In today’s economy, more and more seniors are continuing to work well into their retirement years, or are re-entering the job market. If you’ve been out of the job market for any period of time, you might be feeling completely out of the loop. It helps to have some idea about some of the challenges you may face as a senior, because it can be different from you previous job searches as a younger adult. Here are some tips to get you back into the world of work and hopefully increase your chances of success.

Update Your Resume

Seniors may find that their resume is quite long considering their years of experience. Consider going over your resume with someone who is an expert or experienced. He or she can help you pare it down to include relevant information and highlight pertinent skills and experience. Even if you don’t go with an expert, do your research to find out what modern resumes look like and what employers want.

Practice

How can you practice the job-hunting process – from sending out a resume to getting an interview – without endangering your chances of success? One thing you can do is apply for a job you’re not interested in, or that is not a good fit. That may sound odd, but think of it as training ground. You can practice interviewing skills without so much pressure. Another good way to practice is to have a friend or family member ask you interview questions.

Contact Temp Firms

Temp agencies are a good way to get your feet wet. A lot of temporary job firms are more interested in your experience than your age, and it’s not unlike another form of practice. If it’s a temporary job, you can learn from it even if you are moving on.

Stay Competitive

One important way to stay competitive in the job market is to update and build your skills. There are learning communities on the internet specifically geared to get you up-to-date on important skills like computer knowledge and organizational skills. Also, friends and family members can help you brush up on your skills or learn new ones that are necessary in today’s workforce.

Emphasize Your Experience

Did you know there are companies that seek to employ seniors because they value your experience?  Groups like AARP offer a comprehensive list of such companies. Experience is what sets the mature, experienced job seeker from everyone else!

When you apply for jobs, make sure to emphasize any life experiences that are relevant to the position, from parenting to running a household to skills honed in prior job experience. Many seniors have been leaders in their children’s schools and extracurricular activities too – this is relevant experience, so don’t forget to include and highlight it.

Now be honest… is the resume and cover letter you’ve been submitting for jobs getting you noticed? Are you receiving invitations to interview? If you answered “no,” we should talk. Contact me by phone: 1-866-562-0850 or email: info@topresumewriting.com for a NO COST, NO OBLIGATION 15-minute consultation.