outplacement – Page 3 – New Century Dynamics Executive Search

October 22, 2014

You Are What You Think About: Coping Strategies for Job Search

In my last post I mentioned that managing the stress of job search is critical as your behavior is being evaluated by hiring managers during this time. Job search is a stressful time for everyone.The stress is unavoidable even for the strongest person.It affects us on many levels including our self-esteem, and our financial well-being.For most of us, unemployment is un-natural, alien territory.If you are unable to work through the stress of the company’s selection process your prospects are dim.So, now is a good time to talk about job search stress management strategies.Be advised that I am not a Psychologist.What follows are some common sense ideas that I have found useful which have been validated by others.

It helps if one has gone through unemployment before so you have an established set of expectations.Experience is a great stress reliever.Personal experience with unemployment and job search gives one confidence.You know that eventually you will find suitable employment.Having experienced unemployment helps you see beyond your current situation to know that eventually you will land a new job.If you have never been unemployed, there is a wealth of helpful information available on the subject.

If you are unemployed, job-search is your job.Like any job, you must plan your work and work your plan.Developing a plan and keeping it current gives one a sense of control which helps mitigate stress.For those of you who have experienced unemployment it will be useful to write down your recollections from that past experience as a preamble for your current job search plan. Although job search is your full time job, it should not consume all of your time.Your plan must factor in strategies to cope with the ups and downs of unemployment.35 to 40 hours a week devoted to job search should suffice.That will give you time to reconnect with friends and family; to work in some physical exercise; and to engage in other extra-curricular activities.These activities are important to keep you balanced during your job search which will relieve your stress.Exercise can be a very effective stress management strategy.It burns off nervous energy and is as a great way to sharpen your image.Make sure to factor these activities into your plan.

Components of a Job Search Plan to mitigate stress.

Have a realistic time frame to find the next situation.
Assemble a support group of positive people and keep them in the loop.
Keep a journal of the experience.
Stay focused on positive thoughts, and issues within your control.
Look for the lesson in each negative situation; reflect; then move on.
Take care of your physical self
Volunteer or take on short term jobs.

Managing stress is largely about your ability to control your emotional reaction to events.You can choose to be angry or despondent, or not.When a negative thought pops into your mind, recognize the emotion and then refocus your thoughts on something positive, like accepting a job offer, or the excitement of the first day on your new job.I believe that your thoughts direct your actions, consciously and subconsciously.If you dwell on negative, worst-case failure situations you will surely generate that outcome.Stay positive, directing your thoughts toward success in the goals you have set for yourself.

Thank you for visiting my blog. Your feedback helps me continue to publish articles that you want to read. Your input is very important to me so please leave a comment.

Jim Weber, President
New Century Dynamics Executive Search
www.newcenturydynamics.com

September 30, 2014

A Thank You Note to Separate You From the Field

“Wow, that was a great letter! I just had to call you back.” That was the beginning of a phone conversation in 1994. The caller was a CEO I had recently met about a job. My thank you note had really made an impact! The CEO called to say that he wanted to move me forward in the process. I must say, the job opportunity was a long-shot for me as the job was in a segment where I had less experience, and on the wrong coast. My letter made an impact because of my enthusiasm for the opportunity; my recap of the CEO’s goals for the position; and that my key selling proposition dovetailed with his needs. I also personalized the letter in a way that strengthened our connection. The result was that I earned a second look and was invited to meet with the Headhunter working the search. I did not get the job, but I had expanded my network and learned a valuable lesson.

In my work I see a lot of thank you letters and coach a lot of people through the process. It is important to remember that thank you letters are not just good manners or proper business etiquette. Done well, they can make a difference in the hiring manager’s selection process. A thank you letter will not help the unqualified candidate, but it can tip the scales in a close situation. At the very least it will help you stand apart from the crowd. A good thank you letter presents your case for the job and demonstrates your communication skills. One page or less is ideal. It is another opportunity to sell yourself for the job in question. As a result, you must take this task seriously.

