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resume

Common Job Search Mistakes Made By Older Workers

March 31, 2021 by Jenni Proctor Leave a Comment

There are 10 job search mistakes often made by older workers which cause them to miss out on opportunities for work that they want. This article will outline them for you, but first…

Let’s not blame everything on age discrimination

It’s easy to blame age discrimination, but consider if you could be causing your own employment problems? Many older workers make basic job search mistakes that lead to them being overlooked.  The result is they have to live with the consequences of being stuck in a job that they hate, underemployment, or unemployment.

One woman’s story: Could this be you?

Today I had a phone call from a past client, a lovely capable woman who is currently unemployed.  She left her job because of serious bullying issues that management refused to address.  Rather than “make a fuss” she chose to leave a workplace that she found stressful and unhappy.

Her dream is modest.  She wants a job that enables her to prove her worth.  Ideally, she’d like to be given further opportunities for responsibility and some training.  She is keen to grow in skills and confidence and to add value to the company.

Female older worker being interviewed by male Unable to find work

She knows what she would love to do but is unable to find work opportunities that lead to that role.  Her dreams are not unrealistic.  She is prepared to work below her level of experience to get a foot in the door.

However, her work history does not show a steady commitment to a couple of companies.  On the contrary she has changed jobs quite a lot, a combination of personal circumstances and leaving work when she found she was unhappy.  Yet this woman isn’t a quitter.  She is determined that she will find the work that suits her, that she suits, and where she can give great value.

Many people are in this situation

This is not an unusual situation.  There are many people, hidden from the jobless figures, who are unemployed or underemployed but don’t want to be in this situation.

Many ask, seeming not to expect a positive answer, “Are there any jobs for over 50 women or men?” They are unaware that their own job search mistakes are getting in the way of their success.

What were the classic mistakes she was making?

I have analysed her situation, her resume and cover letter, and observed the following 10 classic mistakes being made.

Common Job Search Mistakes of Older Workers

Common Job Search Mistakes Made By Older Workers

[Read more…] about Common Job Search Mistakes Made By Older Workers

Filed Under: Job Search For Older Workers, Networking, Resumes, Your Employment Tagged With: Job hunting, job hunting strategies, job search mistakes, jobs for older people, jobs for retired people, jobs for senior citizens, jobs for seniors, older workers, resume, resume mistakes, what to include in a resume

Things Not to Include on a Resume

September 27, 2019 by Jenni Proctor Leave a Comment

The purpose of writing your resume is to get the prospective employer to invite you to an interview. However even people who understand this still try to capture their entire career-life history.  This makes the really relevant information disappear into the background….Not a good idea!

Your resume is your marketing.

What to include on your Resume

Only include in your resume what you would include when telling someone why you are right for that job.

The fact is that your resume is simply an advertisement that gets you the click. It needs to ‘sell it’, and not just ‘tell it’ about yourself. You want to honestly up-sell your achievements and leave out the information that does not contribute to you looking like the perfect candidate.

In my experience of writing resumes, I have come across a number of rules about what should go in and what should stay out of a resume.

So here’s a list of what NOT to include on your resume:

Anything you cannot provide evidence for

This is the polite way of saying don’t tell lies. You may tell your story in different ways, but any you select must be true.

Anything not directly relevant to the job

Everything you say should support your claim to be the best candidate for the job. Anything that does not do that should be considered strongly for removal.

Salary information

It’s just another means to exclude you from the interview. Even if the job advertisement asks for this information explicitly, don’t do it. You will want to go through salary later, in a face to face negotiation at the interview stage, but not now.

Pictures/Photos

Don’t add any pictures of yourself unless you are absolutely required to do so. It is inappropriate for your photo to be included in your resume.  It also provides yet another way to exclude you from the running. All employers have their own personal stereotypes and opinions about how you should look. Don’t pander to this idea at this stage. (Unless of course you are going for a modelling job or similar, in which case you would be adding full-sized studio photographs, not resume pictures)

Gimmicks

Don’t add cute gimmicks or graphics or unnecessary ornamentation if you want to be taken seriously. Anything that takes the employer’s attention away from your qualifications to do the job should be omitted.

