In Control at 50+: How to Succeed in the New World of Work

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Why Older Workers Rock

Before I launch into the substance of your job search toolkit, I would be remiss not to review the biggest factor in getting a job these days for those of us over 50—ageism. Sadly, it is deeply embedded in our culture, and it’s not going away. Myths endure about how older workers demand higher salaries than younger ones and cost organizations more in health insurance, or that they’re not committed for the long haul and will retire as soon as they can start drawing Social Security or Medicare kicks in at 65.

Then there’s the old chestnut about weak tech skills and reluctance to want to learn new ways of working, or not playing nicely with younger bosses or colleagues. These things generally aren’t said aloud, but trust ...