Guide to Hiring Seniors

Know the law

Senior employees may fill your needs for part-time or seasonal jobs and they may prefer that flexibility. But if you don’t consider them or give them a chance at full-time work you could run afoul of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act.

I recommend: : The American Association of Retired Persons is a great source for overt and subtle practices to avoid. You can also check with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on the law.

Recruit smartly

Many active seniors are on the Internet, but don’t limit yourself to getting the word out in cyberspace.

I recommend: Create partnerships with senior associations and publicize  openings in community newsletters as well as free shoppers that circulate among older workers.

Get the word out on the web

The older workers who are not Internet surfers will find a way to look online if they are serious about work.

I recommend: Advertise on the Senior Job Bank, Seniors4hire. AARP’s job site also showcases employers who recruit seniors, and has a section that provides helpful information to employers who want to hire seniors.  

Seeking specialized employees

Some networks have emerged to help find specific skill sets and experience.

I recommend: Companies seeking engineers, scientists and product managers should check out YourEncore, which is an online recruitment firm that actually pays the workers. It was originally formed by Eli Lilly and Proctor & Gamble to lure back their retirees. Another source of specialized workers especially for companies who handle government contracts is Enrg. For $1,000 a year, employers can get 18 months of access to resumes of retired government employees whose expertise ranges from construction to contract management.