5 Overlooked Tips for Mature Job Hunters

If you are 50 or older and seeking employment, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will discuss 5 tips that are often overlooked by mature job hunters. There is no doubt that there is a strong cloud of age discrimination in the job market. This is even present in small towns such as Red Oak, Maypearl, Italy, Waxahachie, Midlothian or even major metro areas like Dallas and Fort Worth. However, these 5 tips will help to position you to leap over this discrimination and secure your next job. Let’s get right to it.   

Leverage Your Wealth of Experience

As a mature worker, you bring a lifetime of employment experience to the table. It is likely that you would have had decades of work experience in your field and probably even several fields. This experience cannot be matched by younger workers. Even if you are switching careers, your years of experience in formal employment of different fields can still be of great value. Emphasize your overall work experience in your resume and in your job interview not just the most recent or the field you are transitioning to now.

Do Not Over Emphasize Your Age

While it can be an effective strategy to emphasize your experience, you may want to consider avoiding highlighting your age in an overt kind of way. This includes using modern terms and jargon in your written correspondence.  You should consider having a professional writer who is considerably younger than you write your resume and cover letter. While it is good that you have garnered much experience from all your years of work and you should emphasize your overall work experience, try to list only your most recent positions.  You can be general with overall experience without adding an additional addendum to your resume just to list all the places and dates. Feel free to include all your academic achievements, but do not list the dates. 

Recognize That Your Age is an Asset

While you do not want to overemphasize your age, it will serve you well to recognize that your age can be an asset. The insight that you bring to the table can help to make certain employers very comfortable. Emphasize the fact that your maturity enables you to appeal to a certain demographic. Your maturity is an asset to the process of shaping decisions to cater to a particular demographic. By the way, there are several employers who actually include their preference for more mature applicants in the promotions of job openings that. Keep an eye out for these.

Use Professional Job Search Services

Searching the internet and the newspaper can be effective ways of finding jobs; however, our limited experience with job hunting often puts us at a disadvantage. Using a professional job search service can help you to find jobs that are in line with your preference, abilities and unique skillsets. This service may cost you a few dollars up front, but the amount of time you will save makes it a worthwhile endovor. 

Take Professional Headshots

This is one of the most overlooked tips by job hunters. The truth is that employers are often too busy to read beyond the first few lines of resumes. A great resume headshot will grab their attention secure you a great first impression with employers in Dallas-Fort Worth or any other job market. A high-quality updated headshot will keep your application in the mind of human resource managers. Most people do not take professional headshots, so this provides you with an edge when job seeking. Certainly, you will look like the right candidate when you include a professional headshot in your resume. How do you find a good headshot photographer? A simple google search for headshots near me or your home town such as headshots near Red Oak, headshots near Midlothian or headshots near Waxahachie will help you find a local professional headshot photographer. A photographer who has a headshot studio or specializes in headshots is recommended.

Final Words

The fact that you have read this to the end means that you are serious about getting a job. These overlooked tips can be just what you need to secure your next job. We encourage you to not give up on your job hunt. You may just be one application from landing the job of your lifetime.