Encore: Work that matters in the second half of life.

Older workers who haven’t looked for jobs in years are in for a big wake-up call, writes Bob Moos in his latest Dallas Morning News column. They need to tune up their skills and tone down their attitude in order to get hired in the current weak economy,

Moos cites AARP Public Policy Institute findings that workers age 55 and older take an average of 21 weeks to find a job, about five weeks longer than younger job seekers.

Whether they are returning because they have to or they want to, experienced workers need to update their appearance, practice answering tough questions and be comfortable with computers, Moos says.

Brush that chip off your shoulder, he advises. Renae Perry, director of Senior Source’s employment program told him, “If you don’t believe that your age and experience would be assets to potential employees, why should they believe it?” She recommends stressing your flexibility, keeping up with new trends and emphasizing experience in working with colleagues on projects, since younger workers value working on teams.

Jill Pfaff Waterbury, coauthor of the Boomers’ Job Search Guide, suggests losing extra pounds, buying a new outfit and asking a friend to critique your appearance. She tells men to shave off their beards, since she believes they make them look older, and advises women to wear minimal jewelry.

Older job applicants can expect to be asked if they are overqualified by interviewers who really want to know if they’re too old or want too much money. Waterbury recommends stressing your “hands-on ability” and experience that allow you to “hit the ground running.”

Practice is the key to surviving interviews, whether in person or on the phone. Perry advises applicants to prepare for phone interviews just as they would for in-person interviews. Questions are likely to include ones asking how you would respond in a certain situation, such as during a conflict with a coworker.

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