Rather than answer a reader’s letter in this column, I wanted to follow up on an issue that has been raised frequently – age discrimination. In “How Do I Get Around Age Discrimination?” and “Dealing with an Employment Gap on Your Resume”, I discussed ways to tailor your resume so that employers would not assume you are too old to fit in. However, you still have to sell yourself in the job interview. Once you are face-to-face with a hiring manager, you can’t hide those gray hairs. You have to deal with several myths about older workers head-on. You have to prove that you have the advantage of experience and NONE of the perceived disadvantages.

The three primary myths you have to bust are:

1. “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks” – Managers often believe that older workers are more set in their ways, and that only younger workers are comfortable learning new skills, particularly in technology. Unfortunately, many of us DO know an older co-worker who perpetuates that myth every time they say “Oh, my kids understand all that techie stuff, but I could never get the hang of it.” Dispel that myth in the interview by slipping in mention of the social networking sites you are active on, the blog you write, the web site you have created, or some other current technology you use. Be prepared as well to discuss your recent accomplishments in quickly mastering a new technology, new process, or new certification.
2. “Older workers aren’t comfortable taking orders from younger managers” – Prepare an example story of a strong, positive working relationship you have had with a much younger manager or co-worker. Don’t talk about how you “showed them how it’s done”, but instead focus on the valuable perspectives and respect you exchanged and gained from each other.
3. “Older workers won’t put in the long hours” – Let’s face it, many companies like hiring younger workers because they seem more ambitious, more energetic, and less encumbered with family commitments. It’s easier to expect them to work those 80-hour weeks. While I would not recommend signing on to a company where 80-hour weeks are the norm, you should let a potential employer know that you are ready, willing, and able to do so when the need arises. Come prepared with a recent story of a “crunch time” where you had to burn the midnight oil to get the job done.

One other caveat – be careful not to let the conversation inadvertently stray into areas that emphasize your age difference. For example, if the hiring manager talks about expecting a first child, don’t start talking about your grandchildren.

Once you have busted the myths of older workers, then you can emphasize some of the positive attributes – experience, maturity, perspective, and responsibility – that give you an advantage over the younger competition. Your years of experience are valuable to an employer. Don’t let their myths keep them from seeing your full value.