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Job Search Radio

The skills needed to find a job are different than the skills needed to do a job. Job Search Radio provides ways to improve your job-hunting skills including job search preparation, writing great resumes, cover letters and thank you letters, interviewing, how to answer tough interview questions, coping with job boards, job search networking, branding, job search mistakes– the many things you need to know to conduct an effective job search, leverage your professional success into your next job and avoid mistakes that may cost you opportunities you want. Job Search Radio is reaching people who are changing jobs, re-training and/or redefining their career goals. They are a group that is well-educated and upwardly mobile.

Do you have a product or service that would be

#jobs, #jobsearch, #job-hunting, #recruiting, #head hunter, #hiring, #job interview, #jeff Altman, #job search radio, #skills, #resume, #branding, #leverage Who said Does job hunting have to be so hard?

Leslie Stevens-Huffman April 16, 2018 5 min read

KEY POINTS

• 66 percent of baby boomer workers expect to work past age 65, a Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies shows.

• Occupational shortages are opening up opportunities for older workers.

• To overcome stereotypes, experts recommend playing up your relevant experience for the job you are competing for and show you are tech savvy.

• Increasingly, older workers are considering temporary employment. older worker.

.Starting a job search can be daunting for those with a circa 1980 résumé who last interviewed before the advent of the internet. So how do you get a leg up over your younger counterparts? Experts weighed in with tips on ways older workers can make the best possible impression.

Play up your experience A recent study conducted by Steven Lindner of The WorkPlace Group in Florham Park, New Jersey, of 1,000 similar résumés indicated that the top predictor of candidates selected for an interview were those with the most relevant, current and continual work experience. Lindner said it’s best not to list every job you’ve had for the past 35 years on your résumé, but instead to focus on the past 10 years of relevant experience.

Describe that experience using current terminology and common language (avoid antiquated terms, like Rolodex or Word Perfect), and don’t mention data systems that are no longer used; instead, emphasize your proficiency with programs like Microsoft Office and Excel, he said.

Robert Dagnall, a job-search strategist in San Diego who worked with Simmons, suggested reframing age as a competitive advantage. “It’s about performance, not demographics,” he said. Focus on what you’ve accomplished and what you can do for your next employer.

“Be bright. Be brief so it piques a recruiter’s interest,” said Paul Wolfe, senior vice president of human resources at Indeed.com, one of the world’s largest job sites. Feature a couple of areas where you have a depth of experience and highlight projects in a general section of the résumé, he said.

Combat the overqualified stereotype A big concern about someone being perceived as overqualified is that they would overstep their bounds because they’ve been in higher roles before or they’d be resistant to change and hold a “this is how I’ve done it” mentality. To remove this worry, Brittney Beck, a career development specialist in Hinsdale, Illinois, suggests that a candidate provide a specific example of a time they took on a new protocol or method, or perhaps an example where they interacted with all levels of teams and let others take the lead in certain areas.

She says another huge concern obviously with someone overqualified is that they want too much money. If a candidate is prepared to take a pay cut, they should make this known in the hiring process only if the topic of over qualification comes up. If a candidate is not open to a pay cut, they will need to explain their worth with that particular role in mind.

One way to combat the worry of over qualification before even getting asked the question is to tailor your résumé to the position so that your experience seems in line and not far above the position you’re applying for.

Stay active in your targeted profession This means attending professional conferences and taking continual education classes to ensure you remain current and on top of your industry knowledge. This counters the preconceived notion of some employers that older workers are slowing down, Lindner said: “This shows you haven’t stopped learning and you’re not going to.”

Show that you are tech savvy Beck says your tech skills should match the industry/role you’re in. For example, unless you’re in an industry (like public relations) where Twitter is king, it’s not necessary to have an account just for the sake of saying you have an account. Whatever social media platforms you’re on, commit to them. “A half did and unused platform oftentimes looks worse than none at all,” she says.

Tech skills extend beyond social media; it’s Microsoft Office and other software as well (think Salesforce for salespeople or WorkDay for HR people). Art Koff, founder of RetiredBrains.com, which provides a variety of job-seeking resources, such as interviewing tips, résumé writing assistance and tips for your job search. suggested listing the hardware, software, devices, and platforms on which you have worked. Beck, the career development specialist, also said it’s key to link your social media platforms to your résumé and incorporate your tech skills throughout your résumé.

Embrace LinkedIn It’s not just for the young. With more than 15 million jobs posted on the site and over 350,000 using LinkedIn recruiting tools to discover and hire talent, it’s one of the biggest platforms for finding a job and the perfect place to build your network and brand yourself. Include a photo that indicates you’re “not afraid to show your seniority,” said Beck. This indicates to hiring managers that you’re engaged in the modern hiring process.

Make sure you have an updated LinkedIn profile and that you have a link to your résumé. Include information about your passions and future goals that you don’t have room for in a résumé. Blair Decembrele, LinkedIn’s career expert, said your profile is an ideal place to highlight your past experience that’s most relevant to the job you’re seeking. Feature past work you’re proud of to show hiring managers what you can do.

She also suggests including your location and desired industry, since 30 percent of recruiters are using location information to search for candidates. You can also turn on Open Candidates on your profile dashboard to quietly signal to recruiters that you’re open to new opportunities.

Consider temporary employment Project-based work is often an effective strategy for getting a job as an older worker, said RetiredBrains.com’s Koff. Indicate you’re amenable to starting on a part-time or project basis and then being hired full time when you demonstrate your capabilities.

