How to Job Hunt at the Age of 45
In the past, people might have thought their job-seeking days were over once they hit a certain age. However, times have changed, and individuals are finding jobs no matter what age they are. According to the website Plus 50 Lifestyles, Baby Boomers and mature employees are achieving more late in life than earlier generations. Fortunately, 45-year-old Baby Boomers who find themselves in career transition can take positive steps to find a job.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Update your resume so you don’t seem out of date. According to Career Builder, resume styles change over time; therefore, it is imperative for older workers to stay current on resume trends. Create a resume that highlights your skills and accomplishments and also focuses on results that you achieved in prior positions. Avoid focusing on length of employment, titles and responsibilities of previous jobs. Avoid using outdated terminology such as “references provided upon request” as well as giving equal weight to every job you ever had. According to Quint Careers, your resume should only highlight employment that is relevant to your career objective.
-
2
Learn new technologies and be up-to-date on trends such as social networking. This will allow you to show potential employers you are flexible and able to learn new things. Another advantage to learning social networking is that using Facebook and Twitter can help job-seekers who are age 45 and above find a job. Through social networking, you can post comments about your job hunt that may catch the eye of individuals who are hiring in your field.
-
-
3
Focus on employers that hire a diverse workforce. According to career expert Rita Ashley, job-seekers who are in mid-career should vet their employers or find ones who are hiring mature workers instead of expending energy applying at a company that will unlikely hire someone over a certain age.
-
4
Update your look before attending a job interview. According to The Glam Gals at Boomers Next Steps, dress hip but not trendy. Do not show up wrinkled, which may convey you are not a detail-oriented person. Add some color to your attire and avoid wearing a navy or black suit with a white shirt, which could date you. Decide whether your makeup, hairstyle or wardrobe portrays you as older than you are, and update your look before attending an interview.
-
5
Sell yourself in an interview by being positive and current. Discuss how your experience can help to add value and solve problems for a company versus expounding upon what you did at previous jobs. Avoid talking down to an interviewer who may be younger than you. Ask questions and present yourself as being flexible and open-minded when discussing solutions. Do not come across as overly reliant on things that occurred in the past, even if they were successful.
-
1
References
Resources
- Photo Credit beautician on job image by Laser from Fotolia.com
