How Social Media Helps 50+ Workers Find Jobs

Many older Americans need to keep working well into their 50s and 60s to supplement income and boost long-term retirement resources. But job hunting can be a huge challenge -- and not only because the economy is weak.

For many older workers, technology is a barrier to finding employment. Many employers are skeptical about the technology savvy of 50-plus workers, and the starting point for most job searches these days is the Internet -- specifically, social media platforms such as LinkedIn and Twitter.

In a tough job market, it's hard to overstate the importance of networking, differentiating yourself and highlighting the value you can bring to an employer. Social media platforms offer some important means to those ends, through sharing expertise and making new connections. But older job hunters can be at a competitive disadvantage.

"The first time I looked at Twitter, I thought, 'what is this thing?'" says Lee Silverstein, who's transitioning to a new career at 50, following 29 years in management jobs with major department stores, most recently Macy's, where he focused on training and leadership development. [Read more]