by Robert Statham, CESP

Searching for employment opportunities has never been an easy road for anyone. But for those individuals who are older and have a history of managing a psychiatric disability, there are even more challenges. These job seekers face the “Double jeopardy” effect.  Older adults (40+) with disabilities face compounding discrimination—due to both age and disability—creating greater obstacles in hiring and workplace treatment. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnv660.03

Despite the obstacles before them, older job seekers with psychiatric disabilities are resilient and remain committed to rejoining the workforce. These individuals very often possess a multitude of strengths. Many have institutional knowledge of the workplace, as well as deep loyalty and a strong work ethic that employers value. https://www.bain.com/insights/better-with-age-the-rising-importance-of-older-workers/ But finding their way back to the workforce can be a difficult journey.

Throughout the job search process, it is important to address these various employment barriers from a strength-based approach. This can start with the job seeker seeking ways to update their skills. Whether it be through credentialing or upskilling through the local department of labor – or various other educational resources – learning new skills sends a message to future employers that older job seekers are willing to learn and have the skillset that is necessary to be successful with a potential new employer.  Learning how the job search process has changed, if the job seeker has been out of the workforce for a while, can help them understand how people find work in today’s marketplace. Familiarizing themselves with various online job boards, search engines, and artificial intelligence will provide older individuals seeking work with information as to where job seekers go to find opportunities within the community.  Understanding how technology plays a role in today’s recruiting environment will also benefit the job seeker. This will include increasing knowledge of virtual interviewing, job fairs, and communication strategies that the employer will be utilizing. Reaching out to both social and employment networks will provide the job seeker with a crucial advantage in accessing the hidden job market. The hidden job market is where the unadvertised jobs are and having access to these jobs before they are known to the general public positions the applicant as a frontrunner.   It is estimated that close to eighty percent of job seekers find a job through someone in their network. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/your-job-search-80-networking-20-applyingand-thats-brian-fink-h6dee

Additionally, as looking for work can be a difficult process filled with ups and downs, it will be essential for the job seeker to take care of both their mental health and physical health during the process. The process of searching for work can test people’s resiliency. Being turned down for jobs can be stressful and can take a toll on one’s self-esteem. It is critical for job seekers to be mindful of how the job search is affecting mental health. Taking breaks from job search activities is often an essential part of the process. Self-care during the search will allow the job seeker to be in better shape to weather the storms and the peaks and valleys that come with any job search. Self-care activities can significantly improve mental health and provide momentum and energy.  Whether it be journaling, mindfulness exercises, being empathetic toward oneself, or reaching out to a support team, these measures can pay dividends and serve as a buffer to stress during the challenging times of looking for work. .https://www.fullstackacademy.com/blog/ways-to-care-for-mental-health-while-job-searching

Staying organized is another important way to manage the job search. Keeping spreadsheets or lists of employers to whom one has applied, their responses, and any follow-up that needs to be completed can be a way for older job seekers to stay on task. Placing oneself on a daily schedule can assist the job seeker in remaining in a routine that will allow them to reap benefits as they move back into the workplace. Remaining organized also highlights the little wins that are taking place that might otherwise be missed when working in an unorganized fashion. It is important to take notice of the smaller successes, whether it is applying for a certain number of jobs in the week, having a first interview in a long time, or successfully reaching out to someone in a personal network, as wins will serve as fuel for the job search engine.

Taking the time to understand one’s strengths will allow the job seeker to identify the right working environment. Finding the right match between the skills of someone looking for work and the employer’s needs is critical. It is important for the job seeker to know what they are looking for in a job, whether it be the type of employment, the setting, or even in-person vs. remote work. Broadly speaking, the truly successful job search must involve seeking alignment with one’s values and what is important from a variety of perspectives.

The older job seeker who is also navigating the challenges of managing their mental health while searching for work can be successful in returning to the workforce: With persistent efforts, consistent commitment to resiliency, and the maintenance of strong supports, the older job seeker can flourish in their quest to rejoin today’s workforce.

References

DOUBLE JEOPARDY FOR OLDER WORKERS WITH DISABILITIES: WORKPLACE DISCRIMINATION FILED WITH EEOC, The Gerontologist, Volume 55, Issue Suppl_2, November 2015, Page 365, https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnv660.03

Root, J., Schwedel, A., Haslett, M., & Bitler, N. (2023, July). *Better with age: The rising importance of older workers*. Bain & Company. https://www.bain.com/insights/better-with-age-the-rising-importance-of-older-workers/

Fink, B. (2025, January). Your job search is 80% networking and 20% applying—And that’s non-negotiable. LinkedIn. Retrieved June 17, 2025, from https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/your-job-search-80-networking-20-applyingand-thats-brian-fink-h6dee

The Fullstack Academy Team. (2024, May 10). 5 ways to care for your mental health while job searching. Fullstack Academy. https://www.fullstackacademy.com/blog/ways-to-care-for-mental-health-while-job-searching