A proper thank you letter shows your appreciation to be considered for the job; recaps the key objectives for the position; and presents your unique selling proposition. The latter had better support the objectives for the position. The last point is to personalize the letter to include something you learned about the interviewer’s personal interests or background. This will help solidify a connection with the interviewer. By recapping the key objectives for the job you tell the interviewer that you understand exactly what is required of the position. By understanding the requirements of the job you ensure that you are on the same page with management which will make them more comfortable with your candidacy. Recapping your unique selling proposition as it supports the objectives of the job reinforces your potential for success in the job.

The role of correspondence between professionals seeking to do business together cannot be underestimated. Even as snail mail has given way to email, there is still a high value for well written correspondence that gets to the point. Your mastery of business letters, especially the thank you note, helps the hiring manager gauge your professional skills. Sending a timely thank you note demonstrates you appreciation for business protocol. Crafting an effective letter demonstrates your ability to communicate, an executive skill paramount to one’s success. So, make a serious effort to write a thank you note that positions you as a viable candidate. Let the interviewer know that you understand the job, that you can do the job, and that you want the job.

Thank you for visiting my blog. Your feedback helps me continue to publish articles that you want to read. Your input is very important to me so please leave a comment.

Jim Weber, President
New Century Dynamics Executive Search
www.newcenturydynamics.com

September 18, 2014

On Cover Letters: Are You Trying to Get My Attention?

“Are you kidding me? Are you trying to get my attention? Well you did, but not the way you had hoped!” That was my reaction to the most recent cover letter I received with resume attached. The only positive thing I can say was that the sender’s timing was perfect as I was beginning to draft this series of blog posts on job-search correspondence. I did read the letter and then scanned his resume, which I would not have done save for this article. This cover letter, with a subject line reading “Senior Executive: Consumer Packaged Goods Industry” was 367 words long, yet never spoke to the candidate’s career goals or parameters for his ideal job. So much for helping me help you.

From the opening paragraph of his email introduction, I would have never guessed that he was accomplished CEO with experience in mid-cap and small cap food and beverage focused consumer packaged goods. Following his intro paragraph he offered five bullet points, actually sentences with bullet points, demonstrating his value proposition. Only two of those points spoke to objective performance metrics. This whole section came across as very tactical. Was I being introduced to a CEO or a Manager. The third paragraph said that he was doing consulting/project work for small to medium sized companies, followed by an attempt to reinforce his value proposition. This section was heavily laden with buzz-words and trite cliché’s that stepped on his message. To close, he told me that he had received a BS in Accounting and would welcome an opportunity to meet for further discussion. I never learned what he was looking to do now. I would have expected far better from a viable CEO candidate.

His email introduction was clearly a mass mail effort, probably sent to a large number of Executive Recruiters. The football analogy would be a “Hail Mary” pass. For all I know, he may have sent this same intro letter to a large number of potential employers and Private Equity Groups. If so, he really tarnished his personal brand. When writing a cover letter, remember, you are making an introduction seeking help in your job-search efforts. You may be interested in a networking relationship; applying for a specific job; seeking to be placed in a recruiter’s data-base; or looking for a referral to one of the preceding. Viewed in this way, would you send the same letter to all of these people? Of course not! Mass mailing is not the issue as you can personalize mail merge to a large degree. The point is to customize your intro letter to fit the audience. Mass mailing is not appropriate for one-off introductions for networking assistance, or when asking for a referral. Those introductions must be highly targeted and personalized.

When sending a resume to an executive recruiter, a short three to five sentence paragraph will suffice. We are looking to know the parameters around the position you seek, the industry segment, your compensation requirements, and any limitations you may have to relocation. Your resume should provide the details I need to initiate further conversation.

In following blog posts I will offer advice on the various types of job-search correspondence. In the meantime remember to stay focused on the needs of your audience, and keep your correspondence short and to the point.

Thank you for visiting my blog.
Your feedback helps me continue to publish articles that you want to read. Your input is very important to me so please leave a comment.

Jim Weber, President
New Century Dynamics Executive Search
www.newcenturydynamics.com

September 2, 2014

Your Resume is Not Getting Traction: It Is Not Easy to Contact You!

