Career Tips

50+ Employment Expo

Dr. Joyce E. A. Russell

Robert H. Smith School of Business jrussell@rhsmith.umd.edu

Vice Dean

Director of Executive Coaching & Leadership Development Contributing Writer, Career Coach, Washington Post Capital Business

May 30, 2014

Do not regret growing older. It is a privilege denied to many

~Author Unknown

Large Numbers of 50+ in today’s population (born between 1946-

1963).

• 42% are delaying retirement

• 25% say they’ll never retire

Challenges:

• For 50+, it takes 20% longer to get hired than a similarly

trained 41-45 year old

• They are 20% less likely than workers 25 to 34 to

become re-employed

• Once unemployed they are out of work longer than

their younger counterparts. (Nearly two-thirds of unemployed

workers age 55 and older say they have been actively searching

for a job for more than one year, compared to just one-third of

younger workers)

Fast Facts & Challenges

• Older applicants may be told they are "overqualified" for the position. (Is that just a euphemism for too old?)

• 50-and-older workers called the “new unemployables” (since less likely to find jobs than unemployed younger workers).

• So, what are they doing - working part time because they cannot find full-time employment. Others - become discouraged and drop out of the labor force, believing they will not find new jobs.

• Given these circumstances, some workers think age discrimination might be a factor:

• Employers may have qualifications for jobs that are inadvertently weeding out older candidates (e.g., recent education and technological skills) – and older workers are likely to come up short compared to younger competition.

• With a large supply of unemployed workers, employers are choosier, and can opt for workers they think are less expensive or more recently trained

Challenges

1. Network

2. Prepare for the Job Application Process

3. Update/Revamp your Resume

4. Prepare for the Interview

5. Highlight your Interpersonal and Team Skills

6. Use your Age as an Asset

7. Update/Retool your Skills

8. Practice Negotiation Skills

9. Seek Help

10.Stay Positive and Be Persistent

Top 10 Tips for Success

• One of the best ways to get a job is by a recommendation from

someone you know

• Who to network with – people who can provide you with

referrals – friends, family, mentors, past colleagues, people at

companies you are targeting

• Always carry business cards with you, especially at a

networking event. There are websites that will print affordable,

custom business cards for you. Include your name, title or

industry, email address and phone number; Make it professional

• Use networking events to brand yourself (think about what you

want others to know about you and what kind of relationships

you're looking to establish)

• Practice introducing yourself in less than 30 seconds. Give your

"elevator pitch" (eye contact, smile, firm handshake) Be sure to

share something unique to make you stand out.

1. Network

• Not the same as in the past (resume, references, interview)

• Now the application process includes – resume, cover

letter, references, social media profile, assessments

instruments, interviews, presentations, etc.

• Find out what their process will be like in advance (ask

questions of the recruiters to be prepared).

• Have someone critically review your materials

(resume, cover letter, list of references).

• Role play to practice interviewing.

2. Prepare - Application Process

• Update it to look more modern and professional

• Focus on past 10-15 years of skills and jobs rather than your entire 30+ years of experiences

• Show your current skills - Employers want to know whether you can do the job now

• Fill in gaps in your resume with activities you have engaged in (volunteer work, classes, certifications, starting a business, etc). Watch out for large gaps in your resume.

• List all technology credentials, including recent training and certifications. Use current industry keywords, especially for technical positions, throughout your résumé.

• Leave age identifying information off of your resume . Don't include your entire work history, just the last 10 - 15 years; leave off the dates you went to college; leave off older skills (e.g., older programming languages, personal hobbies & status)

• Be sure you have resume information on social media (e.g., LinkedIN) and get it critiqued.

Age is just a number. Mine is unlisted. ~Author Unknown

3. Update your Resume

• Interviews are critical – it is the place where you connect with the employer, sell yourself and show that you have the energy, passion, and excitement necessary to do the job.

• You have to show that you’ll fit in, so be sure to think carefully about how you want to be perceived.

• Consider a makeover - Updating your look can help in your job search. It doesn’t have to cost a fortune (e.s., shop at discount stores such as T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, Loehmann's, H&M, Target, etc for fashionable business wear). Programs such as “Dress for Success” provide interview attire for disadvantaged job seekers.

• Focus on the employer - Build the case on how much you want to work for the particular firm (do research on the web to learn more about them).

• Talk about your plans to grow and develop a career within the company -- with an idea that you will contribute for many years.

• Practice, practice, practice

4. Prepare for the Interview

• Highlight your ability to work in teams (that you are NOT “set in your ways”

• Highlight experiences where you have successfully worked with others in various generations (Gen Y, Gen X, Baby Boomers, Traditionalists)

• In a subtle way - give examples of your work experiences which highlight how you have worked with diverse individuals (across race, ethnicity, gender, personality, functional expertise, etc).

• Explain how you can serve as a leader AND also as a team member (that you can play both roles)

• Highlight that you are comfortable with mentoring others and reverse-mentoring (being willing to learn from others)

5. Highlight your Interpersonal

& Team Skills

• Focus on your ability and attitude, not your age

• Highlight experiences you have to show the ability you will have to more quickly work with clients

• Highlight knowledge and experience that can enable you to help the firm build their business and make profits.

• Reframe the discussion - Older job seekers often make the mistake of focusing on their past achievements and calling attention to themselves, preemptively laying out an argument why their age won't matter. Instead – talk about what your goals are for the future and why your experiences can benefit the company.

