Find a Job at Any Age

In a fiercely competitive job market, your job prospects vary based on age and experience.

Here’s a timeline for job seekers of all ages.

Your 20s: Time to Get it Going

Entry-level workers are having an especially hard time finding jobs. The unemployment rate among people in their early 20s was 13.8% in February, compared with 7.5% for those 25 years and older, according to the Bureau of Labor statistics. 

What’s worse: Newly unemployed mid-level workers are now competing with twenty-somethings for lower paying jobs. During your search, you may want to take what you can get and keep an eye out for something better. And don’t underestimate the value of face time.

“Networking is a contact sport,” says Jeff Hocking, managing director for northern California at Korn/Ferry International, an executive recruiting firm in northern California. “People in their 20s spend way too much time networking on their computer.”

Your 30s: Get Ready to Really Work

During budget cuts, mid-level employees are often the first to go because a bare bones staff needs both decision makers and grunt workers. So now may not be a good time to look for a bump up in job title.  You may actually have to take a pay cut or have to absorb the work of another person.

“With all these jobs cuts, people are forced to take jobs that are much broader than they’ve ever taken,” and have an extremely heavy workload, says Hocking. 
 
In your 30s, you might also want to re-evaluate your skill set and determine whether you’d qualify for a job in another field.

Your 40s: The Most Employable

“In their 40s, people are looking for stability more so than people on either end,” notes John Challenger, CEO of Challenger, Gray & Christmas, an employment consulting firm.

Although you might be worried about saving for retirement and saving for your kids’ education, you’ve got it made compared to other job seekers.  Workers in their 40s are probably the most employable, says Hocking.  “By now you have great experience and a great skill set, and you’re not considered to have less energy” than younger workers, he adds.

Your 50s: Re-examine and Reconnect

You may have made more money than ever at your last job. But if you’re searching for employment now, you’ll have to come to terms with possibly taking a pay cut, even at your age.