NEXT AVENUE - SPECIAL SECTION
How to Boost the Odds You’ll Get a New Job
By Kerry Hannon
Job hunting these days is not for the meek, especially for those in their 50s or 60s. It's challenging both in terms of time and emotional energy. Steve Dalton, author of the new book, “The Job Closer: Time-Saving Techniques for Acing Resumes, Negotiations and More,” has some smart advice. Here are the three top tips:
Slash your resumé. "Cut the less-impressive versions of similar projects from earlier in your career so your resumé is as close as possible to being a "greatest hits" list of bullets," Dalton said. "Your bullet points will be accomplishment statements showing results. Your ability to achieve impact is what differentiates you and shows someone that you're probably better at this job than the person who had the seat before." Dalton thinks older job seekers should cull their dates of employment and college or graduate degree dates. "We'd love to think that ageism doesn't exist, but I wouldn't want to take that gamble. So, I would leave my education dates out and then you can cut earlier work experiences." Use LinkedIn as a teaser. "If an employer is looking you up on LinkedIn, they know exactly where to look to find the information they're seeking in a nice, neat, predictable format about where you worked before, how long you were there and what job titles you've held," Dalton said. "LinkedIn is your objective information. I keep mine very minimalist." Give the job interviewer a story about yourself that they can identify with. "The way to overcome ageism is to give people a story that makes sense about why you want to work there," said Dalton. "If you're over fifty, there's probably a moment in your life where your current story starts or that moment where you took a completely different path, wherever your hero story is." "It's about helping people understand what motivates you from personal experience. If you just repeat what your responsibilities were and where you work, you're just reading your resumé out loud to them. And that's not adding any value, nor building any rapport."
Get more practical advice on retirement planning at NextAvenue.org
16
NEXTAVENUE.ORG
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator