After 50 years old, typically companies say a person is overqualified, out of touch with modern equipment or too expensive. What makes an older person impressive to hiring managers?

According to US World News & Report and AARP, older workers (50+) are recommended to do the following: (I would say all ages would do well using these recommendations!)

1. Share short, powerful stories of how you used your skills and strengths to help organizations’ bottom line. You most likely have a lifetime of rich stories you can share.
2. Emphasize how well you can relate to people, including people older than yourself. The articles encourages emphasizing easy communication with older people. On the other hand, I am thinking that with all of your experience, you may be able share a variety of stories communicating and understanding a wide range of people in all age categories.
3. Communicate your adaptability.
4. Don’t stereotype any ages or group of people. Be open to look in a fresh way at each person.
5. Pass your knowledge on in ways people want to listen. “We’re basically looking for [someone who has] the ability to share ideas, good interpersonal skills, and good communications skills,” says Walter Caldwell, manager of staffing resources at the Aerospace Corp. in El Segundo, California.

I’d love to hear what tips you’d like to add to this list. Please email me at Terri@SummitViewCareerCoaching.com.

Enjoy Monday morning as much as Friday afternoon!

Do you feel like giving up on your career exploration and hunt? Richard Bolles kept score with one man’s job hunt. Let’s call him Joe Smith. Joe did the following:

• Researched 107 places that seemed interesting to him
• Spent hours researching ‘thoroughly and well’ so that he was able to continue his search in an ‘extremely professional manner’
  
• Sent a total of 297 letters
  
• Made 126 phone calls to organizations in the city he wanted to transfer
• When he finally was able to go to these places in person, he narrowed down the original 107 places down to just 45 and visited all 45 places

The result was receiving 35 job offers! Richard Bolles writes, “When he had finished his survey, he went back to the one job he most wanted–and accepted it.”
Where are you in your job search? What is your story? I’d love to hear from you at Terri@SummitViewCareerCoaching.com.

Enjoy Monday morning as much as Friday afternoon!