Recently in Mature Job-seekers Category

W.J.S. writes:

I am a middle-aged, formerly middle-management, middle-income man who has been downsized from a corporate position. I have been actively seeking employment and have been trying to network, send out resumes etc. I have had my resume professionally written, have a B.S. and an excellent career history with excellent reviews. All this considered, I am working as a security guard which I took as an interim job. I can’t even seem to get an interview. Could there possibly be age discrimination? What’s your opinion?

The Career Doctor responds:

I think the most important words I can say to you are don’t be discouraged. Maybe it’s too late for those words, but I want to hope that your problems have less to do with age discrimination — which is certainly possible — and more to do with three issues that you must address and spin to your advantage.

The first issue is being downsized. No matter what anyone says, it hurts the ego. I should know — I was downsized by a major corporation in the 80s. It’s a blow. And no matter how much we try to convince ourselves that we were not fired and that there is no stigma … sometimes we carry that issue with us into the job search and into the interview. Try to find a neutral party — an associate — and have them evaluate your approach and style. Make sure this person will be totally honest with you. Make appropriate changes.

The second issue is networking. Because of your level or experience and expertise, networking is a crucial task for you. Again, networking will only work for you if you have overcome the first issue. You can not appear down, discouraged, or desperate. For your network to work, you need to spin your situation as an opportunity for a new direction and new challenges. Work your network - friends, family, associates, former coworkers, etc.

The third issue is your level of expertise and salary. Middle managers can be the hardest to place because the flattened business model that shows less of a need for them; thus, you need to make sure your resume stress quantified accomplishments — that you were an active participate in your past company. The salary issue may be a little harder because some companies may eliminate you from consideration based on an assumption of affordability. I would stress — again — the power of your network — but also the use of a headhunter, though keep in mind that headhunters are working for the hiring companies.

Best of luck to you. It is going to take some time, so try not to be impatient. Build that network and focus on the positive.

See this section of Quintessential Careers for more help and resources: Job and Career Resources for Mature and Older Job-Seekers.

Randy writes:

I have several questions about my current job search:

1. Due to my age, I am only going back 15 years on my resume — some say 10 — but should I leave all those jobs completely or just list them without dates?
2. Currently I list months/years on my jobs, which is fine overall except for my previous job, where I worked approx 8 months because I was terminated for not bringing in enough business. During interviews I’m not sure to to address any questions about the short stint.
3. I left off my age on my education.
4. I keep revising my resume and need a compelling cover letter. Do you think it is worth the investment to have them professionally written? Some services charge up to $300-700, and I can’t make that investment right now.

The Career Doctor responds:

1. List the jobs in a section called Previous Professional Experience without dates.
2. Yes, you may need to explain the short job stint. It’s best to say something generic like you didn’t fit into the company culture.
3. Good. Age should never be listed on a resume.
4. I absolutely, 100 percent endorse the use of a professional resume writer. Yes, it’s not cheap — but you are talking about your next job, your future. You can’t afford NOT to make this investment.

Don writes:

Some of my best experience happened while working for a company from 1973 to 1987. Listing the dates of employment dates me. It seems that so many companies are looking for younger staff, but still want experience. How do I get around this on a “first pass?”

The Career Doctor responds:

Even if it’s your best experience, most hiring managers will consider this experience to be too dated to be of much value today. At one time, I would have advised you to leave it off your resume to avoid exposure to age discrimination, but in these days of background checks, I have tempered that advice some. List it on your resume in a “Past Experience” section. List it in bare-bones fashion, possibly without dates. Give it a bullet or two of description, but tell the reader more info is available upon request.

Arlene writes:

I have been a speech and language specialist for over 15 years. It was not my chosen field, but I felt I would always be able to obtain employment because it is so specialized, which has certainly been the case. I also have an elementary teaching certificate and two English-as-a-Second-Language teaching certificates. I took a leave of absence from work in 1988 for personal reasons and began to study acting, my true first love. I took part-time jobs while my husband was terminally ill, until he passed away. I eventually became employed in the public schools again as a Speech Therapist; however, I found that I was extremely unhappy in this position, and in the second year of teaching at this particular district, I became ill. I quit before the end of the first semester. Then I decided to substitute teach and have been doing so ever since. I now find I need to re-enter the workforce full-time.

