Job Search Strategies for Older Workers

Job Search Strategies for Older WorkersJob Search Strategies for Older WorkersWhat can you do to address age discrimination and promote your candidacy for employment? There are strategies older job seekers can implement to help expedite a job search and to find gainful, and meaningful, employment. Stand Out in the Job Market Despite all the skills and experience that you bring to the table, you will still need to convince employers that you are the right person for the job. However, you also have a number of qualities that make you very hirable. Here are some tips for standing out in this competitive job market Emphasize your experience.Older job seekers have so much experience they can draw on. If they have been previously employed, they have decades of work experience. This work history is something younger workers simply do leid have. Highlight your years of experience in your job materials and interviews.Highlight your skills.Make a list of all of the skills you have develope d, both in the workplace and outside of work. Then, look atjob listingsin the fields you want. Circle any skills on your own list that fit the requirements of the job. Pay particular attention to thetransferable skillsyou have (such ascommunicationor managerial skills) that will be useful in almost any job. Think about the skills and qualities you have as a result of your years of experience. Whether or not you have been in the labor force recently, you likely have qualities gained from experience that employers will want. For example,studies have shown that employees over 50 are particularly reliable, detail-oriented, and patient. They also have strong leadership skills. Consider developing new skills.Think about any skills that will be necessary for the job, but that you either lack or have not used in a while. Take some time to develop unterstellung skills. For example, if many jobs in your field now require some experience with coding,consider taking a class. There are many free classes online for various skills, particularly in technology.Network.Even though you likely already have a number of contacts in your field, you can always make more. Consider joining (or rejoining) aprofessional associationin your field. Revamp yourLinkedIn profile. Send aletter to your friends and familyand let them know about your job search. Networking is an ideal way to make connections that could lead to a job. Follow your passion.Especially if you are beginning a second career, try to find a job that allows you to fulfill a lifelong passion. Perhaps you have always wanted to work with kids if so, then search for a job as a teacher. Maybe you have always had a woodworking hobby consider a job as a furniturefinisher. Think carefully about what you want to do with this period of your life, and follow your passion Age-Proof Your Resume and titelseite Letter One way to overcome the perception that your age is an issue is toage-proof and edit your resume. Limitingwhat you i nclude on your resume, from a chronological perspective, can help job seekers avoid the stigma of being considered too old by a prospective employer. Make sure your references to job skills and accomplishments use contemporary vocabulary. For example, you should use the term formatted documents rather than typed documents. Your cover letter is critical, as well. Review thesecover letter tips for older job seekers to learn what to include in your cover letter, how to showcase your skills, and how to effectively market your candidacy to employers. When writing your resume and your cover letters, theresno need to mention every job youve ever had. Include only the most recent positions and, if you attended college, dont list your graduation dates. Update Your Professional Image You can strategically write your resume and cover letter, but you cant change the basic facts - your actual age and your employment history are etched in stone. However, there are ways you can work on your ap pearance when you are job searching. And that can make a significant difference when youre interviewing. Heres how toupdate your job search image. Ace a Job Interview Even though employers cant legally ask you directly about your age, they sometimes ask questions during a job interview to try to determine how old you are. Here are someage-relatedinterview questionsand advice on how to respond. Anticipate these questions and have non-defensive, upbeat answers. Review tips and advice for successfulinterviewing for older seekers, including how to make the experience an asset, what to wear, how to address age issues, and how to stay positive at a time when interviewing can be especially challenging. Consider a Career Change It can be easier than you might think to change careers. Heres advice on how to successfully implement a mid-life ?career change. Consider try before you buy contract work in order to reduce the risk of hiring you for the employer. Get Job Search Help If youre struggling with yourjob search, consider seeking assistance. There are no-cost programs provided byOneStop Career Centers, non-profit groups, and locallibraries,for example, that can assist. Seek out employers who advertise the fact that they value life experience in their hiring strategies. Some companies candidly do not value older workers, but many others do. Dont Give Up Keep in mind that its not just you who is having a challenging job search.The Federal Reserve reports that most of theincrease in employment since 2000(approximately 17 million jobs) has been among workers aged 55 and older. In 2017, 39% of people 55 and over were working, compared to 31% in 2000. The increase is due to the aging of the baby boomer generation and isnt expected to last. Workers 55 and over are expected to be almost 24% of the workforce through 2027. Job searching typically isnt always easy, regardless of how old you are. If you think age is hindering your job search, there arestrategies you can use to address the situation.Dont give up it might take a while to find a job, but there are employers who understand the value of an older worker with maturity, life experience, and skills.