Successful Job Search Strategies For Mature Workers
Here at Career Potential, we work with many senior executives who would be considered “mature workers.” When it comes to age discrimination, these older job seekers have more control and recourse than they may think.
You can’t change your chronological age, so don’t waste mental energy thinking about it. But here are four practical strategies that can dramatically increase your chances of landing a great job at any age:
1. Energy level. Even if you’re a mature worker, it’s important to maintain a high level of energy and project real vitality. This allows you to take-on challenging projects, keep-up with the fast pace of business, and get things done quickly. So show-up early, move fast throughout the day, and work hard. It’s essential to get enough sleep, eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly.
2. Technology skills. As an older candidate, you didn’t grow-up in the computer age. But it’s critical that you learn and practice technical skills. Get over your technophobia! Employers are much more likely to hire mature workers who can demonstrate strong computer skills and a comfort level with technology in general. This is a great way to compete effectively with younger candidates.
3. Personal image. It‘s always important to look your best, and this is especially true when looking for a job. Pay close attention to your appearance. You can make a more positive impression by updating your hairstyle, eyeglasses, shoes and many other personal items. Your wardrobe may also need a “makeover” to look more stylish. Ask friends, family members and younger associates for candid feedback about your personal image, and welcome their comments non-defensively.
4. Company culture. Research the culture of your prospective employer. If everyone at the company is 20 to 30 years old, with rings through their noses and spiked blue hair, then the firm not likely to hire an older candidate like you. On the other hand, there are companies that have a reputation for attracting and hiring mature workers. These firms actually like to have “adult supervision,” and they’ll pay a premium for your greater levels of experience and wisdom. For example, The Week Magazine recently stated, “Aim for a sector that caters to older clientele, such as banking or tourism.”
The CNNMoney article concluded by saying, “Some businesses do see the advantages of hiring older workers. Besides the opportunity to get the experience and lifetime of skills that older workers bring, they are actually more likely to stay put for longer than younger workers, thus reducing job turnover and the costs associated with hiring and training. Some analytical managers have figured this out. Unfortunately for older workers, it's not common knowledge just yet.”
As the old saying goes, “The best defense is a strong offense.” So, follow the suggestion from The Week Magazine’s July 2, 2010 edition, which said, “Instead of hiding your age, go on the offensive and sell yourself as a mature person!”
10 Mistakes Job Seekers Make … And How to Avoid Them – Part 2 of 2
Mistake #6: Being Unplanned in Your Search
Most people spend more time planning a vacation than planning a job search. I suggest the following tips to conduct a proper job search: a well-thought out methodology, daily solitude and planning, space in the home dedicated to the search, a tracking tool to measure your progress, and a system for accountability.
Mistake #7: Doing it Alone
You pay a mechanic to change your oil; an attorney to create an estate plan. Why would you not invest in professional help with your job search? Career Coaches provide objective guidance, help you articulate your value, and provide a proven system for job search success. Many offer excellent advice on salary negotiations – often exceeding the job seeker’s expectations. If you can’t afford a Career Coach, take advantage of low-cost or free support from non-profit groups, universities, municipal programs, and so forth.
Mistake #8: Letting Others Control Your Job Search
I suggest working with a small selection of professional recruiters – they can serve an important role in your search. But you’ll need to maintain control over the whole process. Of course, it is best to conduct your own research and target the right companies yourself. Remember: only you can “sell yourself” effectively and land a job.
Mistake #9: Not Preparing Well Enough for Job Interviews
When you boil it down, all job interviews are comprised of five basic elements: articulating your value, conveying your knowledge of the company, asking intelligent questions, negotiating compensation, and following-through. Each of these items has to be practiced in advance, so you can “ace” the job interview. “Winging it” just won’t do! Also, be sure to do extensive research on the company and the interviewer ahead of time.
