Employment strategies for 50-somethings

The job market can be rough for anyone, but it can be especially challenging for older Americans.

"Age discrimination is a very real phenomenon, especially in industries such as technology and media," says Janet Scarborough, founder of Bridgeway Career Development in Seattle.

During economic downturns when companies look to downsize, often they target older workers because they're usually the highest paid with the biggest benefit packages, says David Grinberg, a spokesman for the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission in Washington, D.C.

More than 20 percent of the EEOC cases are related to age discrimination. But, "a lot of cases go unreported," Grinberg says. "People come to the EEOC as a last resort. Age discrimination is a significant problem."

Women in particular face more age discrimination in the job market, says Donald L. Davis, vice president of work force development for the National Council on the Aging, or NCOA.

What's an older job seeker to do?
Despite the age-related obstacles, persistence, a positive attitude and a little homework can go a long way toward landing a job.

If you are over 50 and looking to jump into the job market for one reason or another, check out these 13 tips for getting back in the game.

1. Take on temporary or consulting work
2. Volunteer
3. Think outside the box
4. Keep a positive attitude
5. Stay fit. Don't be artificial
6. Don't try to hide age-identifying information
7. Be flexible
8. Highlight your empty nest
9. Keep your skills up to date
10. Open your own business
11. Network, network, network!
12. Seek out older-worker-friendly companies
13. Stay in touch with youth

1. Take on temporary or consulting work
Register with a temporary agency. You'll be able to generate some income and build your resume while you continue to hunt for a better job or even some project-based work.

With consulting or temporary work, the employer has an opportunity to "date before marrying" by hiring individuals who agree to complete a time-specific project.

"It is an easier sell to convince someone to hire you for three months to do a particular job than to convince the same person to hire you on a permanent basis," says Scarborough. If during that stint you make a good impression and yield top-notch results, your age variable fades into the background.

"Look for and talk to companies about project-based work," suggests Tamara Erickson, a director of The Concours Group, a management consulting and research firm in Kingman, Texas.

Companies that used to turn to temporary agencies when a worker was out on short-term disability or maternity leave now are turning to retired workers to fill the spots.

Or, if you've left a job or have been downsized, let the company know you are interested in part-time or short-term assignments, suggests Erickson, who says you may have an advantage because you know the company and the culture.

2. Volunteer
Join the board of a professional organization or volunteer for a charitable endeavor where you'll work side-by-side with other professionals in the service of a good cause. You'll have the opportunity to build relationships with a wider network of people.

Hiring managers prefer to hire individuals they know, like and trust, says Scarborough. "The more positive experiences a hiring manager has with a prospective candidate, the less age matters," she says.

This means older job seekers should spend less time on strategies such as cold calling prospective employers and more time gaining experiences that allow hiring managers to evaluate their skills and value up close.

3. Think outside the box
People are doing some very innovative things with compensation packages, says Erickson. For example, some people are working on a project or on a part-time basis for health-care benefits alone.

One older worker bargained for a year of health-care benefits in exchange for working three or four months without salary. He was able to take a spot at another company for the remainder of the year working for a salary without benefits -- making him an attractive hire.

"You have to be innovative in this work climate," says Erickson.

4. Keep a positive attitude
Employers want to hire people with upbeat attitudes. If you're having a personal pity party, feeling like a victim or holding a grudge, you probably won't land the job.

Don't be turned off by ads that might have language that seems off-putting. For instance, an ad that asks for "high-energy people" is usually just a code word for "young," says Erickson. But don't be turned off by it. Go into the interview and demonstrate that you have high energy. Be upbeat.

5. Stay fit. Don't be artificial
"Don't bother pretending to be younger than you are," advises David Carpe, a principal and founder of Clew, a human resources consulting firm in Boston.

"Forget about the botox injections, cosmetic surgery or other superficial stuff unless you are that person. You'll just come across as desperate."