Isn’t cell phone technology fabulous! And what about those apps! Awesome! My little iPhone has dramatically improved my efficiency, allowing me to spend more time out of the office, building relationships. The GolfLogix app has been especially helpful with club selection and tracking my golf stats. I will likely develop that thought further if I ever set up a Blog about golf. The point is that I probably spend more time using my iPhone on the job than I do at my computer. It is great to be able to respond promptly to an email message from a client or a text message from a candidate via my iPhone. I never miss a call to my desk as I instantly receive a message from my Voip Service. This feature provides the caller’s phone number and a text version of their message. The ability to touch a phone number or email address to respond is vital. It would be an understatement to say that my iPhone is fast becoming my preferred business tool. In fact, it is very fair to say that the apps I have on my iPhone create a virtual office wherever I happen to be, so long as I have my iPhone with me. I am certainly not unique in this regard.

I become irritated when my candidates or prospective candidates fail to appreciate the importance of my iPhone in my work. I am certain this will come as no surprise to anyone reading this post. The first thing I tell my candidates is “help me help you.” The first rule is to make it easy to find you. Make it easy to find your resume and make it easy to contact you. By contact, I mean via text, email, or voice. My correspondence includes my complete contact information including my website, blog, and LinkedIn profile. All of my correspondence! A savvy candidate will add that information into their electronic address book across all of their devices. Likewise they should provide a complete signature section to make it easy to respond to them; wherever I am and on my schedule.

Help me help you.

Label your resume file as follows: last name_first name_year
Provide complete contact information in all of your correspondence.
If using MS WORD for your resume complete the ‘file properties’ menu.
Put my complete contact information in all of your address books.
Become very familiar with my website content and blog posts.

If a candidate can follow these rules it is a signal to me that I am dealing with a savvy professional. Savvy, at least as it concerns the effective use of technology. But that is a good start! Reviewing their resume and talking with them on an introductory call will confirm that opinion. I am confident that any hiring manager or internal recruiter will think the same. So, put yourself in the place of your audience; a recruiter or a hiring manager. Let them help you, by helping them. Embrace the technology!

Thank you for visiting my blog.

Your feedback helps me continue to publish articles that you want to read. Your input is very important to me so please leave a comment.

Jim Weber, President

New Century Dynamics Executive Search

www.newcenturydynamics.com

August 11, 2014

Your Resume is Not Getting Traction: It Does not Present you as a Savvy Professional

I have long been fascinated by Corporate Cultures, especially those of successful organizations. What is it that sets those cultures apart? All companies have a culture. In fact, all groups have a culture even though it may not be recognized. Formal groups have a shared history, code of conduct, set of values, and language which defines the group. Some cultures are more obvious as with the uniformed services. Or, as with Fraternities and Sororities, who have a secret handshake. Many religions are identifiable by their manner of dress. Other cultures may be more difficult to discern, but, insiders will recognize other members. Small details taken together can be very revealing.

Cultures even have sub-cultures. Elite military units have a culture that is different from the Army as a whole. C-level corporate executives can be distinguished from middle management. Marketing, Finance, and Operational personnel have their own sub-cultures with their own nuanced code.

Your resume presents your cultural affiliation. You must actively manage your resume to ensure that you are sending the right signals. Are you the real deal, or a poser. If you are the real deal, but, using the wrong code words, you may not be recognized as a part of the group.

A Resume for a Savvy Professional:

Leave off Personal interests and “references available upon request.”
Use industry/position specific terminology.
Significant accomplishments should be predominant
Executive/Career summary must address your functional discipline, level of accomplishment; and industry/segment expertise.
Give a short, one line explanation for employer changes.
Label your resume file: “last name _ first name_ position_ date.”
Your email address should incorporate your last name to be professional
Use File/Properties menu option to list key words and other data.
Use appropriate key words in the body of the resume.
Avoid trite phrases and meaningless buzz-words.

