50+ job seekers:debunking myths

04/10/23 RCM Associates www.rcmassociates.com

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The 50+ Job Search: Debunking the Myths

Presenter: Dr. Rita Carey

RCM Associates Career Management

www.rcmassociates.comCareer Tips: www.careersuccesscenteronline.com


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The 50+ Job Search: Debunking the Myths

Series: Is Your Resume a Gate Opener?

Thursday, 8/13 1 – 3 p.m. RW Goodman St. Where have the Jobs Gone? The Online Job Search

Thursday, 8/20 1 – 3 p.m. RW Waring Road

Networking at 50+ or nearly 50: Yes You Can! Tuesday, 8/25 10:30 – 12:30 RW Goodman St.

Interviewing at 50+: the Age Factor Friday, 8/28 9-11 a.m. RW Waring Road


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Topics of Discussion

Biases – yours, theirs and ours Debunking the Myths Eliminating Gate Closers

Applications Resumes Interviews

Getting the Offer in Today’s Market


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Biases: Yours, Theirs and Ours

Generally, younger workers are:

Generally, older workers are…

It’s all about beliefs


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Beliefs: older workers

Older workers:not adept at technologynot as productive as younger

employeesThey have more accidents and

are more often sick


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Beliefs: older workers(continued)

Skills/education not up-to-date Over-priced Can’t work with younger workers Low energy Next job a bridge to retirement Won’t stay on the job long


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Debunking the myths:Just the facts…

Health insurance claims are not solely influenced by age

No difference in productivity(USDHHS) Intelligence remains constant until 70

years of age (American Management Association)

Low Energy – Varies among all age groups – not a factor of age alone


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Survey

IT workers 45+ rated as better problem-solvers and communicators and equivalent to younger workers in tech knowledge and teamwork skills.

Institute of Electrical & Electronic Engineers - USA


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2009 Tony Awards

Angela Lansbury 84: Won a Tony ( 2009) Jane Fonda 72: appearing on Broadway

Liza Minnelli 63: 2009 show dancing and singing


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Hitting their peak…

Dolly Parton 63 Wrote the music for Tony nominated

Broadway show 9-5 (2009)

Harrison Ford 67Denzel Washington 55Tom Hanks 53Bette Midler 64

Performing in Las Vegas (100 shows remaining on her contract)


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Hitting their peak…

Dorothy Dale Kloss 85 Palm Spring Follies dancer; started her dancing career at 71

Margaret Haggerty Marathon Woman 81 Age 64 stopped smoking; started running Has run marathons on seven continents Set a record her first marathon

Betty White 87 Appearing on 2 TV shows


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Just the facts…

Carol Shields, Pulitzer Prize at 60

Michelangelo, Medici Chapel, 59

Louise Bourgeois, sculptor, recognized at 70 plus

Ward Garland, 103, refrigeration engineer, works every day


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Just the facts…

Nat Kaufman, 88, stockbroker for Wedbush Morgan Securities, LA

Waldo Burney, 96, continues to run his own business, McBurney Honey, KA


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May or may not be true…

Skills and education not current Can’t get along with younger

workers Next job a bridge to retirement Won’t stay on the job Over-priced


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Myth-busting

Changing Perceptions1. From “dated” to “contemporary”

2. From “biding time” to “commitment”

3. From “unproductive” to “productive”

4. From “cost” to “value”

5. From “peer mismatch” to “colleague”

How would you change perceptions?


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From “dated” to “contemporary”

Dress Appearance

Demeanor Energy (physical and mental)

Language Current in field and culture


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From “biding time” to “commitment

Emphasize recent accomplishments

Name current activities that show you are

“still in the game.”

Talk about adding value; forward looking


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From “unproductive” to “productive”

Be engaged in current activity – on resume

Show energy/enthusiasm in networking and interviews

Subtly insert solid attendance record

Cite accomplishments that show initiative, accountability and resourcefulness.


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From “cost” to “value”

Emphasize your ability to perform the job description tasks immediately (cover letter, networking, interviews)

If training is required, emphasize learning ability

Speak about related training (recent)

If experience is directly related, emphasize this


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From “peer mismatch” to “colleague”

The younger interviewer

The younger manager

The younger co-worker

Fitting in…are your assumptions showing?


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From Peer Mismatch to Colleague

Five Tips

What are they reading, doing, talking about?

