How Do You Find a Job When You Are Over 60?
By Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter
Here I talk about the best technique for finding a job when you are over 60.
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The question I received last week, “Is it possible to find a job when you are over 60,” is really the predecessor to this one– “How do you find a job when you are over 60?”
I really think it comes down to the fact that networking is really the way that most people find work these days. Thus, when you think about networking,
LinkedIn is really the ideal tool, but probably not in the way that you are thinking of it.
I want to acknowledge that ageism exists. I know it exists, although maybe not the degree to which people think it does but it certainly exists. It exists both ways but here we are dealing with someone who is over 60.
What do you use LinkedIn for?
Answer. Since networking is probably the way that you are going to find work, you want to be looking for organizations to hire people who look like you and are your age. You want to identify the organizations that you would like to work for and then look for profiles and backgrounds of the people who work there to see whether there are workers there who are over 60.
Clearly, there are going to be people there who are under 60 as well as workers who are in their 20s and 30s. We know this already. What we are looking for are profiles of people who work there currently who are in your age group.
From there, what you want to do is reach out to them and do some networking. Even if they left there a few years ago, they fit a similar profile.
“How did you find it working there?”.
“I noticed that you are not 24; you are more my age. What was it like working there? How did you find your position? I see you worked there for 3 years. Who are you reporting to? Your background and mine are pretty similar. How would you suggest I try to gain entry into the organization?”
Obviously, you can do this with current employees, as well. That’s really ideal. You do a search for people with your background to work a particular, reach out to them, talk with them, and set up an informational interview just like you have a million times already.
I want to be clear. When I talked to job hunters who want a solution to their situation, they want something that works every time. Sorry, this will work every time. No technique works every time.
Yet this is really the best way because the statistics say that 70% of all jobs are filled as a result of networking. In addition, 70% of the 70% (or almost half) are filled as a result of introductions and relationships to people who you’re introduced to and didn’t know at the beginning of your search.
You have to get past your comfort zone and start talking to strangers and the ideal stranger is someone like you who is your age or a general contemporary of yours who is working for an organization that you are targeting. Speak with them, ideally if they work there, or at least recently, about who you might try contacting (not in HR. Go to hiring managers directly) and see if you can networking way into a firm. That’s really going to be your best bet.
As you interview, you want to proactively raise the subject of age and talk about situations in your past. When you answer questions and tell stories, you talk about working for someone who is less experience than you and were great support person for them. You tell them that you are not trying to take over any place in the what you’re looking for is an organization we can put down roots.
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ABOUT JEFF ALTMAN, THE BIG GAME HUNTER
People hire Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter to provide No BS Career Advice globally because he makes many things in peoples’ careers easier. Those
things can involve job search, hiring more effectively, managing and leading better, career transition, as well as advice about resolving workplace issues.
You will find great info to help with your job search at my new site, JobSearch.Community Besides the video courses, books and guides, I answer questions from members daily about their job search. Leave job search questions and I will respond daily. Become an Insider+ member and you get everything you’d get as an Insider PLUS you can get me on Zoom calls to get questions answered. Become an Insider Premium member and we do individual and group coaching.
Schedule a discovery call to speak with me about coaching you during your job search at www.TheBigGameHunter.us to discuss one-on-one or group coaching with me
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/TheBigGameHunter
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