15 Proven Tips for Boomers to Land a Job Fast
Anyone who has tried to look for a job knows how difficult and frustrating the process is. Searching for work is a full-time job itself. No one knows this better than Baby Boomers.
As mature workers, Baby Boomers often find themselves passed over for positions they’re well qualified for in favor of younger candidates. Age discrimination is a genuine thing.
Baby Boomers don’t have to sit back and take being overlooked. Here are some simple things you can do to improve your job outlook and get hired fast.
1. Update Your Resume Format
The resume format you used years ago doesn’t work in the 2020s. It looks and feels dated and instantly sets you apart negatively.
Use a fresh resume template, such as those found on word processing and graphic design platforms. It’ll make you look more current and like someone employers want to talk with.
2. Network, Network, and Network
You can send your resume to different employers and fill out online applications, but that doesn’t mean you’ll get a callback. You could have the perfect qualifications and still not receive a response.
One of the best ways to get hired at a company is to network. More than a few job openings are filled because a contact knew someone was looking for a job, and their company had an opening. It works!
3. Relevant Work Experiences
When writing your resume, you want to impress prospective employers by listing every professional job you’ve had since high school. This is fine if you’re 25, but it can backfire on you if you’re a Boomer.
As a rule of thumb, list only your last 10-15 years of relevant work experience on your resume. If you include careers you held during the Carter administration, don’t be surprised if you don’t get a response.
4. Create a LinkedIn Profile
LinkedIn may be considered a social media site for nerds, but it’s also a useful platform for networking, finding new jobs, pursuing education, and self-marketing.
Create a LinkedIn profile that reflects your resume because prospective employers will check it out. Be sure to keep your posts professional and stay away from third-rail topics.
5. Write Cover Letters
No one enjoys writing cover letters on top of submitting a job application, but they’re a necessity. If the employer’s job posting requires a cover letter, you include it. Even if they don’t ask for one, send it anyway.
Don’t use an identical cover letter for different job applications. Create personalized cover letters for each position you’re applying for. It makes a good impression on employers because it shows greater interest.
6. Market Yourself
Do you know how brands attract customers? They employ a marketing strategy that makes them appear compelling to potential customers by highlighting their product’s attributes.
As job seekers, you must use the same approach. Market yourself in a way that makes you look indispensable to employers, and prove it by showing what you can do to help them meet their goals.
7. No Education Dates
There’s likely a section on your resume or curriculum vitae to list your formal education. It’s common to include the year you started at a given school, and the year you earned your degree or diploma.
Again, this is fine if you’re in your twenties, but for mature workers, it could very well get your resume put into the shredder. You’re better off omitting the dates. At least give yourself a chance to get an interview.
8. Use Social Media
You may or may not have a social media presence, and that’s okay. But if you want to look like a contemporary worker in the eyes of prospective employers, develop your professional social media presence.
A professional social media account besides LinkedIn helps increase your visibility. A professional X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, or Instagram account helps boost your image. Keep it free of controversial subjects like politics.
9. Personalize Your Resume
You may be used to having only one copy of your resume that you use for all of your job applications, but that would be a mistake. Different employers look for specific experiences and use keywords to identify those resumes.
You don’t have to write an entirely new resume for each application, but you can edit it to include specific keywords from the job posting. That will increase your likelihood of being selected for further consideration.
10. Highlight Accomplishments and Skills
Your resume is only a snapshot of your work history. It’s impossible (and not advisable) to list every job experience and skill you have.
At the same time, you want to emphasize your capabilities and accomplishments. List the most important and relevant ones relating to the job you’re applying for.
11. Continuing Education
No matter your education, there’s always room to learn more. There are many free and low-cost massive open online courses (MOOCs) available to earn certifications in many areas of study.
These courses and certifications are a great addition to a resume. They can also open career doors that may have been previously closed off to you.
12. Do Your Research
Once you land an interview, you don’t want to go in blind, with your only knowledge about the company limited to the job description. Do some research about the company before the interview.
Go on the company website and look up its history, values, and mission statement. Check LinkedIn to learn more about the interviewer and review the company’s social media sites.
13. Show You Know Tech
Showing employers in your cover letter and resume that you know tech goes a long way in dispelling the belief that younger workers have a monopoly on technology. Sadly, this is what mature job seekers need to fight against.
Ensure you’re proficient or at least have a working knowledge of the different types of software used in an office setting. If there’s something you don’t know, demonstrate your willingness to learn.
14. Check the Salary
Some job postings include the salary range for the position, but not all of them do. To find out the salary range for a given position, check online employment sites to get an idea.
Remember that the numbers given may not be exact but are merely a reference point that can be used to negotiate a salary you find acceptable when you receive an offer.
15. Interview Etiquette
When you go to a job interview, in-person or online, look serious about the job and dress professionally. Projectconfidence by being attentive and making eye contact with the interviewer.
When they ask if you have questions, respond by asking them two or three questions about the company and its culture. Stay calm, relaxed, and collected. It’s not life and death; it’s only one interview. You got this!
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