1. Read the business section2. Know what’s happening in your field

(FastCompany, Wired, Web 2.0)3. Watch American Idol or????4. Update your training5. Volunteer


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Eliminating Gate Closers

Car for sale: 1989 Chevrolet Sedan Very high mileage Oil change 1998 Steers hard


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Classic auto for sale: Spacious Chevrolet Sedan Classic vintage Ideal for car show display Blue with cream trim Body in excellent condition


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Over 27 years experience with the same company. Excellent human resource skills. Strong work ethic; healthy. People person; get along with most staff.

Qualifications Summary:


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Getting past the gatekeeper

Comprehensive benefits administration experience, reporting to Director of Human Resources. Excellent written and verbal communication. Flexible team player. Proven ability in coordinating complex compensation packages. Demonstrated adaptability in support of change initiatives.

Qualifications Summary: (after)


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How Employers Recruit and Hire

Study million + employees: 303,000 job openings 30 % filled with Internal Transfers and Promotions 28.7% External Hires filled with referrals (employee, alumni,

vendor, etc.) the #1 external source. Employee referrals - 80-90% of these hires

Hires attributed to Job Boards (including the Company site) represent 25.7% of external hires.

CareerXroads 7th Annual Source of Hire Study – published 2008


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The Lifespan of a Job Opening

Stage 1 - No Opening Exists

Stage 2 - A Few People Know

Stage 3 - In-house & Selected Others

Stage 4 - Everyone Knows


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Networking, Referrals and your job search

- Almost 60% of Americans say they feel shy and uncomfortable in a variety of business and social situations. (The Shyness Clinic, Stanford University)

How do you handle networking?


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Referrals and your job search

Preparation, Know where you are in the process

Create your contact list,

Make Contact, Reciprocate,

Follow-up


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The Interview

Prepare Resume ready Accomplishment stories Company research Thorough job understanding Practice - audition


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The Interview (age related questions)

You seem over-qualified

Gosh, I see a perfect skills match. Can you help me see what you mean by over-qualified?


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How old are you? I’m younger than the President… Do you think I might be too young?

When did you graduate from… It’s been awhile now, but I’ve kept current with xyz

training and actually the best learning was on-the-job. (Give a relevant example.)


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What are your salary expectations; what were you making at your last job?

Know your bottom line Don’t base requirement on previous salary only Factor in benefits


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Tell me about your 5-year goals.

How do you feel about working in a fast-paced, unstructured environment?

How do you handle pressure?


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The Interview

Watch body language

Contemporary image

Don’t let your biases show


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What you bring to the table…

Broad network of acquired contacts

Broad, transferable skills

Ability to work with different management styles

Multiple skills sets acquired thorough in-depth experience


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What you bring to the table…

The key: Discuss achievements to demonstrate those

qualities unique to you, the more experienced worker.

Tell stories that demonstrate abilities. This is the single most influential action you can take. They will remember you and they will visualize what you can do for them.

Accomplishments exercise


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Factors that affect opportunity

The market – supply & demand

Job search methods

Job search tools


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Time for a Check-Up?

Have you selected a market (work environment) with potential?

Will your resume get past the gatekeeper?

Do you have a contact base for referrals?

Are you prepared to defuse the loaded questions?

Can you demonstrate your knowledge, skills and abilities with stories?


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Time for a Check-Up? (continued)

Are you clear about what you want to do?

Do you have a targeted resume?

Do you research employers before interviewing?

Are you spending 45 hours a week in job search activities? 35/10 ratio


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Time for a Check-up ?

Are you updating your resume on job boards?

Do you have a profile on Linked-In or Facebook?

Is there training you need to update or add to your package of capabilities?

Do you read business magazines or professional journals?


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In summary:

Age discrimination exists based on misperceptions: you can change perceptions

The Market Job Search Activities

Tools

The Method Manage an online job search, create an age neutral

resume, network, and debunk myths in the interview


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Coming Up

The 50+ Career Series Is your Resume a Gate Opener?

Create an age neutral resume 8/6 Goodman

Where have all the jobs gone? Tricks and tips for the online job search 8/13 Goodman

Interviewing at 50+: Age specific questions 8/20 Waring

Networking at 50+: Yes you can! 8/28 Waring For more information and to register, go to

www.RochesterWorks.org and find the 50+ Series

50+ job seekers:debunking myths

Career

older workers older

younger workers low

younger employees

job openings

younger interviewer

younger manager

job overpriced

online job search