Mistake #10: Not Knowing Your Market Value
You must research and assess your value in the marketplace, so you’ll be able to negotiate effectively. Never disclose your salary requirements – always get the employer to name the salary or range first. The time to talk money is when the employer has made it clear that you are their top candidate, and after they make an offer.
It is very easy for even the savviest of job seekers to make these mistakes. By learning how to navigate these potential pitfalls from the outset, your job search will be more productive and yield more positive results!
To read the entire article, click here.
One Chance to Make a First Impression – Part 2 of 2
Here are some things NOT to do, when trying to make a positive first impression. Do not:
- Take advantage of the other person's generosity or time.
- Arrive unprepared to talk intelligently about the employer and the company.
- Dress inappropriately for the meeting or interview.
- Focus only on your own needs (instead you should focus on the company's problems and challenges).
- Fail to make a connection between your past experiences and the prospective employer's needs and challenges.
- Forget to follow-up with a thank you note.
- Forget to ask questions about the company and the open position.
These items are also some of the main qualities interviewers are looking for in a candidate. So if you follow these simple suggestions, you'll receive better feedback and ultimately get more job offers.
To read the entire article, click here.
10 Mistakes Job Seekers Make … And How to Avoid Them – Part 1 of 2
Many people make significant job search mistakes and never even know about it. These blunders are easy to make, and they can cost you the job offer or lose you thousands of dollars.
Below, I reveal 10 of the biggest mistakes, and explain how to avoid them.
Mistake #1: Relying on Online Job Postings
In general, job postings and “want ads” produce little value. However, it is also a mistake to ignore them altogether. Some of the best chances for jobs from ads are in specialty trade publications and web sites of specific industries. I suggest you spend no more than five percent of your valuable time on public job postings.
Mistake #2: Mailing Unsolicited Resumes
Unsolicited resumes are considered garbage, scrap paper and wasted effort. Secretaries kill them, HR managers file them away, and hiring decision-makers pitch them. I advocate abandoning this job search tactic completely.
Mistake #3: Looking Only for Job Openings
Searching only for companies with “openings” is an obsolete job hunting method. The best jobs are rarely listed “vacancies” or “openings.” Rather, many good positions are created for the candidate, often at the interview. The key is to shift your focus from “openings” to “opportunities” (which exist nearly everywhere). Remember: every company is hiring all the time, if you have what they need when they need it!
Mistake #4: Ineffective Networking
Networking should be the primary focus of every job search – occupying about 90% of your time. However, I find that most people go about it the wrong way – by talking too much and by asking for jobs. The best networkers are big listeners rather than big talkers. They have a clear agenda, and are not shy about asking for feedback and guidance. Remember: networking is more about giving than it is about taking, so always come from an attitude of generosity.
Mistake #5: Leaving Yourself Open to Too Many Kinds of Jobs
Another key to a successful job search is to focus on finding the RIGHT job – not “just any job.” Critical factors to consider include satisfaction, growth potential, location, cultural fit, great co-workers, a pleasing environment and competitive compensation. When the job market is really tough, it’s imperative to be more focused than ever.
To read the entire article, please click here.
One Chance to Make a First Impression – Part 1 of 2
It has often been said that, "You only get one chance to make a first impression."
Whether you are networking, interviewing for a job or meeting new colleagues for the first time, here are some guidelines to keep in mind which will make a good first impression.
- Be mindful of the other person's time. Ask if this is a good time for them before proceeding into the discussion (or identify another time that would be better). When attending a scheduled meeting or interview, ask how much time the other person has, and hold to that timeframe.
- If you were referred by a mutual friend or acquaintance to the person with whom you're meeting, be sure to reference that person in positive terms. This helps to build a "personal bridge" and establish rapport.
- Take notes throughout the discussion. A person who doesn't take notes is simply not interested or engaged enough to be taken seriously.
- Arrive to the meeting or interview on time and fully prepared. This shows that you respect the other person, and that you are a real professional. Learn everything you can in advance about the company, the opportunity, and the interviewer.
