Over 50 and looking for work? Polish up your skill-set, since it’s tough out there……

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As age advances, so usually does our grasp of our career choice. A fifty year old lawyer usually has more contacts and experience than a newly minted junior partner fresh out of university. A fifty-five year old learned tool and die mechanic is likely to know some of the nuances of CNC programming more than a recently trained 20-something. All that experience usually demands a higher salary, increased benefits and additional job security – until now.

As many companies downsize to make ends meet and to keep the shareholders satisfied, it’s the older, more experienced worker who is let go to cut costs, and when it’s time to hire again, the older worker has a more difficult time, since they are expecting to be hired back at their former salary with the same benefits.

The following piece gives advice and hope to the older worker.

The older the job seeker, the harder to find a job, she said. But she tells most older job-seekers to do more than blame the economy.

"Blame yourself and the way you approach the job search," she says.
Too many older workers assume they can continue to find similar work. Or they are not really up-to-date in computer skills.

"We're talking about five critical success strategies older workers need," Timmermann said.

They include:

• To understand the market, older job seekers should identify industries and organizations in the area that are stable or growing; look for a workforce culture that respects all workers; look for opportunities in small- to medium-sized companies, which create the majority of new jobs.

• Reframe Your Experience to Demonstrate Future Value. Boomers must identify and articulate what value they bring while recognizing their underlying skill set must constantly evolve. Clarify what you have to offer and develop the contacts you need to be taken seriously to compete today.

• Nurture Your Network It's critical for older job-seekers to use their existing network.

• DOS IS Dead: Update Computer Technology Skills

• Do the Math – Then Manage Your Ambivalence. It might be too late to start planning retirement finances, but recognize the pressure of work and retirement.

For the complete article, take a look at:

Strategies for older workers to find jobs

And here we have some additional ideas:

An older worker with a longer and more varied resume has a good chance of finding a job in a new industry as long as he or she can relate experience to the job at hand, experts say.

"I always tell people, especially the older ones, you should always have a resume tailored for the job you want. Yes, it takes more time, but it's the only way," said Lewis Benavides, associate vice president for human resources at Texas Woman's University.

A functional resume, in which work experience is arranged by skills instead of chronological order, is one solution. It highlights jobs that involved similar skills to the job you're applying for and boils down others to a line or two………

Ultimately, it comes down to attitude, experts warn. Don't dwell on your age and how it's an obstacle, because that will come across in how you perform in interviews and meetings with contacts.

"Half of it is an attitude," said Dawn Fay, district president in New York for recruiter Robert Half International. "You're going to get what you present."

Laid-off older workers face biases in job search

As with any job search at any age, a positive, engaging attitude and evolving aptitude will be assets to you and to the outfit that hires you.

If you are looking to expand your resume with certification or a higher degree, take a look at Allpinkslip’s Education resources. and make sure your resume is current and applicable to the job you are applying for by using the Resume resources of Allpinkslips.