Sadly, Ageism is still a thing in today's highly competitive job market. At 61, I have come to the conclusion that even those of us over 50 who are highly skilled with years of experience and wisdom under our belts can have difficulty navigating the job hunting process. Even if we have a stellar resume, sometimes when we get to the point of interview we unknowingly sabotage our chances of landing that job. At times it is our own behavior at an interview that contributes to the perceptions of age discrimination. After reading an article from a freelance reporter I decided to share some of the points that she made but through my own perspective. It's a long post but practical reading.

"Finding a new job can be hard if you’re an older worker so you don’t want to make mistakes that may reduce your chances, especially self-sabotaging your job search without realizing it."

If you're 50 & older you've realized by now that hiring practices are very different from "back in the day" and landing even an interview isn't like it used to be when employment wasn't such a challenge to acquire. Here are some of the more common mistakes that an older workers might make. Do any of these belong to you?

1. Focusing on old positions or job titles:

You have probably worked for several decades and built a long history of job experiences. That is a great accomplishment. But just as your resume should only focus on work in the past decade or so, your answers to any questions about work experience in an interview shouldn’t cover much beyond the past 10 or 15 years (unless extremely relevant). Keep things as recent and relevant as possible in your resume, cover letter ( if one is required) and during the interview. Now matters and adaptability is a desired trait.

2. Fumbling with technology during a video interview:

Virtual interviews are becoming more popular, especially if you plan to work remotely or are interviewing with a company that has locations in different places.

Fumbling with or having other issues with the technology during the interview can show your inexperience with it. Instead, test out the technology before the interview with a friend to iron out any issues. Some companies will even send you a link through their software to test your computers internet connection, audio and video on your system up to 24 hours prior to the interview. Make sure to use those test avenues and notify them immediately if you find any issues. I can promise you, no recruiter wants to waste their time with a candidate that cannot operate their own computer system or cell phone effectively.

3. Mentioning your age or personal life:

You don’t need to bring up certain personal aspects during an interview, such as whether you have grandkids or your age.

References to these things might make you look dated to your interviewers. Make sure you don’t mention your graduation date from college unless it‘s relevant, for example.

However, if the interviewer engages you in conversation it's okay to interact, just keep it brief and professional and don't offer personal information unless specifically asked. No matter how comfortable you feel with that individual they are not your friend.

4. Interacting with a younger interviewer differently than you would someone of your age:

A mature candidate might find themselves interviewed by someone younger. It’s important to treat younger workers the same as you would an older worker.

Using a condescending tone or talking down to someone who could be your superior can leave a bad impression. Many older job candidates experience incidences of ageism and this is a contributing factor. Measure your responses carefully and ensure that you are being respectful and conscientious of the fact that you may be working for them.

5. Trying to be too hip:*

Interviewers want to know who you are and what you bring to the table. So be yourself.

Trying to seem younger than you are through how you dress, talk, or present yourself can be a sign that you aren’t being your authentic self. Avoid looking dated, but try not to go too much in the other direction either.

6. Assuming experience makes you a shoo-in:

Don’t assume that your previous experience will impress younger interviewers and you can slide by. The company or organization could be interviewing other candidates with a lot of experience. In fact, many interviewers express hesitancy to hire older workers who mention old practices and methods and may perceive you as being resistant to learning new technology and efficient ways to do the job.

You need to express your willingness and capability to be Hands-On with new technology and eager to learn new processes that will help you do the job better than ever before.

7. Disclosing too much information:

There are plenty of reasons you may be looking for a job, but don’t go into all the details when you’re talking to an interviewer. Just includes explaining gaps in employment.

Instead, prepare a short answer that covers those reasons as well as being prepared to move forward. You can simply say you’re interested in new opportunities, you're impressed by the company, it's practices and values and you'd like to be a part of what they do and represent.

It can be easy to fall into the trap of talking too much when you have decades of experience and accomplishments compared to younger potential employees. But it’s still important to keep your answers succinct when talking about accomplishments. And be certain you can provide well worded actual examples of said accomplishments.

8. Failing to address being ‘overqualified’:

The elephant in the room. There are going to be some interviewers who will look at your resume or accomplishments and determine that you are “overqualified" but yeah, you still need that job.

Don’t take it as a defeatist sign that they’ll pass you over. Rather, use it as an opportunity to spin your skills into a positive, such as anticipating the challenge to use your experience in a new setting or the fact that your experience may be a contributing factor in your ability to train quickly and get to the job at hand in shorter time. This was my presentation at my last interview and I got 2 hours of training before being put on a full solo shift on my 2nd day because I expressed my competency to do so. I'm rocking that role even more efficiently than some of my younger tenured coworkers and it's been noticed. Brownie button for me!

9. Attending an interview unprepared:

You may think your experience means you don’t have to prepare for an interview, but that could set you back instead of giving you a leg up.

Prepare for your interview. Review your resume and the job description to remember the best things to discuss. Research the company you’re interviewing with so you know its strengths and can answer questions about how you can add value to the organization and how much you appreciate the fact that their professional values match your own. Be sure you can tell them why you chose to apply to that company specifically.