Reasons for leaving jobs

Any excuses or reasons or whatever as to why you left previous jobs should be avoided. It may indeed be obvious from your resume that you have stayed a very short time in your previous job or that you have had many jobs in a very short time. Your best course of action is let the facts speak for themselves and simply never raise the issue. However, you can expect a few questions in the interview when you get there, but leave it till then. No matter how interesting the story is, do not include it in your resume.

Personal details

Leave these out to avoid any possibility of discrimination. You don’t need to put your age, marital status, ethnic origin, excellent health statements, etc. If any of these factors are a requirement for the job then let the issues get raised in the interview, and deal with them there. Also be aware of possible identity theft issues. Here is a security reason for leaving out many personal details. Consider instead, leaving out your street level address, and use a free email address (like Google, Yahoo etc. but do use a professional sounding email name!). You could also list a mobile phone number rather than your house phone.

Reference details

Leave out any mention of references. Referees’ contact details should never be included in your resume. The reason is that people, who you have asked to be references for you, want you to treat their privacy with a lot of respect. So don’t splash their contact details around. Also, prospective employers don’t actually want to see your references at this stage. I recommend that you only provide references when they specifically ask for them and after at least one interview, so you can have had an opportunity to check the prospective employer out as being legitimate.

Remember, your resume is one of many!

Remember that with stacks of resumes to read through, the prospective employer is trying to find reasons to exclude your resume from the selection process. Any information you do record on your resume must enhance your status as the perfect candidate for the job, and not detract from it in any way. Therefore what you SHOULD NOT include in your resume is just as important as knowing what you SHOULD include.

Career-reno-masterplan-3

job search help

Filed Under: Resumes, Your Employment Tagged With: interview, resume

Benefits of Blogging – An Extension of Your Resume

September 5, 2019 by Jenni Proctor Leave a Comment

Have you considered the career benefits of blogging, making you stand out from the crowd? Obviously your resume is an essential tool in the business world. It allows you to impress potential employers and qualify for job interviews. When posted online, it can also help you find job leads. As the job market becomes more competitive, however, you need to find ways to make your application stand out in the crowd. Creating a relevant, well-connected blog that complements your resume is a practical way to set yourself apart from the competition.

Benefits of Blogging

Blogs show that you are committed.

A well-executed blog is impressive to potential employers and colleagues alike. Maintaining a blog relevant to your career shows employers that you are serious about your chosen profession.

Blogs demonstrate your expertise.

When you tailor your blog to your career, you will often write about subjects that require specialized knowledge. If your posts are well executed and engaging, employers will be impressed.

Blogs are collaborative.

If you regularly interact with your blog’s readership, potential employers will see that you are willing to collaborate with others. They can also use the interactions to evaluate your interpersonal skills.

Employers research job candidates.

Many employers search for potential employees on the Internet in order to learn more about them. Blogging allows you a measure of control over what your potential employer sees.
Blogs are good for networking.

Job seekers often post their job skills and contact information to career-related databases and social networks in order to connect with people in their field. Creating a focused blog is a similar strategy in that it allows you to attract a readership with interests similar to yours. A benefit of blogging that is often overlooked is that when your readers are members of the same field as you, they may be able to provide you with job leads.

Tips for constructing a blog that people value

benefits of bloggingKeep it relevant.

If you want to use your blog as a career tool, you need to keep your career in mind with every post you construct. Writing about your personal life on occasion is okay, but make sure that your posts always relate to your career in some way.

Be accurate.

Potential employers who read your blog are going to evaluate your knowledge of your chosen field. Keep this in mind whenever you create a post, and do your best to ensure that your posts never contain inaccuracies.

Be interesting.

An interesting blog will attract and retain a larger readership, thus increasing the likelihood of job leads or offers. Engaging blogs are also important for demonstrating your communication skills to potential employers. If your blog is boring, your potential employer may not even read it.

Include contact information.

If you are maintaining your blog in hopes of finding job leads, include your contact information so that potential employers will be able to reach you. You should also include a link to your resume.

In today’s competitive job market, it is more important than ever to stand out when you apply for a position. Another benefit of blogging is that it highlights your talents is an excellent way to increase your marketability as an employee. In addition, creating such a blog facilitates the development of connections that can help you in your job search.

Guest Author: Lindsey Harper Mac is a professional writer living in the Indianapolis area. She specializes in writing guest posts covering social media and education on behalf of American InterContinental University. Currently, Lindsey is completing work on her master’s degree.