You will be judged from the moment your email arrives in the recruiter’s mailbox. Your email address and your resume file name speak volumes. Your executive summary will reveal your cultural orientation by the language you use, or don’t use. Do you use concise plain-speak, or buzzword-riddled gobbledygook? Is your language familiar to other professionals at your level and from your professional discipline? If not, you will not be taken seriously.

All too often I see resume attachments with “resume” as the file name. A very common mistake for a rookie, and a cost to my productivity as it requires extra time to catalogue and file. Even worse is a highly personal, even ironic email address. Not a professional introduction by any standard. The ideal email address will consist of your last name and first name or initial. Better still is to have a personalized email with your surname as the domain name. Likewise, your resume attachment file name should be formatted as: lastname_first name_position_year; or something very similar. Violating these two syntax basics will cast doubt as to your authenticity.

The ability to present your credentials and capabilities in a clear and concise manner is crucial. The greater your rank the greater the expectation of your ability to communicate. Avoid run-on sentences ripe with meaningless buzz words and phrases that would only impress a junior level manager. Don’t waste my time, get to the point. Pay attention to these details and the economic value of your verbiage to be viewed as a savvy professional.

Thank you for visiting my blog.

Your feedback helps me continue to publish articles that you want to read. Your input is very important to me so please leave a comment.

Jim Weber, President

New Century Dynamics Executive Search

www.newcenturydynamics.com

July 23, 2014

Your Resume is Not Getting Traction: 1. It is Not Easy to Read

Are you invisible? Don’t laugh. If your resume is not generating interest, you may as well be invisible. If your resume is not read do you exist? If your resume is not read and its content appreciated, your job-search is dead in the water. And, when I say “read” I mean scanned. A recruiter will spend less than 30 seconds evaluating your resume. If your resume is not generating interest, it is a safe bet that it is not reader-friendly. You may be the ideal candidate for a particular job, yet fail to get into the queue just because you crafted a resume that recruiters don’t want to read. I can tell you from experience that there is a direct correlation between the quality of candidate’s resume and the amount of interest it generates.

To craft a resume that generates interest, start by putting yourself in the reader’s place. Think of your own reading habits, especially on a busy day when time is short. Do you like the thought of reading densely-packed pages of small-type-faced words? That is a turn-off, happily to be avoided. I am confident that you know exactly what I mean. To maximize my productivity, I want to receive the most information I can in the least amount of time. I will likely put aside a difficult-to-read resume, and move on. Unfortunately, that usually means that other candidates make it to the hiring manager.

Follow these rules to help craft a resume with impact.

Use header and footer function to retain continuity.
Use Table function to hold formatting for employers, job titles and dates.
PDF is the best format for integrity in transmission.
12 pt. type face size for the body of the resume, larger for headers, 14 to 16 pt.
Use spacing to break up jobs held and to transition from different formats.
White space is important! Use it liberally.
Use 1” margins
Use underlining to separate employers.

A resume is really more of a marketing tool than a detailed work history. Even if you are trying to convey your history, your goal is to engage the reader with every word, coaxing him into reading more. You are trying to tell a story, your story. If you cannot present your story in an interesting way, why make me suffer through a bad read? As a professional you have likely attended many PowerPoint presentations that use short sentences and bullet points. You know that these presentations are effective because they distil the key points in a way that is easy to grasp. The message literally jumps off the page! The sentences are short and the words have impact. Your resume should use these techniques too!

Most of my work is with C-level Executives so I don’t get too involved in Automated Tracking Systems, but I do have a resume data-base. When I search my data-base I use key words that match the client’s ideal candidate profile. This task is always more productive when candidates have taken advantage of their resume’s file properties menu. It is important to populate your resume with key-words, and don’t neglect the “file properties” feature.

Finally, always leave your audience wanting more. The important point of a resume is to get you into the game. If you provide the most important information in an interesting, easy to read manner you are more likely to get a phone call from a hiring manager. At that time you can begin providing more detail about your experience and accomplishments. I definitely recommend that you develop a highly detailed CV that recaps your complete career history and accomplishments. That document will serve as basis for your resume, bio, and key accomplishments. However, that is not a document to use for an introduction in a job-search.

Thank you for visiting my blog.

