(Website best viewed at 1280 X 768)
Professional Development
Today's economy is shaky and jobs aren't easy to land with so much competition out there.  This does not mean it's impossible.  You just need to know how to play the game.

Searching for a job when you're 50 or older requires a different approach than a typical search.

You're likely to seek opportunities higher on the corporate ladder and might face perceived age bias.  To succeed, you need to plan ahead, says Lynne A. Sarikas, director of the MBA career center at Northeastern University in Boston. Consider this advice:

1. Prepare Mentally
Anticipate rejection and plan for a longer job search.  It takes an average of 22 weeks for someone over 55 to find a new job, compared with 16 weeks for  younger workers, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. " Having the appropriate expectation level helps very much with maintaining your self-esteem, attitude, and energy level", says Dave Opton, founder of the Execunet.

2. Target Niche Recruiters
Let executive-search professionals in your industry know you're on the market, advises Howard Seidel, a partner at Essex Partners, a Boston career-transition firm.  Get a referral from someone in your field.

3. Get Tech Savvy
If you haven't figured out text messaging, instant messaging, social networking, and other tech-related activities, now is the time says Roy Cohen, a career counselor and executive coach in New York.  Employers are increasingly using these tools in their business strategies.

4. Make New Connections
Broaden your networking circle to boost your odds of getting referrals and news about job openings. 

5. Curb Age Bias
You can address unspoken predispositions that hiring managers might have about senior candidates - fears that older workers might lack energy or are already looking ahead to retirement - Says Opton. Casually reveal information to counteract that, he explains.  You might say, "I'm sorry I wasn't in when you called...I was in the middle of a 6-mile jog."  Everything from your hair to your shoes should convey your status as a successful professional, says Susan Summers, a business image coach in New York.  Covering up gray hair isn't necessary, but a contemporary style avoids the impression "that you're stuck in the past", she says.


Provided by tampabay.com (Tampa Bay Times) 2008

5 Tips For The Older Job Seeker
Topics
(Website best viewed at 1280 X 768)
CAREER BUILDING
Tips for success!