Posted By: Heather Eagar In: Networking If you are entering the workforce as an older worker here are some tips to help you.
Just because you may be entering retirement age does not mean that you are too old to work if you still want (or need) to. In fact, many companies are looking to the Baby Boomer generation and beyond to fill in roles that require years of experience.
So if you’re looking to come out of retirement, or simply want to switch jobs and are at an age that some might consider older, don’t put yourself out of the game. Instead, take on a few of these strategies to help you market yourself so that you can obtain the same great opportunities as your younger counterparts.
Remember, You’re Experienced
Everyone knows that as an older worker, you’re coming to the table with years of experience that someone out of college could only dream of. But your level of experience goes way beyond just years of responsibility. You also have life experience.
You may have been through difficult periods in your life where your primary goal was to keep a roof over your family’s heads and food on the table. So now that a recession is upon us, to you, this is old news – been there, done that. When marketing yourself to a prospective employer, it helps to note the level of work and life experience you hold. Employers can appreciate an emotionally stable mind in the midst of times that can leave fragile souls weaker than ever before.
You’re Confident and Self-Sufficient
Unlike a younger counterpart who may just be starting out in the work world and is feeling a bit overwhelmed and under-confident, you have been in the midst of new challenges multiple times throughout your life. You know how to adapt quickly to a new environment, don’t need constant feedback and reassurance that you’re a good worker, and aren’t too intimidated to reach out to people you don’t know to ask for help or begin projects. You understand that when the job needs to get done, it needs to get done – and you don’t let fears get in the way of doing just that. You’ve seen too much to have inhibitions at this stage in your life – definitely a great asset to market to any prospective employer.
Learning and Being a Team Player is No Problem
One concern of employers looking at older candidates is whether that candidate will be easy to train and work with, or stuck in his or her ways. It is important to assure any prospective employer that you are incredibly flexible, love to learn new things and enjoy working with others. You can use examples in your resume, cover letter, and interview of new technologies you’ve used and how you were successful in group environments in the past. You want to make sure the employer understands you will not be difficult as you may be stereotyped to be. Instead, you are the exact opposite and look forward to making a substantial difference in their company.
Applying for a new job in your later years can be as easy as it was when you were young if you market yourself well. So don’t be intimidated. Instead, take control and show them what they’d be missing if they didn’t hire you.
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