In the interview and resume are you playing your greatest hits or are you showing

how you are cranking out new music? - Jaffe

6. Use your Age as an Asset

• Show you are tech-savvy (via email, texting, social media such as

LinkedIn, etc).

• Show how you are a continual learner by additional education,

certificates, online classes, etc you have participated in to enhance

your skills and knowledge

• AARP offers WorkSearch - an online skills assessment for job seekers

to help you identify the types of jobs you may be best suited to based

on your work interests, personality and work/life skills

• Dept. of Labor offers Career OneStop – more information on training

• The National Business Services Alliance - a job match survey that

compares a person’s work interests and personal characteristics to

hundreds of job profiles, providing them with a list of best-fit jobs.

• The Labor Department has an online tool (MySkills My Future) to help

people consider career options related to their original career.

7. Update/Retool Your Skills

• Highlight negotiation skills you already have (e.g., working with clients or customers, team members, etc)

• Understand your own conflict management skills (via assessments – to understand the extent you use avoiding, accommodating, competing, compromising, collaborating).

• Practice, practice, practice to enhance your negotiation skills so you are able to use a variety of styles and get feedback on how to improve.

• Be able to highlight how you use a collaborative style with diverse audiences

• Use negotiation tactics in the job search (preparation is the most important element in your success; delay talking about compensation until after your receive a written offer: think about your target not your resistance point; use silence strategically; think about their interests along with yours; have a BATNA; listen and ask questions)

8. Practice Negotiations

• Get job search support - Don't just try to find

a job on your own. Everyone can benefit from

advice, contacts, and moral support.

• Develop a support group (mentors, peers,

younger people, etc.)

• Colleges frequently extend career services to

alumni regardless of when they graduated.

• Many libraries offer job search classes, job

clubs and other programs for job seekers.

• Look at age-friendly employers (see those at

this Expo and those identified by SHRM as

best places for older workers to be employed).

9. Seek Help

• Don’t sell yourself short! - Make sure that your resume speaks to those accomplishments and the value you can contribute.

• Many companies know that baby boomers and seniors have much to offer the workforce, whether as full-time employees, part-timers, consultants or in other creative work arrangements. Some statistics have shown that more than 50 percent of U.S. companies are willing to negotiate special arrangements for older workers just to keep them in the workplace. Remember this!

• Stay positive!

• Persistence is key.

10. Stay Positive &

Be Persistent

www.accessjca.org - Jewish Council for the Aging – lots of resources

www.monster.com has a section entitled “careers at 50+”

www.seniorjobbank.org seeks to bring together employers with older job seekers.

www.aarp.org has lots of valuable information to help seniors with their career plans

www.quintcareers.com/mature_jobseekers.html ) has numerous resources for

boomers and older workers looking for new jobs and career-change strategies and tactics.

www.seniors4hire.com lists jobs and other ways of earning money. You can search job

listings, post your resume, register for e-mail job alerts, use a jobs-wanted tool and find useful

resources for mature workers.

www.wiserworker.com is a job site designed to help baby boomers and older workers in

finding employment. Job seekers can search job listings, find a collection of career articles and

resources, and listings of local job fairs across the country.

www.workforce50.com is a career resource site for older job seekers that has lots of age-

related career content, from resume writing to job search strategies. They also have a career

and education section to assist boomers who are considering a career or job transition.

www.retiredbrains.com has information for searching for a job and starting your own

business, among other resources for seniors.

www.rebootyou.com is a site which offers articles and resources to help a person find a new

career after ending a current career.

Resources for 50+ Workers

YourEncore - for older scientists, engineers and product developers

RetireeWorkforce.com - for retirees and mature workers.

The Riley Guide - Career advice plus links to thousands of websites which offer job postings and resources

Job-Hunt.org - Links to a wide range of employment websites and career resources.

Weddle’s - Internet resources on job hunting and career management; includes online bookstore and bi-weekly newsletter.

Execu-Net - Find job opportunities and networking for executive jobs in the $100K employment market. Requires paid membership (30-day, 180-day, and 360-day options).

The Five O’Clock Club - Career Coaching and Outplacement Network for Professionals, Managers, and Executives. Members attend weekly meetings either at a physical location or by teleconference, and network with other members. Membership fees are based on number of sessions attended. Free articles are available on website.

Resources for 50+ Job Seekers

Whatever you are, be a good one – Abraham Lincoln

Job Hunting After 50

Land the Job You Love: 10 Surefire Strategies for Jobseekers

Over 50

Finding a Job After 50: Reinvent Yourself for the 21st Century

Roadmap for the Rest of your life

Second Careers: New Ways to Work After 50

Encore: Finding Work That Matters in the Second Half of Life

Resources

Feel free to send any questions or comments to me at:

Dr. Joyce E. A. Russell Robert H. Smith School of Business

jrussell@rhsmith.umd.edu

Thank You for Participating! Best of Luck!

“You are as young as your faith, as old as your doubt; As young as your self-confidence, as old as your fear;

As young as your hope, as old as your despair”. ~Douglas MacArthur

Questions and Comments?

Thanks to Jewish Council for the Aging and Fairfax County and the sponsors: AARP, Capital Business Washington Post, LTCCC, SER, SkillSource Group, Microsoft, 50+ Fairfax