Your feedback helps me continue to publish articles that you want to read. Your input is very important to me so please leave a comment.

Jim Weber, President

New Century Dynamics Executive Search

www.newcenturydynamics.com

July 6, 2014

Five Steps to employment for the over-50 Job-search: Why you need a career coach.

I landed my first job out of college by responding to a classified ad posted in the local newspaper. After that, I did not need to look for another job for 11 years. The next job I landed was through an executive recruiter and the one following that was through an ad placed in a trade magazine. My last job-search was conducted under direction of an outplacement firm which focused on the power of networking. Interestingly, my networking with an executive recruiter led to my final job in the corporate world. It was in that last situation, working with an outplacement counselor, where I had my first experience with a career coach. Although he was not familiar with my industry segment he was very good at helping me improve my networking skills, especially the quality of my communications. He kept me focused and motivated, resulting in a fairly short time between jobs. That was, wow, over 20 years ago. Email and the Internet were in their infancy. Snail mail and the telephone were still our primary modes of communication. It was still Prime Time for Baby-boomers.

Throughout my corporate career, interrupted by a few short-lived recessions, the economy was growing steadily, fueled by the demand created by baby-boomers and supported by deregulation and the Regan Era fiscal policies. Jobs were a lot easier to come by. It was easier to find a new situation. And then the world changed. The job market is a very different today. In many respects it is a lot more difficult. It is also much easier if you have the key. I left the corporate world in 1999 to begin my own executive search business.

One of the most upsetting situations I encounter in my work is talking with displaced Boomers who have had solid careers only to be derailed by a merger or a restructuring which cost them their job. They focused so much on their day to day responsibilities that they had not kept pace with the changing job market. To say that their job-search skills are rusty would be an understatement. Even worse, they have neglected their network. It is no longer effective and must be rebuilt. Their single-minded focus is to find another job, just like the last job. No other options are on the table. Many have the cushion of a severance package but few have outplacement benefits. They find it difficult to grasp the fact that the jobs they left are gone or have been filled by younger, lesser compensated employees. The absolute worst situation is to talk to someone who has burned through their severance and is working down their savings; true desperation. If you find yourself in this situation, you probably need professional help: an intervention. This is when a career coach can be very important.

When you hire a career coach you are entering into a personal relationship. A good coach will learn about your personality and how you approach a challenge, or adversity. She will use that understanding to help you craft a strategy and set goals to achieve your job search objectives. She will stay with you, offering encouragement and support as you execute your plan. A good coach will help you break through roadblocks, especially those you create for yourself. She knows the job market and can help you evaluate options for a meaningful next chapter. The bottom-line is that you need to feel comfortable with your coach as she may have a major impact on your career. For the relationship to work, both you and your coach need a connection, a bond.

It is a brave new world out there. We all need help from time to time. Your career is too important to neglect, so it is a wise move to engage a career coach to help you through you job search.

Thank you for visiting my blog.

Your feedback helps me continue to publish articles that you want to read. Your input is very important to me so please leave a comment.

Jim Weber, President

New Century Dynamics Executive Search

www.newcenturydynamics.com

May 9, 2014

Five Steps to employment for the over-50 Job-search Part 2. Networking: Your Job-search Engine

If self-assessment is the foundation, networking is the engine for job-search. Most jobs are still landed through networking so this is where you need to spend your time. Your network is probably your most powerful asset, especially in job search, and a competitive advantage for the more mature job candidate. With time, job moves, and geographical moves it is likely that your network is larger and more powerful than younger competitors. There is a vast library of articles devoted to building your network. My point today is about helping you become more effective using your network to land that next job. Your success in job search will depend on the vitality of your networking.

So, let's assume that you have alerted your network that you are in the market and they have helped you shape a positioning strategy to find that next, great opportunity. You have researched the opportunity you seek; you understand the industry segment and you know the job you want to pursue. You have identified key people familiar with that opportunity who are hiring managers or linked to hiring managers. You have made a good start, but now what? Well, now you must keep your network energized and active on your behalf.

