Age discrimination might be illegal, but as you know, it still happens all of the time. Whether you’re a recent grad or a seasoned worker, you’ve probably felt the sting of this unfortunate reality at one point or another. RELATED: Need tips for the job search? Watch these tutorials! Gabriel Bristol, president/CEO of Intelicare Direct, believes leaders are hesitant to offer seasoned applicants positions out of fear they will be slow, cranky, out of touch or chronic complainers. Thankfully, Bristol has some pointers on overcoming the ‘seasoned worker’ stereotype:
1. Figure out what you want.
It’s tempting to grab the first opportunity that presents itself. But before you jump into anything, Bristol suggests taking time to evaluate exactly what you want in your next job. What truly excites you or sparks your interest? What steps do you have to take to make that passion into a career?2. Know your value.
“The sheer volume of the experiences you have can support businesses in many ways—identify them,” says Bristol. How will your personal and professional experiences bring value to the job? Knowing this and effectively conveying it to employers will be a huge selling point for you as a job candidate.3. Set aside prejudices.
If you go into a job with a chip on your shoulder or a bad attitude about the people around you, you’re headed for trouble. “Just like younger bosses may have preconceived notions about older employees, older applicants may have preconceived notions and biases against younger bosses,” says Bristol. It’s important to set these prejudices aside. Otherwise, you’re just going to make things harder for yourself. As they say in Frozen, let it goooo, let it goooo!4. Stay up to date.
Update your job search materials (and even your wardrobe) on a regular basis. “If you have not updated your resume in the last three or four years (or longer), chances are that it now contains outdated words and phrases that may not resonate with the twenty-something or thirty-something that most likely is screening it for relevancy,” says Bristol. Happy job hunting! This post was originally published at an earlier date.Related Posts
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