Advice for Older Job Hunter

Hello all....I am the job hunt again....my current position has changed drastically from what I was hired for. So now Im starting to look again...Im 59 with gray hair.....so does anyone have any advise on resume revision, interview attire, interviewing, etc?  Tks 

Hi Tabby, 

I’ve got a 62 year old friend who was job searching for the better part of a year after needing to relocate from Pittsburgh to Albany.  Despite having a civil engineering degree and a decent work history he was getting nowhere until he made two simple changes.  1) He dyed his hair and beard to get rid of the gray and 2) he had his resume redone online by someone who specialized in that.  Suddenly he got multiple good offers and now has a job that he really likes at a very decent salary.  

Do what you can, but don't beat yourself up.  Have someone who hires people look at your resume and cover letters (and ask them about interviewing too).  Try to get an updated look--at least look well groomed.  Might want to cover the gray hair--not sure about that.  Display energy, enthusiasm and flexibility.  Be good with technology or show no fear.  Have a sense of humor and talk about how you enjoy contributing to a team. It really depends on how competative the jobs market is and your past experience for the type of job you want.  In general, I think there is a lot of age discrimination out there, so you have to combat it by doing what you can on your end and applying for as many jobs as possible to increase the odds.  I would look for a job in every place you can find and try to apply for every job you have the remotest interest in taking.  That was my strategy when looking in my 50's and I've had sucess every time when I least expected it.  Luck plays a part too if you are prepared.

Are you using LinkedIn to identify and meet with people in your field? Are you doing freelance or volunteer work while you look? Are your skills up to date, or could you take an online class to improve them?

Don't go on a job interview with gray hair. Get a good dye job that looks natural. It's not cheap, but worth the investment.

shoshannah said:

Don't go on a job interview with gray hair. Get a good dye job that looks natural. It's not cheap, but worth the investment.

How does it work once you've gotten the job? Do you keep coloring your hair? Or let it grow out? Won't your new coworkers be making snide comments behind your back?

There are companies that actually prefer to hire older workers.  Might be worth a Google search to come up with a list and see if any of them are (a) in our area and (b) have jobs available in your field. 

The library website has job search tools on their website.  Worth taking a look.

Professionals in Transition is a support group that meets monthly at the library for networking and focus on a given job search strategy.

Volunteering is a great way of keeping up your skills while preventing holes in your resume.  There are lots of opportunities locally, even more regionally.  Check out the volunteering tab on SOMA Two Towns For All Ages for some current volunteer needed listings aimed at older adults.

Good luck with your search.

try aarp job board

https://www.aarp.org/work/

kthnry said:

shoshannah said:

Don't go on a job interview with gray hair. Get a good dye job that looks natural. It's not cheap, but worth the investment.

How does it work once you've gotten the job? Do you keep coloring your hair? Or let it grow out? Won't your new coworkers be making snide comments behind your back?

Yes, continue to color it. Sad, but it's reality.

Yes, this is true and Shoshannah is correct.  Please get this done by a professional - they can leave some gray in, but they know how to do it.   A close friend was advise to switch from the old fashioned bifocals with a cut out/line to progressives.  These things make a difference.  There is bias t/here, even subconscious, and this can only help you.   

shoshannah said:

kthnry said:

shoshannah said:

Don't go on a job interview with gray hair. Get a good dye job that looks natural. It's not cheap, but worth the investment.

How does it work once you've gotten the job? Do you keep coloring your hair? Or let it grow out? Won't your new coworkers be making snide comments behind your back?

Yes, continue to color it. Sad, but it's reality.

And if you don't have a Gmail or an @me account, please get one. An interviewer can often tell your age by your email address. Be open to receiving texts and sending them. 

Volunteering stats on your resume is a great idea as well. It shows commitment to something you enjoy outside of the work place and honestly, gives the impression that you have the stamina to work AND volunteer your time. 

I was laid off in April and took the opportunity to set up a consulting practice. The LLC set up online was easy and cheap. I found employers were more willing to hire a “seasoned” consultant on a part-time basis than making a permanent investment. They get experience, focus and don’t have to fight for “head count” - which is a big deal in most corporate environments. Using LinkedIn and my professional contacts I’ve had steady work. It also gave me the time to find a permanent role in a new industry - which I start in Nov. 

So my advice is to be creative with your options - the gig economy is strong.  Use LinkedIn and social media. And, leverage your professional contacts. 

Here is a site I explored http://www.flexjobs.com/ 

I didn’t actually find my clients here, but there are good jobs on this board.

Hello all,

Thank you for all the great advice! 

Question: How many years of work history do I keep  on the resume? 

Tks.

That's a tough one. I often hear 10-15 years. But if you have significant experience early on - you accomplished stuff, worked at impressive and "name" places - I think there's some risk leaving those out. If you can tell a compelling story with just the last 10-15 or 20 years, I'd go with that. And of course it varies by industry - in academia and higher education, you can submit a more lengthy resume.