Here are some tips for older job seekers to consider:

1. Update your resume. You cannot expect anyone to hire you when your resume harkens back to the dinosaur age. There are many ways to tweak and transform your resume so you appear to be a modern candidate:

2. Try a new typeface. Georgia, Calibri, Tahoma or Geneva may help give your resume a bit of a facelift.

3. Omit the objective. Modern resumes nix objectives in favor of headlines and bullet points featuring the connection between the job seeker and the position’s requirements.

4. Do not write “References available on request.” This is dated; it’s also pointless. Everyone knows you’ll provide references if requested.

5. Include links to social media profiles. Let’s face it, you need to go above and beyond to show you’re able to function in today’s highly technical workplace. If employers see you maintain Twitter, Google+ and professional Facebook pages, you will help them overcome their preconceived notions about older job seekers not using technology.

6. Don’t write a list of things you’ve done. Resumes aren’t laundry lists of everything you’ve done. Avoid outlining experience using “Responsible for____” or “Assisted with____.” Instead, focus on your skills and accomplishments. Make a point to highlight how you made a difference to your employers and relate those achievements to your target job.

7. Focus on recent experience. Perhaps your most impressive accomplishment was 20 years ago, but don’t feature it prominently on your resume. Make sure you don’t do anything to cause employers to think your best days are behind you. Feature more recent accomplishments and if you don’t have enough key things to focus on, find volunteer or other opportunities to expand your experience.

8. Network and use social media tools. Don’t just maintain social media presences, actively use them to expand your network, demonstrate your expertise and to stay relevant. Make a point to post smart status updates to demonstrate that you know what’s new in your field. If you’re really diligent, you can become a go-to through leader in your field using social media tools, which goes a long way to overcoming any age discrimination issues.

9. Identify your transferable skills. Many in-demand jobs today didn’t even exist several years ago, and it’s possible your former job is not going to come back into vogue. Consider if the skills you used at your past jobs are the same skills you need to land something new. Identify new, high-growth fields to determine if there may be good matches for you to do something brand new with your career.

10. Continue your education. If you haven’t kept up-to-date in your field, you may need to seriously consider enrolling in some training or certification programs. Before you invest in anything, be sure to do your research to make sure you choose to enhance marketable skills that will make it easier for you to land a new opportunity.

11. Look for jobs at companies looking for you. You may be surprised to learn that there are companies who purposely seek experienced workers. Visit www.retirementjobs.com to see thousands of listings from employers who are targeting older workers. AARP also lists companies who are interested in hiring people who are 50 and older. www.aarp.org/money.

12. Start a business. The real wave of the future is that people will be working for themselves as freelancers or for temporary firms that outsource their talent. Consider creating an online presence to support a new business endeavor instead of looking for a job. You may find that you can successfully land consulting opportunities, even if you’ve had trouble finding full-time jobs.

Many job seekers who follow these steps do land successfully in new positions and discover new career paths and opportunities they may not have considered. Keep an open mind and think beyond updating your wardrobe or dyeing your gray hair and you may be one of those successful job seekers, too.

Originally posted on AolJobs.com.

Photo by marsmet526

The post How to get a job when you’re over 50 appeared first on Keppie Careers.

No one doubts it is difficult to find a job after working in one place for over a decade. The job market is different today than 10 years ago. Expectations are different, employers source candidates differently and job seekers apply and have materials screened using new tools. Thatâ€s a lot of obstacles for mature job seekers to overcome.

The solution? Stop worrying about the “age issue” and start addressing the real reasons why you may not be landing opportunities:

Your resume is old fashioned and untargeted. If youâ€re worried about age discrimination, donâ€t start your resume with, “Over 25 years of experience in ______.” Do not try to hide your age via a “functional” resume that mashes up your skills without detailing when and where you gained them. Focus on your most recent and relevant 10 years of work history and make a strong case for your candidacy.

A human being is unlikely to review your resume unless the automated Applicant Tracking System (ATS) identifies your materials as a good match to pass along to hiring managers. Fill your resume with keywords relevant to the job and incorporate specifics regarding your skills and accomplishments to win a chance to interview.

You balk at technology. If an employer invites you to interview via Skype, and you hesitate because you donâ€t know how to use it, expect the organization to move on to the next candidate. When you ask if you can fax your resume instead of applying using your (non-existent) LinkedIn profile, assume youâ€ve lost an opportunity.

Some employers will jump to the conclusion that anyone over 50 is not technologically savvy. Do not embrace that stereotype – even if it is true for you. Ask your neighbors or grown children for help, or take a class to be sure you are up on the latest “must have” tools. Learn how to use online networks and applications and dispel the myth that older workers cannot learn new things.

Recruiters are looking on social media, and youâ€re not there. The 2012 Jobvite study shows employers are using social media to recruit, with 92% of U.S. companies using social networks and media to find talent in 2012, up from 78% five years ago. Years ago, engaging with recruiters may have meant attending a lot of in-person networking events.

While the in-person event has its place, the statistics donâ€t lie; social media is key to job search success. You need an optimized LinkedIn profile at the very least, and if youâ€re really concerned your age is a factor, take advantage of other social media tools, such as Google+ and Twitter, to demonstrate you are an expert in your field and relevant for todayâ€s workplace.

Youâ€re inflexible. If your industry suffered a lot of layoffs and there are not many positions for you, do not bang your head against the wall trying to create something that does not exist. Identify organizations where you can market your skills and target them. If there are no jobs, it doesnâ€t matter if youâ€re 25 or 55.

Your mindset is holding you back. Itâ€s understandable if you are angry, or even bitter; you worked hard, and now no one seems to value your experience. Instead of railing against the system, recognize your best hope to succeed is to embrace change. When you interview with someone young enough to be your child, donâ€t mention your grandchildren or discuss the “good old days.” Take a hard look at yourself, your demeanor and how you engage when youâ€re being evaluated.  It canâ€t hurt to casually mention the 5K you are training for or to ask if the interviewer has tried the latest Google calendar application.

Adjust your approach; instead of complaining that no one wants to hire someone over 50, use your energy to identify and emphasize your unique value proposition – what makes you more qualified than anyone else for the job.  If you canâ€t hone in on why youâ€re the natural choice, that may be the reason you are not getting work, not your age.

Related posts:

How to write a LinkedIn profile

Should I hire a resume writer?

Discovering your unique value proposition

The post How to find a job over 50? appeared first on Keppie Careers.