Get an Edge in a Grayer Workforce

Bad news for Gen Yers who fear that they may end up sleeping in their childhood bedrooms indefinitely: Older workers do not seem ready for weekday golf or cruises to Alaska anytime soon, according to new data.

USA Today ran an analysis Wednesday that shows workers aged 55 and up are staying on the job longer, a phenomenon that is fueled by good things—such as better health and less strenuous work—but one that portends grim prospects for the younger, would-be workers who hope to replace them.

The portion of American workers in the 16-to 24-year-old age group is at the lowest level since the government began keeping track in 1948, falling from 66 percent in 2000 to 55 percent this year, USA Today says. There are 17 million employed people within that age group—the smallest pool of younger workers since 1971, when the U.S. population was significantly smaller, the story says.

But experts say that younger workers have plenty of assets that they may not be playing up. For one, they tend to be more adept at social media, an area that businesses across the board are trying to get on top of.

Pierce Mattie, CEO of Pierce Mattie Public Relations in New York, says that younger job applicants should tout their technical skills, and their familiarity with social media—apt advice given that the founder of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, was just named Time magazine’s Person of the Year.

“For 20-somethings, the best talent we find in this age range has a deep understanding of digital communication, graphics and Web-based applications for the social media community,” Mattie said. “That is an area that Generation X and older are lacking.”

Those who want to go the entrepreneurial route must be proactive, willing to start small and ought to be able to focus on one thing instead of six, experts advise. Another tip for those hoping to go into business: Know who your target market is and keep your concept simple.

Consider Groupon founder Andrew Mason, who said he stumbled into a his online group discount idea while fulfilling a personal mission to “work on cool stuff” —stuff that happened to draw a $6 billion buyout offer from Google, which he felt confident enough to reject.

"Stop thinking about where you're going to end up and just think about the path and get satisfaction out of that," he advised fellow entrepreneurs in an ABC News interview.

Plus, in any job, don’t forget the power of personality, points out Deborah Becker, a State Farm agent in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, who says that the majority of applicants she sees at her office—regardless of age—seem unable to project warmth and kindness, especially crucial in the service business (a sector that is growing by the way.)

“I no longer care how many licenses or degrees people can stuff onto their resumes,” Becker said. “I can teach a person with aptitude the skills necessary to make our office run. I can’t waste my time, however, breaking through a crust of pomposity in the hope that I’ll find a good, caring person as filling.”

Maggie Fuller, a recent PR grad who juggled multiple offers before accepting one in upstate New York, said that she impressed employers with her research and presentation skills.

“I always researched the companies I was interviewing with, had constructive answers and was able to confidently talk about my background,” Fuller said. “I think this is why I was able to choose from more than one job offer.”

Fuller also offers a simple tip to her 20-something peers that probably doesn't apply to entrepreneurial offices where skateboards are a way of getting around: Don't wear jeans when you are meeting people at a prospective company, she says.

Experts suggest that college students should play up any type of leadership positions they held at school, including positions at fraternities or sororities.

Darcy Eikenberg, president and chief creative officer of Coach Darcy, said that younger workers often mistakenly think that hiring decisions are based on work and effort alone. They're better off getting out there and talking to people through networking.

“Whether leaders admit it or not, job decisions are based on trust, and trust comes from personal contact or referral,” Eikenberg said. “So, more experienced workers can have the edge because they have been involved longer and know more people. But you can catch up. Get out in the world and be seen and heard in professional, positive, trustworthy ways, by as many people as possible.”

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Teresa Novellino writes for Portfolio.com