- Be focused on the other person's interests and needs, more than your own. Present yourself as a solutions provider, rather than a job seeker. Offer to be of service and show genuine interest in helping the interviewer with his or her business challenges.
Once you confirm the interviewer's primary needs and problems, share some "Accomplishment Stories" that relate your past successes directly to the prospective employer's situation. Making this "connection" will help you stand-out as the top candidate.
To read the entire article, click here.
Passions and Gifts – Part 2 of 2
I am excited about …
- Doing the really tough job
- Being able to do what no one else seems to be able to do
- Seeing people grow, do more then was ever expected
- Being the best – person, organization, team
What I really like is …
- Working with very bright people who have good values
- Working with companies that are respected or where respect can be created
- Building a culture that will succeed and be a place where people can grow and enjoy work M
My greatest contribution is …
- Being able to do many different things well
- Accomplishing the mission, exceeding expectations
- Building an organization from scratch
- Saving the day – taking dire situations, fixing them and turning them into winners
I am particularly good at …
- Taking things that look like failures and making them into exceptional successes
- Developing people – getting them to be creative, committed and accountable
- Getting the job done quickly with practical, interesting solutions
I am known for …
- Creative leadership
- Overcoming challenging obstacles
- Rising to the occasion
- Seeing the core issues, problems, solutions
- Get to the heart of the matter quickly, intuitively analyzing the situation
I have an exceptional ability to …
- Be innovative
- Devise straightforward solutions that are efficient and practical
- Take complex problems and quickly developing elegant solutions
- Create solutions that get the job done
OK, now it's YOUR turn! Get out a pad and pen, or create a new Word document. Please complete the following sentences as candidly as you can. Feel free to provide multiple answers to each question. Keep your responses focused on the career and work aspects of your life (as opposed to your personal or social life, etc.) You can also come back to your answers after a day or so, and refine or expand them:
- At work, I love to …
- I feel passionate about …
- I am excited about …
- What I really like is …
- My greatest contribution is …
- I am particularly good at …
- I am known for …
- I have an exceptional ability to …
- Colleagues often ask for my help with …
- What motivates me most is …
- I would feel disappointed, frustrated or sad if I couldn't do …
After you've completed this exercise, ask yourself these important questions and write-down your answers in detail:
- Do your personal gifts, goals and passions correspond/align with your current career direction?
- What implications do these answers have on your current and future career choices?
- What is one thing you can do right now to enhance or change your current career situation, so that it will be more in-tune with your true passions and gifts?
Remember: it's never too late to take charge of your career and find the work you love – as long as you have the right resources and support!
To read the entire article, click here.
Passions and Gifts – Part 1 of 2
Over the past several months, I have noticed that an increasing percentage of my clients have been expressing concerns about a lack of passion and meaning in their work. They will often say something like, "I know I'm lucky just to have a job, but I feel like I'm just going through the motions. I don't feel particularly engaged or excited about my work any more. Is this all there is?"
I believe that every working person has the right and responsibility to discover (or re-discover) his or her professional passion. With this in mind, I thought we would do something a little bit different this month. I invite you to do an exercise that has proven to be very powerful with my clients. It won't take you very long, and I can almost guarantee that the results will give you a whole new perspective on your own job or career path.
"Passions and Gifts" is a wonderful exercise to keep you focused on the larger purpose of all your work. It connects you to your "WHY" and is also a great tool to help sharpen your delivery during business meetings and job interviews.
Here is an example of this exercise, completed a few years ago by one of my clients:
Passions and Gifts (Sample)
At work, I love to …
- Build organizations
- Move things forward, solve problems
- Turnaround problem situations, get big results (generate, produce, achieve, create)
I am passionate about …
- Doing the impossible, taking on big challenges
- Creating new structures to achieve big results
- Solving problems, removing obstacles
- Getting the best out of people
To read the entire article - click here.
Don’t miss our Teleseminar this Monday!
