualifications employers expect of candidates. Don’t be discouraged if you do not meet the minimum requirements, as you may be able to learn those skills before applying or shortly after landing the job. When you review the job postings, make sure you take note of the experience and qualifications you already possess, as this will help you develop a cover letter and interview for the position.

Refresh your resume

Many companies use technology to vet candidates by scanning their resumes and cover letters. Make sure you incorporate words and phrases included in the job postings you’ve reviewed in your resume. If the application requires a cover letter, highlight your experience and professional accomplishments and how they relate to the company and the position it would like to fill using the same keywords and phrases.

Create a LinkedIn profile

Depending on the type of job you want, you may find it makes sense to create a new LinkedIn profile or refresh an existing one. Connect with people you know, including those you’ve worked with in the past and those employed with companies you’d like to work with.
 
LinkedIn also offers free and fee-based continuing education classes, so you can satisfy the minimum requirements for a role or add new skills to improve your resume. You can also research a potential employer on LinkedIn, including recent posts from the company, hiring trends, and key decision-makers in the hiring process.

Expand your knowledge

To increase your confidence and learn from industry experts, set aside time to immerse yourself in learning about a potential employer and its industry. Reading industry publications and articles about the organization can improve your understanding of the current operating environment. And when the company schedules an interview, you can share how your knowledge and experience could help the organization tackle some of its current problems.

Broaden your horizon

While landing a role in an industry you worked in previously may prove the easiest, consider applying for roles in other sectors. For example, much of the healthcare sector faces critical staffing shortages for administrative, clinical, and professional positions and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. The cybersecurity sector faces a similar staff shortage, with some organizations willing to train employees without experience in the field.

Practice how to talk about your experience

To win over hiring managers reluctant to hire older individuals, practice discussing the skills, experience, and accomplishments most relevant to a potential employer. Focus on the breadth and depth of your experience and how your potential employer would benefit from hiring you.
 
As workforce demographics shift, businesses must rely on older workers to meet their staffing needs. If you wish to continue working into your 60s and beyond, plenty of employers with open positions would welcome hiring you. In an era when the demand for talent far outstrips supply, you can reimagine your career and retirement on your own terms. 

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