Five Ways Not To Look Old
Henry DeVries | Assistant Dean for External Affairs, UC San DiegoâCareer derailments, job declines, industry and fields disappearing, stereotypes on âaging workersâ all can make the current job search the most difficult anyone over 40 has every facedâif they let it,â said career expert Robin Ryan. âBaby boomers can definitely land a great job, but they have to approach the entire job search processâresumes, cover letters, interviews, and how you look for openingsâdifferently from how they have before.â
Ryan, Americaâs top career coach, has offered job seekers advice on âOprah,â âDr. Phil,â and more than 1,000 other TV & radio shows. The  bestselling author and speaker motivates people to enhance their skills, improve their professional lives and succeed in todayâs economyâespecially those over 40 job-seekers.
Ryan said her travels across America have given her perspective on the tough times for those who are over 40 and need a new or better job.
Her latest book, âOver 40 & Youâre Hired!â quickly became the number one business bestseller on Amazon.com. Drawn from a successful 20 year track record, Ryan has shared her market-tested plan and set of tools she uses to transform the lives of the thousands of 40+ job candidate clients she has coached in her one-on-one counseling practice.
âA book like this just had to be written,â said Ryan. âDouble-digit unemployment and my own conscience literally forced me to write it now. I felt that too many people really need the helpâ
Ryan said she recognizes all of the obstacles that experienced executives and managers faceâbut sees these as a psychological barrier that can be overcomeâand actually turned into what she calls âan age advantage.â
Whatâs the secret? An innovative new â40+ strategy,â that includes packaging, pricing and distribution techniques that experienced job candidates must employ. Ryan shared five quick tips for those past 40 who are in job search mode:
- Donât âlook oldâ to employers. This doesnât mean you have to dye your hair or buy expensive skin creams. You look old by not knowing how to use technology. Instead, get familiar with computer tools like MS Outlook, PDFs and blogsites. Donât make fun of Facebook, smartphones and Twitter because that makes you sound out of touch.
- Tap into the “hidden job market.” Seek out the secret openings in order to find better job opportunities. According to the Department of Labor, 63 percent of jobs found last year were through contacts. The majority of jobs are probably never advertised.
- Get off the computer and start promoting. Use proven ways of better self-promotion that will get a prospective employers’ attention. Networking is a must-use component for success.
- Cultivate your network. Join LinkedIn and post your professional profile. Attend professional meetings and conferences.
- Discuss results. Employers care most about the results you’ve achieved in your most recent positions. Use some enthusiasm in your voice when you discuss your skills and accomplishments. Be sure your resume is loaded with past results, system improvements and ways you may have saved time or made money for past employers.
Author Perspective: Administrator
This article is a great start. What I’d like to see happening at the same time in our culture is for us to address the unreasonable worship of youth and beauty and rampant age discrimination. In the meantime…we must all be wary of stereotypes. I know more about technology than many of my younger students and use multiple online tools–whereas many of them know ONLY Facebook and how to text. Employers run the risk of missing out on talent when they make assumptions about any candidate based on age or appearance.