You’re invited to participate in a FREE teleseminar – "The 12 Habits of Highly-Effective Job Seekers in a Down Market"
DATE: Monday, August 15, 2011
TIME: 7:00pm Eastern; 6:00pm Central; 5:00pm Mountain; 4:00pm Pacific
SIGN UP: http://www.careerpotential.com/12habits/
COST: FREE
A recorded version of this teleseminar will be made available after the call, but you must register to receive it. So you should still sign-up, even if you won’t be able to join us on August 15.
DESCRIPTION:
You CAN find a good job in a BAD economy – but not with conventional search techniques. You need a FRESH approach! Today's job market is the toughest since the Great Depression, and many of the challenges are here to stay.
In this one-hour teleseminar, Career Coach and author Ford R. Myers will reveal the 12 most powerful strategies that consistently generate exceptional results for job seekers, “even when no one’s hiring.”
Discover how "superstar" job seekers land great jobs in any field, and in any economy. Learn how YOU can quickly become one of them!
If you’re ready to make a “quantum leap” in your job search and career success, you cannot afford to miss this FREE, content-rich call.
It’s easy to participate. All you need is a phone (no fancy technology required).
Please join us!
About the Speaker – Ford R. Myers is a nationally-known Career Coach and President of Career Potential, LLC. His firm helps clients take charge of their careers, create the work they love, and earn what they deserve! Ford has held senior consulting positions at three of the nation’s largest career service firms. His articles and interviews have appeared in hundreds of national magazines and newspapers, and he has conducted presentations at many companies, associations and universities. In addition, Ford has been a frequent guest on television and radio programs across the country. He is author of “Get The Job You Want, Even When No One’s Hiring.”
Twelve Habits of Highly Effective Job Seekers in a Down Market
Even in a down market, job seekers and employees are not powerless or without recourse. In fact, you have more control over your career circumstances than you might think. I’ve developed 12 specific strategies and tactics that consistently generate strong results for job seekers, even when “no one’s hiring.”
1. Network, network, network. Continually increase your level of networking and keep expanding your contact database. Reach out to reestablish and nourish business and personal relationships. Offer to help others, even if they’re not in a position to help you (because what goes around comes around). There is no substitute for connecting with people one-on-one. Stay connected and don’t isolate yourself. Being out of work does not mean you have to be out of touch, so be sure to build and maintain your networking momentum.
2. Enhance your career education and credentials. Read career books and attend career seminars. Take advantage of learning opportunities to improve your job search and career management skills. Pursue professional development by participating in classes, seminars, certifications, and industry conferences. Take advantage of free and low-cost programs to enhance your credentials. Keeping informed of business trends will help you gain greater knowledge of the industries and careers that are poised for future growth. Stay plugged into the market and your field to ensure that you’ll be current, and to maintain your intellectual capital. Apply what you learn, and generate stronger search results.
3. Leverage technology. Utilize web sites and online services to connect with your industry and to build greater visibility. Create a career web site or profile, using tools like VisualCV (www.visualcv.com) and LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com). Reach out through social networking sites, such as FaceBook (www.facebook.com) and Twitter (www.twitter.com). Keep in touch with colleagues consistently via e-mail. In addition to leveraging career portals and job boards, learn how to use online tools like blogs, wikis, and virtual job fairs.
4. Differentiate yourself. Although you may be out of work, you can still distinguish yourself professionally. Position yourself as an expert by writing articles, giving presentations, or teaching a class. Build you online presence with a positive, consistent impression of your professional identity (OIO). Get involved in professional organizations, and assume leadership roles there. Do something noteworthy in your community that will garner special recognition and build your positive reputation. Focus on what makes you special, and build your brand within your industry.
5. Seek help and support. Get career support from a professional. A qualified career coach can better prepare you to land your next position. If career coaching is unaffordable for you, take advantage of group coaching programs that are more affordable. There are also free government programs, nonprofit agencies, job search clubs, college/alumni career centers, or faith-based missions for the unemployed and underemployed. If you’re thinking of changing industries, get some career testing. If you’re struggling emotionally, get help from a mental health service provider.
