Job hunting when you’re over 50.

“Over 50” is a phrase you rarely think about…. Until you turn 50 years old.  “Job hunting” is another phrase you really don’t think about…. Until you graduate from college or you find yourself without employment.  Put them both together and “Job hunting when you’re over 50” can be overwhelming.

In this slow economy it can be frightening and frustrating at any age.  Unfortunately, it seems older workers face more challenges in the job market.  This can be even more complicated if you’re a woman in her 50’s who has exited the workplace for a period of time perhaps to care for elderly parents or help with a grandchild.

This post takes a look at how companies might regard this issue.

1. They believe they can hire younger workers for less money that an “older” professional.
2. They fear “older” workers bring a higher possibility of medical/health issues that may raise the health care costs.
3. They believe “older” workers might be technically challenged or less flexible.

The situation is not hopeless.  We prefer to look at it as challenging and requiring some changes in the way you perform your job search:

1. Change your frame of mind.  You are selling yourself.  Devise a sales and marketing strategy.  Focus on a job, not a position.  Get in the door so you can exhibit your skills and abilities, and then you may turn the focus on a promotion.  It is important the potential hiring company understands just because you were a VP doesn’t mean you expect to be hired as a VP.
2. Networking is most likely the vessel that will land you a position.  We cannot stress this enough.  Contacts, contacts, and more contacts.  Food for thought?  Consider contacting an organization connected to your business interest(s) and speaking at one of their meetings.  The “older” job seekers have experiences and stories important enough to share.  Go ahead, brag about yourself.  Someone listening might just be hiring too.
3. Embrace modern technology.  Learn about blogging, social media, and search engine optimization (SEO).
4. Instead of selling your past experiences, which they can read on your well written resume, switch to the focus on what your potential role in the company would be.  Create a broader picture of how your skills integrate with the company’s goals.

Life is too short.  Get out, enjoy yourself, meet people, and plan your retirement.  Your attitude will reflect your enthusiastic personality.  You’re Hired!!

 

Tough Times

Job seekers over the age of 55 have had a more difficult time than most during this recession.  The national unemployment rate for this group is at a historic high and seekers have been ending their job searches.  Despite their years of experience, many older unemployed job seekers fear they may not find work again.

Convincing potential employers that age is not a detouring factor in job performance can be difficult.  It seems, employers fear the older candidate has not kept up with technology, is going to retire soon, or has an unwillingness to learn.  There is no way around this, so the advice here is to “hit it head on”.  Address the issues in the first means of communications, email, cover letter, or phone interview or personal interview.  Explain your technical skills with your current education and experience.  Let them know how many years you feel you have left in you, so to speak, and express your willingness to learn, preferably without the “old dog new tricks” routine.

Along with work skills, the skills needed to perform a job search can be difficult.  The older candidate has probably not had to look for a job recently.  It’s a whole new world.  Hopefully this blog has some helpful information.  Good luck and thanks for visiting.

Social Networking Etiquette

5 Suggestions for Proper Social Networking

1. Do Not Mix Business and Personal
As interesting as your personal life might be… your “business world” does not need to know this information. If you are networking to find a job, which is what this blog refers to, your personal issues could limit you from being considered. Befriend professional contacts on this network, not your friends, your children, and their friends, and their parents, etc. Best to save personal issues and contacts for your “facebook”.

2. Remember: You Are Online
If it is online…. It is public knowledge. Be extremely careful. This is especially important if you are still employed while networking for a new position.

3. Check Frequently
Nothing is more frustrating for potential employers, or recruiters, than to leave a message for someone who does not check for activity and respond to their efforts. You get upset when there are no responses to your resume submittals right? Thank you.

4. Professionalism
It is important to maintain professionalism at all times when networking to find opportunities. Use proper language, you are not texting, and ALWAYS spell check. One of the most popular faux pas regarding professional conduct we can identify, is the selection of the email address. If you are (or think you are) a “golf pro”, please save golfprogenius@whatever.com for your friends and your personal email address. This does not look good at the top of a resume or on a professional networking site. To a potential employer, or recruiter, this could indicate your interest lies in something other than your career. Believe it or not….. We have questioned contacting candidates with emails such as these. Please, be professional and use your last name in your email address. This identifies you for quick accessing in order to make contact with you and assists in easy filing. Thank you, again.

5. Check Attachments and Links
This is probably obvious and self explanatory, but nevertheless, important. If you have attachments and/or links to your network site, make sure they work.

Opportunities Page Updated

Thank you for visiting. If this is your first visit, welcome…. if you’ve been here before be sure to look at the Opportunities page. Business is doing well. We have added the positions we are currently searching for on this new page and hope to be updating it frequently. This, of course, will depend on our client’s needs. So far the industry that seems to be most hiring is the automotive aftermarket. This follows two sales positions (in the storage industry and the rubber industry) that we have completed recently. As mentioned in a previous post, when sales positions are requested to be filled, we hope the marketplace is making a comeback. If you are looking to make a career move, please submit resume to search@gcyeiser.com. Also, you may leave a comment here, or request a connection on LinkedIn through the link on this blog.

No News is Good News

It has been awhile since we have posted here at Team Yeiser’s Blog. That’s because we really haven’t had anything new to post. Things in the job marketplace are still the same. We are filling sales positions and have added a new page to the blog. Coming soon is our Opportunities Page. It is our continued hope that we will have numerous searches that we will need your assistance with. We will be posting these jobs in order to receive referrals in our comments section and/or resumes submitted for consideration. Watch for these postings on the Opportunities Page soon!

Thanks for visiting.