3 tips for older job seekers
Perhaps you’re not ready to retire just yet or seeking a part-time job to tie you over as transition to retirement, whatever the case here are some great tips to make yourself stand out of the crowd in the job market.
1. Be tech savvy
Not only is the digital world used in all aspects of business and working, but it is also a key platform for employers to scope out their potential employee. Gone are the days of handing in a paper resume, now an employer will look for a job candidate on their online profiles such as websites like LinkedIn and even social media. Before you go for a job interview, check your social media to make sure no information that you don’t want a future employer seeing can be accessed by a user that isn’t your “friend” or in your network. If you haven’t signed up with LinkedIn and you are going for an interview, you should create a profile. Demonstrating you have the digital skills necessary in the modern workforce shows a potential employer your adaptable in our tech-saturated world. By always growing your skills and being teachable, you don’t put a ceiling on your intellect.
2. Sell yourself effectively
Entitlement is a character trait that marks a red flag for any potential employer. To avoid appearing entitled, practice articulating the benefits you have from your years of experience in the workforce. Although you might have a wealth of experience in the workforce, focus your time on selling the experience that is relevant to the job role you are interviewing for. It is easy to ramble on in an interview but by honing in on specific skills and experience that have prepared you for this role, you will gain an upper-hand in the interview process. Remember also to always appear optimistic and motivated, they are two character traits that are welcomed in any business.
3. Don’t dwell too much on achievements from decades ago
Employers generally want to hear about your achievements in the last ten years. You can also talk about your academic qualifications as that is important information. If you want to talk about experience that happened quite some years ago, try not to mention specific dates or time periods. Spend the majority of your time in the interview talking about your recent accomplishments and what skills you have.
Have you had to look for a new job later in life? What was your experience like? Let us know in the comments below.