Career Tips for 50+ Workers

This article originally appeared in the May-June 2008 issue of the Women in Development, New York newsletter.  With so many people looking for work, it seemed like a good time to revisit the topic.

In Motto for 50-Plus Interviewing: Be Prepared, Monster.com’s John Rossheim defines what a potential employer is looking for in a 50-plus worker: “an energetic lifetime learner who knows his [her] industry, keeps up with technology and can communicate effectively with colleagues of any age.”  Here’s how to be or become this kind of person:

Figure Out What You’re Passionate About
Regardless of age, we are energized when we work at something that interests us, engages us and has meaning for us.  If you’re unsure of what that is, think back upon some of your proudest achievements, peak experiences and times when you “lost” yourself in a project or activity that totally absorbed you.

Do Your Homework
Do your skills need updating?  Are you well versed in the latest technology?  Get up to speed by reading industry publications; taking a class, workshop or seminar; or finding a colleague willing to teach you.  In return, offer to help them in area they’d like to learn more about.

Expand Your Network
Depending on your level of managerial experience, 50-plus workers may not only be supervising younger employees but also may be reporting to a much younger boss.  Having younger folks in your network may increase your comfort level with any perceived “generational divide.”  Keith Ferrazzi, author of Never Eat Alone and Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time, advises “more than reaching out to younger people – ask them to mentor you...In return, you can mentor your mentors by offering your own experience.”

If you’re actively job hunting, here are a few more tips:

Retool Your Resume
Your resume should be no longer than two pages in a type size that is easily readable.  Emphasize accomplishments over years of experience.  Limit work history to the last 10 to 20 years, depending on the relevance of previous positions to the one you’re currently pursuing.  Leave the graduation dates out in listing your degrees.  Regardless of the format you use, start with a brief summary of your qualifications and particular strengths.

Tap Your Network
As Richard Nelson Bolles writes in What Color is Your Parachute?, “You have – or should have if you stop to think about it – lots of contacts, individuals or networks of friends.  In a word, a grapevine.  They can lead you to jobs, they can speak enthusiastically about you.”  They may also be a good source of information about potential clients.

Do an “Attitude Check” Before the Interview
Monster.com’s John Rossheim offers the following advice from fellow experts in Motto for 50-Plus Interviewing: Be Prepared:

“Attitude is the maker or breaker in an interview,” says Sarah Hightower Hill, CEO of Chandler Hill Partners, a career search strategies firm.  “A combination of fear and ego most often causes older job seekers to fail.”

“The most important ingredient is to feel good about who you are and what you offer,” says Kevin Ecclesine, a senior vice president for Lee Hecht Harrison, a career consulting firm.  

And lastly, remember to trust your instincts, especially at this age.  Your years of wisdom are one of your best assets!