How to Prepare for a Job Interview Over 50

Interviewing for a job over the age of 50 presents age related advantages and challenges. You have a wealth of experience to bring to the table, but your potential employer might wonder about your energy level or ability to learn new skills. Prepare to counter stale age related assumptions and let your years of experience make you a top candidate.

Instructions

1. Prepare for difficult interview questions. Challenge the perceptions of an interviewer who thinks you might have difficulty working under the supervision of a young person.

2. Be positive about adapting to new technologies. Respond with enthusiasm and energy, and give examples from other jobs where you learned new skills or embraced change.

3. Know your rights. The Age Discrimination in Employment Act protects job seekers over 40 from discrimination in hiring due to age. Your employer can ask about your ability to perform the job, not your disabilities due to the Americans with Disabilities Act.

4. Explain any gaps in employment on your resume. Be proactive about explaining gaps during the interview, as the interviewer might not notice them until later. Explain what you did, not what you didn't do. Include volunteering, family budgeting and organizing a child's sports team.

5. Highlight the skills salient to the job you're applying for. If you have a 30-year work history, the interviewer can be overwhelmed in his attempt to filter through your experience. Research the company, so you can focus your response.

6. Ask questions in the interview to highlight your extensive experience. For example, you can ask the interviewer if she has any questions about your qualifications that you haven't addressed yet. This allows you to highlight areas of your career history your resume glosses over.