At our Job Fair last week, I spoke with Norma, a recent college graduate who was having trouble competing for jobs with younger graduates, Norma, here are some more ideas:

According to the AARP, in 2004, it took workers 55 and older 25.8 weeks to find a job, compared to 18.9 weeks for younger worker. Basically the data is saying that the older you are, the longer it can take to get a job. As the American population ages (by 2012 almost 20% of the U.S. workforce will be 55 or over) the issue of older americans needing to compete for jobs will continue to grow.

What can you do to address age discrimination and promote your candidacy for employment? First age discrimination is a crime and if you feel you have been released from employment or discriminated against because of your age, I encourage you to seek appropriate help and guidance.
The following are strategies you can implement to help expedite your job search and to find gainful, and meaningful, employment, whatever your age.

Emphasize Your Experience
When writing your resume, there's no need to include every job you've ever had. Include only the most recent positions (10 - 15 years) and, if you attended college you don't need to list your graduation dates.

Network
Networking is still one of the best ways to find a job. Regardless of when you graduated, if your alma mater has a career network use it to contact alumni in your field of interest. Use online and offline networking resources to make connections to help with your job search.

Get Help
If you're struggling with your job search, consider seeking assistance. There are no-cost programs provided by the Maine Career Centers, non-profit groups, and local libraries, for example, that can assist.

Keep Your Skills Current
Everyone applying for employment, regardless of age, needs to be computer literate. If you can't send an email, or don't know what Instant Message is, take a computer class. There are classes offered, free or low-cost, by continuing education centers, churches, libraries, and school. The more current your skills, the better your prospects for finding employment.

Don't Give Up
Job searching typically isn't easy, regardless of how old you are. So, don't give up. It might take a while to find a job, but, there are employers who understand the value of an older worker with maturity, life experience, and skills.