After job-hunting for some time, I have felt in every interview that I have had with the schools that the administration and teachers have a difficult time seeing me as a regular classroom teacher because I have done speech pull-out programs for so long. I have applied to public, private and charter schools with no success. Are there any suggestions you have for me? I really do not want to return to speech therapy. It has been very unfulfilling for me. I might add that I am 57 years old and that their may be an “underground” age discrimination aspect to this, as well.

The Career Doctor responds:

Do you really want to be a classroom teacher? As you point out, this is not a good time to be seeking that kind of job with all the budget cuts states face.

What jumped out at me with your acting background is corporate training. This is not the greatest time for that field either as training is one of the first things that gets cut in a weak economy. Still, it’s worth considering.

You might also look into motivational speaking/professional presenting. Could take awhile to build those up, but maybe you could pursue that path while doing something else.

As you point out, there could also be a issues with your resume and cover letter, especially if they expose you to age discrimination. I’d suggest you get a professional to critique them for you, and if necessary, revamp them them to position you for the kind of job you seek.

Arlene writes:

I’ve read and enjoyed the information you provide on job-hunting for students; but I have what may be a unique set of circumstances for which I would greatly appreciate your advice.

I am married, fit, and 50; I have been a stay-at-home mom of one; I am educated and currently a non-degree-seeking student of Web design. I have an MBA in electronic business, B.S. in communications. My GPA is 3.9. Here’s the good part — my recent job history as a small-business owner is undocumented. I owned a start-up, online relocation service. My company taxes for the 3+ yrs. in business showed losses and no income. Although the company was successful in terms of surviving more than three years in a volatile .com environment and in providing a service that was well used, I cannot prove it, and it does not show up on background checks.

Further, the small jobs I’ve held were low paying.

You may have guessed that my job search has been unsuccessful. I don’t know how to make my skills attractive to employers and how to diminish my shortcomings. Can you provide any insight in terms of marketing myself, downplaying my age, low wages, and little-to-no job history?

I would truly appreciate any feedback or advice.

The Career Doctor responds:

Probably my best advice to you would be to read our article on positioning yourself when you are underqualified.

As far as documenting your entrepreneurial experience, try focusing on the “well-used” aspect of the business and talk about satisfied customers. Perhaps you could even get testimonials from some of them.

I would also recommend informational interviewing, a networking technique that enables you to get your foot in the door with employers, sometimes resulting in job offers and certainly resulting in more contacts for your network and knowledge about employer needs. Read more here.

You probably also need a professional resume writer to position you.

I can recommend either our partner, About Jobs.

OR

a practitioner from the professional organization we belong to. You can search current members of the organization here OR complete a form specifying what you’re looking for and be matched with appropriate practitioners.

You’ll find that many resume-writing services offer no-cost critiques.

Carole writes:

I have read where it is illegal to ask the year you graduated from high school or college. How do I get around the request for an “official copy” of my recent transcript from said college for my master’s that refuses to remove the date of graduation from my bachelor of science degree (1973)? Said college told me that would be tampering with the transcript!!

The Career Doctor responds:

Asking your age is illegal. Asking when you graduated from high school or college is a legal way of trying to determine age, though I am not aware of many employers who ask this question.

I am also puzzled — unless you are applying for some sort of academic position — why an employer would request a transcript.

Age discrimination is certainly an issue in job-seeking, and that’s why I also suggest to older job-seekers that you should limit the number of years of job experience on a resume to no more than 12-15 and that you should remove all dates from your educational record.

I suggest contacting the registrar of your master’s degree university and requesting the removal based on age discrimination issues. If that fails, I would move up the ladder of the institution — perhaps the dean of your college — and keep requesting the removal of the date. There is no excuse for their potentially aiding age discrimination.

For more advice for older job-seekers, including more resume advice and interviewing advice, go to this section of Quintessential Careers: Job and Career Resources for Mature and Older Job-Seekers — Including the Baby Boomers.

Emily writes:

I am starting a new career and have not been successful in landing a job. I am interested in working for banks but have limited experience. About 99 percent of the jobs advertised requires one to be experienced.

