Finding a Job Over 60: Everything You Need to Know

Nothing makes our day more than hearing stories from our hired members. Everybody has a different story, but there is great advice and a boost of motivation for other job seekers in each one.

While job searching can be tough, finding a job as a senior citizen comes with its own set of challenges. Snagajob member, Linnea, just landed a job at a major department store! She is now actively out of retirement at 65 years young. Here’s how she got her fresh start:

Linnea's job search:

“My recent job search started when I hit the button to apply for a department store and Snagajob magically appeared. I followed all the instructions and created a profile. After being out of the workforce for over 10 years, I watched all the Snagajob videos that addressed the common interview questions. I took notes, answered the questions for myself and wrote them on index cards. I worked on my resume and cover letter, then submitted a couple of applications. Two days later, I received an invitation for a group interview.

I practiced my questions with my index cards in my hands as I waited in the break room for our interview. We were asked one question to begin with, “Tell me about yourself.” Each person answered in the circle of 10. When it was my turn, I was the only one who began with a thank you to the manager for inviting me to interview. As an old timer, this is a past practice that was drilled in, but no other applicant said thank you at the beginning of the interview.

Next, the manager asked several questions to which anyone in the group could respond to or not. There was an easy atmosphere of conversation created by the manager. I felt confident and comfortable. 

I thanked him again at the end with a handshake. Later in the day, I went back to shop. I was able to thank the manager again for the opportunity. It is always important to send a ‘thank you’ note after an interview. Three days later, I received a call for employment and was hired. The next day we filled out all the paperwork and received some training. 

My advice for older job seekers is to use Snagajob to assist with your search. I received daily emails for job alerts. I so appreciated the personality survey on Snagajob and found it very accurate for describing me and who I am. Thank you for this fantastic site. I have already referred several people to it.”

Key Takeaways:

Thanks again for sharing, Linnea! Some great takeaways here are:

1. Don’t overthink it. Age ain’t nothing, but a number. Notice Linnea didn’t bring any unnecessary attention to her age or employment gap. Focus on your strengths and the employer will too.

2. Be yourself. As a retiree, you may feel like it’s a whole new world out there, but the basics are still the same. Preparation, professionalism and a positive attitude are all you need to succeed.

3. Go the extra mile. From making index cards to practice and going out of her way to thank the interviewer, Linnea made sure she stood out, which is especially important in a group interview setting! Showing how passionate you are about the position and the company will always give you a leg up on the competition.