20 Ways Older Workers Can Sell Themselves

12. You're loyal: Take Colorado, for example, where older workers have the lowest turnover rate among working groups. Borders Group began making older workers a bigger percentage of its employee mix in the 1990s, when it found that workers over age 50 were staying longer with their jobs and were happier in them.

13. You're not competing for a top spot: You're working more for steady income now—not to climb the ladder. Female baby boomers were more likely to think "good for her/him," if a competitor won a new contract or client, according to a recent American Express study of female business owners.

14. You've been green a long time: Companies are increasingly using their environmental sensitivity as a selling point, and while gen Y is often characterized as the most passionately "green" age group, many older workers were raised with green principles: using a pencil down to the nub, repairing holes and worn spots in clothes, reusing jars and using little (or no) air conditioning. Seeyou were green before it was cool.

15. You're a team player: Older workers tend to be settled and comfortable in their own skin, John Challenger says. Those tendencies can help them fit in and work as part of a team more easily.

16. You're willing to learn: Older workers actually exhibit a greater willingness to learn than younger workers, according to a 2005 study by a Louisiana State University professor. Workers in their 50s and 60s are even more committed to technological change, the study found.

17. You're reliable: You'll get your work done. It sounds simple, but that's a huge asset for an employer. A 1998 survey by the National Council on the Aging found that 97 percent of the employers surveyed said older workers were thorough and reliable in completing their work.

18. You're more satisfied with your job and your benefits: Job satisfaction appears to increase with age, and workers ages 65 and older tend to be the most satisfied with the work they're doing. A University of Chicago study published last year found that 71 percent of the 65-plus group was very satisfied with their work, compared with 42 percent of those ages 18 to 29.

19. You're no one-trick pony: Over their careers, many workers have spent time in multiple industries, Challenger notes, and that ability to cross-pollinate is highly useful to employers right now.

20. You're cheaper: This isn't always true, but if you're starting someplace new, you're likely to be cheaper. (Or you should consider taking a cut in pay or hours where you're currently working.) After all, you aren't providing for a gaggle of kids anymore, and you may be looking for a more flexible schedule of reduced hours. Many seniors just need some income now to supplement their suffering investments.

Corrected on 12/03/08: An earlier version of this article incorrectly reported the year a Louisiana State University professor's study was released. It was released in 2005.