There are two million more jobs in the workforce today than there were 15 years ago, which means there’s far more competition for available labor. Add to that all the temporary jobs that will soon become available to handle increased holiday demand, and the best employees will quickly be taken. In times like these, how can a company find the right employees for its needs?
If you’re looking to hire new employees for your customer service or call center, consider people over 50 years of age. Contrary to popular belief, there are several benefits to hiring older employees. Not only do these more-seasoned workers have a wealth of experience and knowledge to offer, but they’re not looking to climb the corporate ladder, and will, on average, stay at the company longer, which means you will spend less per year on training.
And there is no need to worry about whether older employees can handle the digital technology being utilized by your organization today. According to research from Pew Internet, more than half of adults age 65+ are online, and one in three online seniors regularly use social media sites like Facebook and LinkedIn. Even more, companies with older clients are finding that this segment relates better to and feels more comfortable with older employees, resulting in happier customers. Perhaps best of all, older employees can be an ideal virtual call center agent candidate.
Currently, more than seven million people over the age of 65 are in the workforce. And by 2020, it’s estimated that one-third of the workforce will be over 50. Whether a result of the reduced economy or the fact that these individuals just want to stay active, people are working longer. This provides a lucrative and active target market for companies seeking experienced, polished staff.
If you’re looking for new employees who are experienced, savvy, polished, compassionate and more, consider someone a bit older than the average. It could be your business’ most profitable strategy yet.