Effective Communication is the key to managing your network. These folks want to help you! You must make it easy for them to do so. You need to stay top-of-mind without being intrusive or obnoxious. Your Facebook and LinkedIn networks are easy enough to update, but how do you manage the bulk of your network who may not be connected to you on these venues?

How to communicate:

Avoid long, drawn-out telephone calls. My preference is to use email.
Put your network into Groups or Circles so that you can efficiently communicate your updates and status.
I would urge you to use a merge-mail function, a feature in Outlook, to personalize your emails.
Save phone calls for important, targeted communication.

What to communicate:

Routine updates as to your progress every few weeks.
Any change in direction or dead ends encountered.
Successes/problems you are having executing your plan.
Keep it short and to the point. No tomes!
A note about a personal interest is always a welcomed addition.

For new contacts, make it easy for me to know how to help you:

Be crystal-clear as to what you are trying to accomplish.
Help me understand how I can help you.
Your elevator speech must be compelling, so I will remember you.
Do your homework. Be prepared for our conversation.

Don’t make me guess at what might be a good connection for you.

Make it easy for me to introduce you to my network:

Give me a handful of your business cards.
Connect with me on LinkedIn, Twitter, Google+
Send me updates on your progress and what you are trying to accomplish.

Make it easy for me to contact you: Don't waste my time looking for your contact information.

Your email correspondence must include a complete signature section.
I rely heavily on my IPhone so having the ability to tap your phone number, email address, or website is a critical time saving function.
Understand your networking contact’s preferred method of communication and comply.

Networking must be a way of life for professionals, especially if you are over 50. It is all too common for people to neglect their network while they are working, and then hustle to reconnect when between jobs. Failure to nurture your network while you are working increases your time to reconnect when you are not working. You have a lot of simple tools at your disposal to stay in touch easily and effectively. Use them!

Thank you for visiting my blog.

Your feedback helps me continue to publish articles that you want to read. Your input is very important to me so please leave a comment.

Also, I have a one question survey that will help me determine the best topics to cover. Please click on the link below provide your feedback.

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Jim Weber, President

New Century Dynamics Executive Search

www.newcenturydynamics.com

April 25, 2014

First things first: Assess your skills and capabilities:

Forget Job Titles: What is it you do, really? What is your skill-set? What do you bring to the party? Are you a problem-solver; a business developer; a great leader; or maybe a process re-engineering expert? Your first task is to assess that which makes you unique, has led to your career successes and will be important to employers. Think of challenges you have faced. How did you work through those situations? What strengths and skills did you rely on? What problems have you encountered? What did you do to find solutions? Maybe you have managed through a crisis. What did that reveal about your abilities? The important point of this exercise is to get to your essence. The exercise should reveal your fundamental talents which can be packaged into a marketable profile. Think big picture, especially if you are over 50. By this time you should be thinking "big picture," not small potatoes, tactical skills.

Corporations are still comprised of people. People need direction, inspiration, and motivation. They need leaders. If you are skilled at building teams, inspiring workers, and achieving results, you have a particular skill that will always be in demand. Team Building is a key component of leadership, and is vital to attract top talent to work with you.

Employers need people who can find solutions to vexing situations. Process re-engineering, problem solving writ large, can be of great benefit if it is directed across a large swath of the business. If you are good at simplifying and stream-lining processes and procedures, this talent is in demand. Companies continue to look for people who can help them become more productive, leaner, and less bureaucratic.

Brands are in a fierce battle for market share. The old adage that nothing happens until a sale is made still rings true. My clients are adding to their Business Development Departments. They are looking for closers who have strong networks of prospective customers. If your electronic roll-a-dex is large and current, growing companies are looking for you!

It is natural to feel a bit embarrassed to tell people that you are unemployed and looking for work. It is not natural, however, to allow that embarrassment to prevent you from doing the work necessary to find a new job. Get over it! You are not unique, and you do not have a contagious disease! Reach out to your network. Use them to help you take stock of your capabilities and focus on new opportunities. This effort will provide great benefit. You will likely learn of capabilities you had not considered. You may be reminded of problems you faced, but had forgotten. Other people may see strengths you possess that you had not considered. Or they may help refine your thinking around strengths you think you possess. Individually and collectively they will have a perspective that will sharpen your focus and reveal opportunities to employ your skills. Listen to them, don't debate! Ask questions to seek clarification and understanding.