This gives older workers an advantage over their younger counterparts who need the benefits that come from full-time employment while providing the employer with the opportunity to check out their work ethic and abilities. LinkedIn’s ProFinder helps workers find project-based work in place of the typical 9-to-5 profession. A LinkedIn survey found that nearly 50 percent of those on ProFinder are older than 50.

Nail the interview View the interview as an opportunity to let your employer know how you can help them. Ask what problems the company is facing, what they’re trying to accomplish, and why they’re hiring, Dagnall said. Then make the interview a conversation about those points, offering your take on some possible solutions, based on your previous experience. “Turn the interview into a free sample of what it’s like to work with you and you’ll be a much more memorable interview candidate,” he said.

Lindner agrees: “Use your experience and wisdom to explain how you can help an employer or hiring manager achieve their goals. That’s a real value that older workers possess.” He said the interview should also be a place to demonstrate you don’t have an ego, that you’re comfortable working collaboratively with those much younger than you and that you enjoy transferring your knowledge to those around you.

Dagnall adds that it’s crucial to indicate you are trainable and can learn; show the ways you’ve adopted new ideas and helped manage or execute change recently in your career.

Use your experience and wisdom to explain how you can help an employer or hiring manager achieve their goals. That’s a real value that older workers

Contributor Rachel Montanez She's a career coach sharing career development and burnout strategies.

George Bradt Contributor Leadership Strategy

Employers nowadays aren't just looking at your application when you apply for a job. Many are perusing your social media accounts as well. In fact, according to one survey, 70% of employers check out candidates' social media profiles before interviewing and hiring. Yet many applicants don't think employers would bother checking or perhaps don't consider how their social media activity would be perceived by a potential employer. But the truth is, it's easy for employers to find you on social media: A simple Google search of your name can bring up your Facebook or Twitter account.

It's important that your social media profiles don't paint you in a negative light. Here are some steps you should take to ensure that an employer doesn't toss out your application after seeing your activity on Facebook or Twitter.

Untag yourself from photos There may be a bunch of photos on Facebook you're tagged in that you're not proud of. Your friends may find these photos funny, but they could spell bad news for your job prospects. Obvious unflattering photos would include those where you've had too much to drink or are doing reckless activities.

If an employer gets the impression that you live a constant party lifestyle, then they may worry you'll be unreliable or irresponsible. No boss wants an employee who falls behind at work, comes in late or calls in sick for being hungover or ill as a result of late-night partying. So be sure to untag any photos that may give this impression.

Set your accounts to private If you don't want to go through the effort of carefully untagging photos that may raise red flags for an employer, just set your account to private. By doing so, all an employer can see is your profile photo and some basic information. They won't be able to see your posting history or other photos. Pam Lindsay-Dunn, managing director at Hays, said, There's no need to delete your social media profiles, but you should make them as private as possible and follow the advice that you shouldn't be posting anything that you wouldn't want current or prospective employers to see.

Since an employer will still be able to see your profile photo, make sure that it is professional (or at the very least, not questionable or silly).

Be mindful of your posts Social media platforms should, of course, be used to express yourself and what you believe. That said, be aware that sharing controversial opinions may not sit favorably with a potential employer. You can avoid this problem by setting your account to private, as mentioned in the previous point. On the other hand, you may be open to the idea of an employer seeing your social media activity as a way of showcasing your interests, values, and goals -- it's up to you.

If you avoid sharing certain content or views, this doesn't mean you're censoring yourself. Some conversations are simply best had in private (online or in person) rather than on a public platform. But if you do decide to have debates on Facebook or Twitter, don't say anything you wouldn't say in person (an all-too-common mistake). It's easy to sit behind a screen and type snide, harsh, or insulting comments to someone else, but if an employer sees you doing so, this won't leave them with a good impression of you.

Also, you definitely want to hide or delete any posts in which you're moaning about a past or current job. Even if your complaints about your work, boss, or co-workers are justified in your eyes, these types of posts are likely to deter a potential employer from hiring you.

You should also be mindful of when you're active on social media. If you've told a potential new employer that you're currently working and they see you're posting non-work-related content during the workday, then this may signal to them that you don't take work seriously. Lindsay-Dunn stresses, Hiring managers will know if you are currently employed or not -- so any social content you create or post during office hours should be work-related, otherwise you risk looking like your productivity has dropped and you've lost your focus.

Use social media to your advantage If an employer is going to check your social media profiles, then you should try to use that to your advantage. If you can gain a decent following on Twitter and regularly post or share content that relates to your interests and values, it could help persuade an employer that you're a good match for the role.

Moreover, you want to ensure that your LinkedIn profile is up to date and complete. Lindsay-Dunn argues:

Social media should be seen as a positive asset for job seekers if used correctly. LinkedIn is a great way to showcase a passion for your industry by joining relevant groups, posting frequently, and updating your profile regularly. For LinkedIn in particular, make sure that your CV [your resume] matches up to what your profile says in terms of employment dates and experience. Even if the discrepancy is a genuine mistake rather than covering it up, it could indicate poor attention to detail.

Since so many employers are looking at applicants' social media profiles, it's worth thinking about your photos and posts, and whether a prospective employer could perceive any of them negatively. It would be a shame to send off a perfect job application or perform brilliantly in an interview, only to be rejected because of an old photo or comment you made on social media. However, this situation can always be avoided by simply changing your privacy settings.

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