Baby Boomers Confidence is Key

You may be feeling uncertain about your ability to compete in an already competitive job search. But don’t let that deter you. You have years of experience under your belt and the skill level to match. So make sure you maintain your confidence throughout your job search process. It will shine through in your resume, cover letter, and face-to-face interview.

Getting back into the workforce as a Baby Boomer isn’t an impossible task if you believe in your capabilities and make a strong effort to excel. The more proactive you are about putting yourself out there, the more success you will have in locating opportunities that can take your career to the next level.

 Top 10 tips for your writing your resume and getting your resume read:

1. Construct your resume to read easily. Remember, resumes are reviewed quickly. Help the reader to scan your resume efficiently and effectively

• Use bulleted sentences.
• Resumes are read quickly.
• Bullets make it easier for someone to quickly scan your resume and still absorb it

2. Put strengths first where they are more apt to be read. 

3. Use action words prepared, developed, monitored, and presented.

4. Have someone else read your resume. A second set of eyes will always catch grammatical or spelling error and the person may add valuable input.

5. To avoid appearing out of touch, Sharon Armstrong, a career consultant in Washington, D.C., urged one client fearful of seeming too old to discuss her use of Twitter and Facebook during job interviews.

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6. Sharon Armstrong also endorses the idea of keeping certain dates off resumes.

7. Once at the interview stage, Armstrong urges clients to prepare for questions like, “Aren’t you overqualified?” Older job seekers say they hear that frequently. Armstrong suggests they show enthusiasm for the job and make sure not to seem to be applying out of desperation.

8. Experts say some employers may be reluctant to hire people they assume are less flexible, more expensive or less agile with technology

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9. Updating Your Resume: If you’ve been out of the job market for a decade or more, updating your resume may be more challenging than you remember, especially when you factor in the Internet and possibly having to apply online. But that’s not all you have to think about. As a mature worker, you also have the challenge of creating a resume that showcases your years of experience without shining a spotlight on your age.

10. So how can you get this done? One way is by using a functional resume format that highlights specific skills rather than chronological timelines. When writing your skills, try going into detail regarding projects you’ve completed that have benefited your previous companies. You can also create a section that focuses on the computer technologies you’ve mastered or any training you’ve completed. All of these things can help employers focus more on your skills and talents, and less on your age.

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I found this uplifting to know that as baby boomers, we will be a force in the job marketing for many years to come.

It does mean we do have to update our skills and acquire new ones. We have to demonstrate for prospective employers we have kept abreast of our industry and the latest software or computer skills required.

The data suggests that to be successful older job-hunters must adapt to the changing workplace by adopting new attitudes, specific skills and a fresh set of expectations.

The study from the MetLife Mature Market Institute reports that many Americans over the age of 55 plan to work at least until age 69, but that most who look for a job face challenges in finding one.

Yet, Department of Labor projections indicate that the 55+ population will account for almost 93% of the net increase in the U.S. Civilian Labor Force between 2006–2016.

The research found in Buddy, Can You Spare a Job? The New Realities of the Job Market for Aging Baby Boomers paints a sobering picture, but also contains essential insights and advice for older job-seekers. It combines a survey of 1,200+ individuals ages 55 to 70 with in-depth interviews of both job-seekers and employment experts. 

Read More in the What’s New section.

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1. Baby Boomers Move to Self-Employed
2. Top 10 Tips for Getting Your Resume Read
3. Baby Boomers Provide Help for the Looming Worker Shortage