Job Hunting Strategies For Applicants Who Are Over 45

Once you have reached age 45, it becomes more difficult to find a job. Although you should not be discriminated against because of your age, you still cannot force employers to hire you if there are younger people who are all too willing to accept employment at a much lower rate than yours. Even if you are over 45 years old, however, you should not despair. There are a lot of ways in which you can increase your chances of getting considered for a position.

Revamp Your Resume

Even if you are not looking for a new job, it is important to update your resume regularly so that when the right opportunity comes, you will not find it difficult to come up with a fresh application letter and Curriculum Vitae. If this is your first time to apply for work in a decade or two, it is important that you delete any work experience that is not included in the last 10 to 15 years. Your pizza delivery gig after high school may no longer be relevant to the position you are applying for now. Unless you are applying for a chief executive or vice president position, it is a good idea not to show off your vast experience in the field. The recruiter might think you are over qualified for the position.

Consider a Career Change

One thing that you need to understand is that nothing is permanent. Your job may already be extinct in the next 10 years. If you think that your work experience is no longer relevant or sought after in the employment market, then it may be a good idea to consider changing your career. You might need to try new things and learn new skills. If you do not know how to use the computer or surf the Internet, now is the right time to try attending courses and seminars that will make you computer literate and Internet savvy. You have to be abreast with the times to make you more competitive and attractive to recruiters in the employment market.

Try to Update Yourself

If you think that your skills and knowledge are still relevant at present, then what you need to do is to simply update yourself. It is important that you read newspapers, magazines, and articles on the Internet about the new trends in your field. Even if you have extensive experience but you are not open to change, recruiters may not be all too willing to consider you for a job. Also, try attending training programs that will focus on self development to help you land a good position.

Tony Jacowski is a quality analyst for The MBA Journal. Aveta Solutions - Six Sigma Online http://www.sixsigmaonline.org offers online six sigma training and certification classes for lean six sigma, black belts, green belts, and yellow belts.