5 problems that older job seekers struggle with unnecessarily.
Don’t worry! They’re all fixable.
1) Focusing on what worked in the distant past
This is normal. It just isn’t helpful.
Whenever you need to do something again, it’s natural to try what worked last time.
But what if your last job search was 10 years ago or more?
Job search is more Internet-oriented than ever, and the Internet changes all the time.
The longer it’s been since your last job search, the less chance that what worked then is going to work now.
Free bonus: The Midlife Job Search Report is a handy guide I compiled for older job seekers. Download it now.
2) Over-emphasizing experience
In the 2013 JobMob Census, when I asked “Are there any specific topics that you’d like me to blog about?”, one of the responses was typical:
“Finding work for older job seekers, who are unemployed and have a lifetime of experience in their profession.”
In 7 Clear Signs You Should Call Yourself An Expert, I mentioned one of my favorite quotes:
“Niels Bohr famously said that “an expert is a person who has made all the mistakes that can be made in a very narrow field.” Only an expert knows how things can go wrong and how to anticipate and avoid that from happening.”
Experience (or accumulated expertise) matters but what if your experience isn’t (all) relevant for the job you’re applying for?
3) Using ageism as an excuse
Ageism is very real.
(So are many other forms of job search discrimination: racism, sexism, and more, such as discrimination against younger job seekers, which is technically also ageism, although not usually discussed that way).
"Ageism is experienced both by older and young people" #intergenerational solidarity is necessary for both groups http://ift.tt/21B7bgv
— YO!Mag (@YOmag_YFJ) May 5, 2016
If you feel you’re suffering from ageism on your job search, it’s usually your own fault.
Not the ageism itself, of course; rather, the fact that you’re suffering from it.
Let it go! Easy to say, I know, but adversity is part of the job search and you can’t let it affect you. What you can do is stop doing things that hurt your cause, such as emphasizing your 20 years of industry experience, and do things that help your cause, such as emphasizing the 5 years of experience in a still-relevant branch of your field.
But if you still feel you are suffering from ageism, there’s a good chance that you’re…
4) Applying for jobs in the wrong places
Studies show that employers hire people they want to be friends with, and wouldn’t you do the same?
It makes a lot of sense when you consider how much time colleagues spend together.
With that in mind, do you really think that a few extra years of experience are going to matter more to a small company made up entirely of people 10-20 years younger than you, who are at a different stage in their careers and lives?
If their job listing explicitly requires a lot of experience, then yes! You’re absolutely right to apply.
Otherwise, do yourself a favor by first researching companies who currently employ people with a similar level of experience. In other words, companies with a track record of hiring people like you. Then, only apply to them.
Lol… Offered another "big data expert" job… Replied "data mining you mean?". He goes "you are too experienced". Click.
— New IT Risk Services (@Newitrsdotcom) November 28, 2014
5) Incorrectly assessing your value and skills
Truth be told, job seekers of all ages have this problem.
But it’s how they react that’s different.
I can’t count how many times an older job seeker said to me “I’m prepared to do anything, I just need a job.”
Can you imagine a movie poster claiming the movie is about “whatever you like”?
Would anyone see that movie?
Of course not. You see a movie because you’re in the mood for something in a specific genre, whose trailer pulled you in, or a friend recommended it.
Similarly, employers consider you because they need someone with a specific skillset, whose resume clearly showed success in a related role and/or who was recommended by a credible reference.
Figure out which of your skills is most marketable, and aim for relevant positions only.
Free bonus
The Midlife Job Search Report is a handy guide I compiled to help older job seekers.
This free download contains:- 5 Common Mistakes Older Job Seekers Make
- How To Defeat Any Form of Job Search Discrimination
- 9 Real Reasons Overqualified Job Seekers are Rejected
- 40 Tips for Older Job Seekers That Actually Get Results
JobMob Insiders can get this free bonus and other exclusive content in the JobMob Insider Bonuses area. Join now, it's free!
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