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55-plus influx: Recruiting Boomer job seekers

More 55-plus Americans are working now than ever before.

More and more, those in the 55+ age group are ditching their rocking chairs for office chairs and either remaining in the workplace past “retirement age” or returning to work after they had already declared themselves retired. In fact, only 11% of Boomers plan to stop working all together when they reach retirement age, according to AARP. And older workers can be just as computer savvy as those straight out of college. The same study by AARP also suggests that 82% of Boomers use the Internet to check email, download music or movies, instant message and perform financial transactions. So what does all of this mean for you, the employers? It means you need to learn how to leverage the skills they can bring to the table.

First, let’s go over the benefits of hiring ubiquitous boomer job seekers:

• They don’t have wandering eyes. Older workers aren’t necessarily looking to advance their career, but instead just want some extra money for vacations, financial stability for their family or want something to occupy their time. This translates to a lower turnover rate and loyalty to your business because they won’t be looking for the next best thing or a bigger paycheck.

• Less bogus sick days. Unlike teens and students who are known for ditching work to do things like go to the mall or just sleep in late, employees 55 and older have already played that game. They’re not only more responsible and mature, but have an established work ethic and have probably felt the brunt of how much extra work fake sick days can cause for other employees.

• Smiles are contagious. In an effort to maintain a certain quality of life that retirement and other pay don’t provide them, older employees sometimes work simply because they want to. They’re looking to interact with other people, gain skills in a field that interests them or simply use their time productively. This means they genuinely want to be at work and are more pleasant to be around.

In order to leverage the skills and experience these employees can offer, highlight in job postings benefits such as 401(k) contributions, health insurance, a friendly work environment, free on-the-job training and accommodations for employees with physical limitations, and include how long typical shifts last. Also, make sure to note that you never discriminate based on age. If you employ mainly younger workers, ask them to be open and welcoming, and let them know that even younger managers and supervisors can learn a lot from an older employee. You’ll be glad you did.