When I meet with job seekers over 50 one of their first questions is how much is my age going to be a problem? I am honest with them and tell them it is an issue but one you can deal with. The bigger an issue you make it the bigger the issue will be.
Having a plan for your search is extremely important. You have to be able to communicate your value proposition in simple and clear terms. Knowing what you want to do and where is also important. Do your homework and it will pay off.
Expanding your network is even more critical as your resume will be your worst enemy. People reviewing your resume will conclude that you are over qualified, to narrow experience and possibly too tired to be effective. Meeting hiring managers face-to-face is critical in your job search.
Contact retained recruiters to let them know you are on the market. To be successful you need to be direct about what you can and are willing to do and honest about your flexibility to relocate.
Prepare mentally to deal with rejection. The higher you are in the organization and older you are the longer your search will take. Expect to hear 99 no’s before you find the right job. Your job is to get through the 99 no’s as fast as you can.
If you are not familiar with text messaging, business networking websites, instant messaging and other tech-related tools get some training. Not being up on current communication tools is a sure sign of being perceived as out of touch.
Need someone to assist you in preparing a plan to make your job search successful? Want to talk to someone who has the experience to provide valuable guidance? Visit the Career Networking Pro website, http://www.careernetworkingpro.com, to learn how to get hooked up with an experienced career coach. Read about the job search process in the new book, People Hire People – Not Resumes, http://www.careernetworkingpro.com/book.
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