Cecily O'Connor
RedwoodAge.com

Boomers pounding the pavement for jobs are increasingly looking at entry-level positions and internships.  

About 63 percent of workers age 55 and older who were laid off in the last 12 months have applied for jobs below the level at which they were previously employed, according to a CareerBuilder survey.

An encouraging sign is that 65 percent of employers said they would consider experienced candidates who apply for jobs for these types of jobs. Of course, that raises serious questions about the other 35 percent.

"Mature workers offer a wealth of knowledge and experience that has translated into a significant competitive advantage for employers," said Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources at the job-hunting website. "Employers are considering mature job candidates for a variety of positions ranging from entry-level to senior-level to consultants to leverage their intellectual capital and mentor other workers"

Some boomers have no choice but to be more open-minded. That's because too much down time in between positions could cost them even more retirement savings. 

Given the struggling labor market - some states are seeing double-digit unemployment rates - boomers are uniquely challenged to be more creative about their job search efforts. To that end, some are exploring internships as a way to land a long-term employment opportunity. 

Seven percent of employers said mature workers have applied for internships at their organizations. Four percent have hired mature workers, while 55 percent said they would be willing to consider them for internships.

One-in-four employers said they have received applications from workers over 50 for entry-level jobs. An additional 11 percent have received entry-level applications from retirees.

Hard Hit
So-called mature workers are a critical workforce segment that has been hit particularly hard by the recession. Twenty-eight percent of workers age 55 and older who were laid off in the last 12 months found new jobs - the lowest of all age groups. In comparison, 71 percent of those aged 25 to 34 nabbed a new post.

This re-careering does come with some financial give and take. Of those workers who were laid off in the last 12 months and found another job, 40 percent landed positions with similar pay. Another 13 percent found jobs with a higher paycheck than what they were previously earning. But 48 percent took a pay cut.

Additionally, some workers are using the tight job market as a catalyst to entrepreneurship. About 23 percent of older workers laid off in the past year said they are considering starting their own business. 

For others, relocation is the key to finding a job. About 41 percent stated they would consider relocating to another city or state to find employment.