Filed Under: Your Employment Tagged With: Blogging, older workers, resume

Turning 13 Most Overused Resume Phrases to Achievement Statements

August 17, 2019 by BoomersNextStep Guest Author Leave a Comment

How to create a resume that has impact.

best-resume-includes-achievement-statements

Is your resume full of fluff or strong achievement statements?

An impactful resume can make the difference between getting an interview and being tossed in the ‘no thanks’ pile.

During a long career most people go beyond expectations, achieve goals and show excellence in numerous ways.  So why is it that so many people indicate very few of their achievements when they write their resume?

Your resume is your marketing tool

[Read more…] about Turning 13 Most Overused Resume Phrases to Achievement Statements

Filed Under: Resumes, Your Employment Tagged With: achievement statements, how to make a resume, perfect resume, resume, resume help, resume preperation, resume writing

Seven Keys to Working With Recruiters

July 27, 2019 by BoomersNextStep Guest Author Leave a Comment

Working with a recruiter could be one of the best career decisions you’ve ever made. It can also be a serious waste of time and lead to disappointment and even resentment. Choosing the right firm, the right recruiter and getting off on the right foot can be essential steps to landing you in a position that fulfills your ambitions. Follow these simple seven tips to get the most out of your recruiter relationships.

Work with a Recruiter who specializes in your industry

Choose firms (and recruiters) that specialize in what you do. As obvious as it sounds, a little research will go a long way to helping you find the right position. If a firm or recruiter doesn’t understand the language of your profession, chances are they won’t have the skill to obtain the job orders from managers hiring people like you.

Working with a Senior Recruiter is an advantage

It’s perfectly OK to ask a recruiter a few questions to determine their experience and ability level. Check them out on LinkedIn. Do they have good recommendations? Are they connected to your industry?

Recruiters are working for their client, not you

Most recruiters work for free until they make a placement and when they do, it’s the client who pays not you the candidate. Remember this and treat them accordingly. If a recruiter doesn’t like you for whatever reason (thinks you’re rude or arrogant) it’s unlikely they’ll submit you for any jobs.

Stay in touch

Staying in touch is YOUR job – just don’t stay in touch too much. It’s essential for you to gently remind your recruiter of your existence. However, too many phone calls or emails and your recruiter is likely to run the other direction and begin avoiding you. Striking the balance is easy. Ask your recruiters how often they would like status updates. I recommend sending an email each week with your availability status, whether you have interviewed recently etc. Include in the email “REPLY NOT REQUIRED”. This keeps your recruiter informed without generating more work for them.

Take their advice

If you’ve chosen your recruiter wisely and are working with someone with many years in the industry and he or she offers you advice TAKE IT. They know much more about resumes, interviews, and skills trends than most other people you’ll come in contact with.

Multiple recruitment companies

Register with more than one firm. More recruiters equals better odds of landing the job you want most. If you are working with several recruiters you are likely to find one that really suits your current needs.

Keep notes of people and meetings

Keep track of places you interviewed, the managers you met with and share this info with your favorite recruiters. Many recruiters rely on leads from candidates to grow their job openings, which helps them place other people. This is the very best way you can repay a recruiter for the time they spend with you. Not only will it be appreciated, but it will keep you at the very top of their available candidates matrix as well.

Our Guest Author: @josh_d_matthews is the Director of Get It Right, Inc. and specializes in assisting technology professionals in getting more offers and more out of life.

Career-reno-masterplan-3

Filed Under: Job Search For Older Workers, Networking, Your Employment Tagged With: coverletter, Employment, interview, Job hunting, resume

Executive Job Search? You’ll Need More Than a Resume

July 25, 2019 by BoomersNextStep Guest Author Leave a Comment

Tips for Doing an Executive Job Search

 

Executive Job Search? You'll Need More Than a Resume

It might intrigue you to learn that you’ll be judged by more than just your resume during your executive job search.

A full resume is most likely not going to be the only source of information that recruiters use to decide if you are the right person to be interviewed.

Surprised? You’ll find that recruiters, company owners, Boards of Directors, and other hiring decision-makers often look at your experience through a series of interviews and investigations.  This means that your executive resume is just one part of the process. [Read more…] about Executive Job Search? You’ll Need More Than a Resume

Filed Under: Resumes, Your Employment Tagged With: coverletter, Employment, interview, job hunt, linkedin, resume

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