How do I get in at entry level with no qualifications? I am a quick learner and a team player. I need to work before I can afford to study further, if the job requires.

I am 50 years old but look about 40. In today’s working world 40 is old so I have an extra dilemma.

The Career Doctor responds:

Career change is always a challenge, but even more so for older workers. What kind of job are you looking for in banking?

There are always ways to gain experience, if not directly in banking, in some related field that uses the same skills. (Think temping or volunteering… and don’t forget transferable skills from your current career field.)

Please note, though, that you will most likely NOT find a new job by replying to advertised job postings. You need to use your career network to help you uncover the hidden job market — and to use your network contacts to help you get a foot in the door.

As for being an older job-seeker and career-changer, you may face some age-discrimination issues, but as long as you showcase your willingness to learn, to make a contribution, and to be a team-player, you should be okay in your job search.

Here are two sets of resources on Quintessential Careers to help you. First, Job & Career Resources for Career Changers. Second, Job and Career Resources for Mature and Older Job-Seekers — Including the Baby Boomers.

Emily writes:

I am starting a new career and have not been successful in landing a job. I am interested in working for a bank, but have limited experience. About 99 percent of the jobs advertised requires one to be experienced. How do I get in at entry level with no qualifications? I am a quick learner and a team player.

I am 50 years old but look about 40. In today’s working world, 40 is old, so I have an extra dilemma.

The Career Doctor responds:

I don’t think 40 — or even 50 — is old anymore. And yes, let me disclose that I am in my 40’s, so perhaps I am too close to the question. But seriously, from the folks I talk with, I don’t think age is or will be as big a factor as it was for previous generations. People are living much longer, being productive to much later in life, and with older baby boomers retiring, there is a serious need for skilled, older workers.

That said, are you going to face situations where you know age was a factor in not getting a job offer? Probably. But my hope will be those situations are becoming more and more rare.

Your bigger challenge is making a career change late in your career, which, by the way, is also becoming increasingly more common. But why are you looking for an entry-level position? Surely you have many transferable skills that apply to a career in banking.

What you need to do is develop your network in this new field while gaining experience any way you can. I would suggest conducting some informational interviews, where you can learn more about career in banking, and specific requirements each bank is seeking. By doing so, you will also be gaining network contacts in the field. To gain experience, explore temping as an option.

Finally, and this advice goes for ALL job-seekers, please do NOT rely solely on job postings when searching for a new job. Only a very small percentage of jobs are ever posted. Most still remained closed to the general public and are filled internally or through referrals.

Review all the resources, articles, and tools we offer in this section of Quintessential Careers: Job and Career Resources for Mature and Older Job-Seekers — Including the Baby Boomers.

Marjorie writes:

We relocated 2 years ago with the plan that I would not work. Now 2 years have gone by, and I want to go back to work. How do I explain the gap of time on my resume or cover letter? I am 56 years old dealing with age discrimination in this town as well. I have a double whammy trying to get employment. Help!

The Career Doctor responds:

First, let me stress that you do NOT need to address the issue in your cover letter. You don’t ever want to point out a flaw or comment on something negative. A cover letter is a sales document designed to raise enough interest for the prospective employer to glance at your resume. Starting your letter with something like “even though I haven’t been employed for two years” is bound to end any chance you had.

You can deal with the gap in a couple of different ways on your resume — and you SHOULD be prepared to discuss it at the interview.

Have you literally been doing nothing the past two years? No part-time work? No temping? No volunteering? No freelancing? What about continuing education? Any of these things could easily mask the gap. And if you haven’t been doing any of these things, now might be the time to start!

You could also consider using a chrono-functional style resume, where your resume is organized around skills clusters rather than a chronological order of work experience. But beware, because this style of resume has lost some favor over the last few years.

As for your age issue, remember to remove all older jobs (more than 15 years) and take dates of all your degrees/educational experiences.

Finally, consider adding a qualifications summary at the top of your resume — the two to four things that make you the ideal job candidate. It is not only a trendy item that employers like, but it helps give your resume focus.

Find more advice and resources for older job-seekers in this section of Quintessential Careers: Job and Career Resources for Mature and Older Job-Seekers — Including the Baby Boomers.