Career Services

We've Published Our May Newsletter.

See below to read one of the articles. Check out what else is happening with VCCS and the local employment market. Click here to view the complete Newsletter.

The Job Market: Issues Facing the Older Worker

Unfortunately, bad things can and do happen and getting downsized, right sized or laid off, finding a new job after years of employment is a daunting task.

Statiscally speaking

The proportion of older workers in the Canadian work force is growing significantly. It is forecast that the population aged 45 to 64 will represent 48% of the working-age population by 2015.

Recruitment of younger workers is becoming more difficult, as employers are competing for a lower number of candidates

Studies show that most employers do not target older workers to fill their positions

The emerging large group of older workers who are unemployed initially entered the workforce by leaving school at 16 or by immigrating to Canada. Whether displaced, retired or downsized these individuals are finding that looking for work in these times has drastically changed.

A resume and cover letter are necessary tools. Basic computer skills are increasingly necessary as many postings are on various electronic job banks and resumes are mostly sent via email or downloaded on company websites.

This group is also learning that the skills that they are rightfully proud of - stability, working independently, and the willingness and ability to follow instructions precisely, while still important, have taken a back seat to what employers today consider as in demand skills coping with constant change, teamwork, continuous learning, and technological skills which were unknown a generation ago.

Older workers are also generally faced with the necessity of upgrading skills such as computers, completion of high school and in many cases post secondary education is required.

The other issue during times of economic downturn is that when looking for another position, the question is: What will get you in front of the interviewer? Many job seekers tamper with past experience and this could be a trap for both you and the employer. If the result is you do get the job, it could leave you bored or disgruntled after a few months. And for the employer, it is not a great scenario to hire someone who is overqualified for the position only to have them jump ship as soon as the job market loosens. A different tactic is to create that new resume, making it clear exactly what you are looking for. Use all of your experience to tell a prospective employer why you will make his/her operation more successful