If you are over 50, or even over 45, ageism becomes an issue in your job search. Ever go to an interview where everyone seems to be in their 20’s and 30’s?
How to deal with it? This is the first in a series of blogs on dealing with ageism in your job search.
1. Stay current with the knowledge and innovation in your field. Read widely. Attend conferences. Just because you have been in a a field for 20 or 30 years doesn’t mean you know it all.
2.Be tech savvy – That means stay current with basic technology that you need to do your job, any job. The latest version of Microsoft Office Suite including Excel, Power Point and Word. The latest version of a software particular to your field whether its finance or fashion, engineering or video editing.
3. Keep fit and healthy and energetic. Eat right. Do daily exercise whether it’s walking, taking a yoga class or going to the gym or pool. Your energy level and stamina are key to remaining active and employable.
4. Focus on your experience. Be prepared to talk about your accomplishments and successes and how they can help solve the problems of the company or organization. Experience is not doing the same thing over and over again for 20 years. It’s doing different things to build your repertoire of skills.
5. Remain positive. A job search takes longer than you think, or longer than you would like. You have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find your “prince/princess” or ideal job. Don’t be negative. Don’t get down on yourself or on the companies or interviewers. Remain positive and think of ways you can add your expertise to the team.
Remember there are only three questions the interviewer wants answered: Why should we hire you? Why do you want to work for us? Will you fit in?
(c) 2020 Amy Geffen All rights reserved.