6. Act with speed and urgency. One way for you to get an edge over other candidates is to demonstrate that you’re more serious and more determined than the competition. Show up earlier. Arrive more prepared. Move quickly and efficiently. Make an impression by being more responsive and assertive than the others. Become known as the “get it done person.” Step-up to take-on great responsibility – now, and also when you land the job you want!
7. Be flexible and adaptable. Consider shifting industries and/or being geographically mobile to open-up more career possibilities, even if you would not ordinarily choose these options. Identify industries that will emerge stronger when the market improves. Research emerging opportunities and niches that will offer career growth, and position yourself to take advantage of these trends. Rather than waiting for the perfect opportunity, offer your skills to other industries and lend your experience to different positions. Pursue a temporary, part-time, or contract position. Volunteer, provide pro bono work, take on a consulting contract, or do an internship. If your field has collapsed, be sure to communicate your transferable strengths and the tangible value you offer, rather than focusing on the trade skills from your old industry. Adapt to the realities of the changing work world, rather than holding onto your old career identity out of fear, resentment, or even nostalgia.
8. Improve and enhance all of the documents in your career portfolio. Now is the time to expand your career portfolio far beyond just the resume. You’ll need a one-page professional biography, a collection of powerful accomplishment stories, a series of compelling cover letters, a page of professional references, a list of targeted employers, a 30-second commercial (elevator speech), and other items. Craft a unified package that consistently conveys a highly professional image of yourself.
9. Practice interviewing and negotiation skills. In an ideal world, you would have been practicing your interviewing and negotiation skills while you were fully employed, rather than waiting for a career crisis to arise. But now that the employment market is in crisis, it’s that much more important to polish and perfect these skills. Solicit the help of a partner to role-play with you, and switch roles as needed with the questions and answers. Practice with an audio-recording device, and listen to yourself as you continually improve your performance.
10. Pay extra attention to your personal image. First impressions count. Make a deliberate, consistent effort to present yourself in the best light. Ask yourself, “How can I enhance my attributes in the following areas: hair, eyeglasses, makeup, hands, clothes, shoes, accessories, posture, smile?” Now is the ideal time to take stock of your appearance, and make whatever changes you feel could improve your job search results.
11. Focus on tangible results and practical solutions. In a healthy job market, candidates can market themselves with their employment history, education, and related assets. But when no one’s hiring, there needs to be a relentless focus on tangible, positive results. The primary question in the employer’s mind will be, “What can you do for me – now?” This means that you should zero in and quickly identify the employer’s most pressing needs and challenges – and then explain exactly how your relevant accomplishments will allow you to successfully address those issues in the short term.
12. Watch your attitude. Job search is really an inside game, especially when no one’s hiring. That is, the outcome of your search will have much more to do with how you think about it than with the external circumstances of the job market. Avoid the gloom and doom messages disseminated by the media, and stay away from any negative people in your life who bring you down. Maintain a positive attitude, and never state anything negative or act desperate. Spend some time each day focusing in and recalibrating your internal attitude. You’ll also need to be patient, but persistent. When the job market is bad, employers will prolong the hiring process, and your search is bound to take longer than usual. Finally, even if you’re out of a job, you probably have many other wonderful things in your life, so remember to be grateful.
Conducting a successful job search campaign takes energy, discipline, and career support. Despite the pressures you may face in today’s employment market, you must stay focused on your goals and search smart.
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Copyright © 2011, Career Potential, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Permission to Reprint: This article may be reprinted, provided it appears in its entirety with the following attribution: Copyright © 2011, Career Potential, LLC. Reprinted by permission of Ford R. Myers, a nationally-known Career Expert and author of “Get The Job You Want, Even When No One’s Hiring.” Download your free Special Report now at www.careerspecialreport.com.