Employers are in a market-share-profitability-battle for survival. If you can help them bring in new customers and put more dollars on the bottom line, you are needed! The strengths and skills you bring to bear for an employer are your key selling points. They should be prominent on your resume, above the fold. You must build in examples of these strengths in your work history and in your bio. All of your communication should reinforce these skills. Use them in your elevator speech. It is not as important to discuss the type of company your want to work for, or the industry segment you prefer; as it is to imprint the skills you bring to the party and the contributions you can deliver. Take stock, understand yourself!

Thank you for visiting my blog.

Your feedback helps me continue to publish articles that you want to read. Your input is very important to me so please leave a comment.

Also, I have a one question survey that will help me determine the best topics to cover. Please click on the link below provide your feedback.

http://survey.constantcontact.com/poll/a07e93f58mxht4f5wqw/start.html

Jim Weber, President

New Century Dynamics Executive Search

www.newcenturydynamics.com

April 13, 2014

Five Steps to employment for the over-50 Job-search

Companies have shed a lot of middle managers since 2009, many of whom have been highly compensated executives over 50. Employers have learned to do more with less and to out-source functions wherever possible. Still, there is work to be done. If you are over 50 and looking for a new job, you must pay close attention to the following five steps to employment.

1 Assess your skills and capabilities:

Don't think in terms of job titles you have held, but of your accomplishments and how they were achieved. Employers need people to solve problems. Prepare an inventory of your skills and accomplishments. In fact, this would be a good exercise to complete with the people in your network. They will likely have a useful perspective. It is also a good reason to reach out to your network to stay top-of-mind as to your availability for that next opportunity. Use this exercise to evaluate new options.

2 Work your network:

Networking is the best use of your time! Your network may be your most important asset and likely a competitive advantage over younger workers! You must reach out to all of them. Pick their brains as to what they are seeing in the market as well as possibilities for you. You should have them organized into an email group that will allow for easy communication. Update them on your progress. Make sure that you are actively seeking out important new contacts. Buying coffee or lunches for these folks is an excellent investment.

3 Work on your image:

One benefit of being between situations is the additional time recovered, especially that time otherwise spent on your commute. I would advise that you retain the same sleep-waking schedule you had while working, just use that time differently. Substitute your commute time for exercise, research, and for updating your technology skills. Get back to a healthy diet. A sleek and healthy image will help shorten your job-search.

4 Your on-line presence:

If you are not on LinkedIn, you should be, and your profile must be complete. Otherwise, you are hurting yourself. Employers are looking for you, but they cannot find you or if they do, your profile is not impressive. Consider a paid subscription to LinkedIn. Now is a good time to join and become active in those groups that parallel your interests. Position yourself as a thought-leader. You should consider starting a blog and developing your own website to further your on-line presence. Remember, employers are looking you. Make it easier to find you.

5 Consider a career coach:

You must be competitive! Job-search techniques and tools are changing rapidly. A good coach will help you with search strategy, interview prep, and communication effectiveness. If you are not a long time resident of your current location, someone who can help with important introductions is vital. Our company has been providing Mentoring and Coaching services for many years.

Summary:

Those over-50 are healthier and more active than their parent's generation so age isn't an issue per se. However, the mature employee brings some expectations that may not fit the needs of potential employers. They have their own biases. Technology skills and employment laws present risks to the employer, while compensation requirements may be at odds with their budgets. One must present themself as a reliable problem-solver. You have much to offer, however, you need to understand the needs of the employer, define your capabilities, and market yourself as with any brand. Follow these five steps to ensure a shortened time between jobs.

Thank you for visiting my blog.

Your feedback helps me continue to publish articles that you want to read. Your input is very important to me so please leave a comment.

Also, I have a one question survey that will help me determine the best topics to cover. Please click on the link below provide your feedback.