10. Not having a vision of your future:

The interviewer may ask where you see yourself in 3-5 years. It’s a question that you probably were eager to answer when you were 25 years old and starting off in your career.

You need that same enthusiasm when you answer the question now. Think about why you’re applying for this job, the challenges you’re looking forward to, and why you believe you’ll be a good long-term asset to the organization.

11. Forgetting to use your network:

You may have cultivated a strong network when you were younger by talking to others in the industry or keeping in touch with colleagues.

Your network should still be strong now that you’re older. Use that network to find out if you have friends or former colleagues working at the company you’re interviewing with who can put in a good word for you. Do you have younger connections who can vouch for your work? Don't be afraid to ask for references!

12. Not having an online presence:

Even a basic online presence can help with a job interview.

Something like a LinkedIn profile can give your interviewers a better idea of your work, especially if you have references from other connections on the page.

Remember to build a portfolio or other presence online that can allow you to show off your work if possible. This is a good place to identify those accomplishments we refer to in our interviews. And if you have former employers, managers or colleagues that would offer praise and positive reference, reach out to them and ask for it! Having praise or kudos goes a long way!

Bottom line:

"It can be daunting to interview when you are a baby boomer. But you can take steps to help ensure success."

Remember that your age can be an asset or a detriment depending on how you present yourself as a whole package. As hiring trends sway more towards engaging older employees for their experience, reliability and work ethic you'll have a good chance to land that job.

Follow the guidelines in this list, and you should improve your odds of finding a position. Remember however, competition is growing and you need to be prepared to suit up and show up as your best self, regardless of the type of role you're interviewing for. Keep in mind that a positive perspective and upbeat presentation are some of your best tools. Know your value as an older worker and be prepared to share that perception and why it makes you a terrific investment!

I hope this helps provide an opportunity for introspection and self evaluation. I'm interested to hear about experiences members of this group have had during recent interview processes. If you have any experience, sage advice and gems of wisdom to share we could all benefit from it.

#interview #hiringnews #watercoolertopics #resume #motivation #inspireothers

Relapse Prevention: The Very Real Challenge

Here in the Fair Chance To Succeed group we discuss a lot of the barriers & challenges that our members face in their attempts to find work in a society that has labeled them as undesirable. Businesses don't see the individual behind the criminal convictions, only the history itself. While the words & paper are black & white, the people & the circumstances are not.

One major contributing factor can be substance abuse or addiction. It is often the precursor to the crime & the resulting conviction. In some cases, it is the substance use in itself that was the crime & the severity of the conviction lies within the laws of the state the arrest was made in.

It's challenging enough to re-enter society after jail or prison time and try to re-establish a life without the bane of addiction looming over your head. While many institutions offer in facility and pre-release treatment, many do not. As dictated by the DOJ, there are often very difficult post- release conditions imposed by parole. Sometimes those conditions include mandated treatment or continuing recovery programs. That's all well & good but it's the Relapse Prevention component that helps ensure continuing support for those individuals who struggle with triggers to use that is so important.

Employment rejection, lack of sufficient money to meet your most basic needs & returning to the location & people where you engaged in your use can make staying clean incredibly challenging. In addition to that, if you continue to entertain those self- destructive thoughts about using or allow yourself to wallow in guilt even a geographical move won't prevent eventual relapse.

The point here is, maintaining recovery is as much a job as finding and maintaining employment. You won't get to keep either one if you give in to triggers and give up. It's just the nature of the beast.

So, just as getting a job is important, building your recovery support is too. Whether it's attending 12 step or support meetings after you're done job searching for the day or spending time with support peers and family that can help you reflect on your progress & champion your efforts, YOU HAVE TO HAVE POSITIVE SUPPORT!! This really isn't an optional part of taking care of yourself so you can take care of your business.

Develop a Relapse prevention plan that includes your job search efforts. Focus on belief systems & negative thought processes because those are what drive the desire to use again. Solidify your positives & come up with affirmations that help you do you on the daily. Here's some guidelines to focus on:

1. Strategies to deal with stress
2. A plan to balance your personal and career obligations
3. Outlining ways to cope with cravings
4. Strategies to deal with triggers
5. How to properly handle expectations at home and at work
6. Ways to avoid people, places and things that negatively influence your recovery
7. Decreased appetite, depression, anxiety Additionally, some of the most common causes of relapses include stress, negative emotions and financial, personal or career instability. Negative emotions and conflict are unavoidable. A relapse prevention plan helps you identify potential barriers to your recovery. You can then construct a healthy and positive way to manage those potential conflicts. This is where your peer & family support come in. ASK FOR & BE WILLING TO RECEIVE HELP. And be ok with constructive feedback. It's not always criticism so just take it in without getting defensive. What's your perspective? Do you have insights about your own journey to share? What's your best relapse prevention advice or strategy? Tell us!!

#motivation, #standyourground, #inspireothers