Landing Your Dream Job at Any Age

Guest Blog by
Nicole Abrahams 

dream job

Image credit: Atsuke, license Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) Image source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/atsuke/4613987073

 

These days, it is quite common to hear people complain about age discrimination in regards to seeking employment. Younger job seekers feel that they are brushed over by hiring managers because they lack experience. Older job applicants feel that they are disregarded because they are viewed as outdated. However, it is likely that many members of both groups are not being hired for reasons other than their birth dates. With this in mind, read the following for tips on how to land your dream job at any age.

Maintain the Right Image

Perhaps in a perfect world appearances wouldn’t matter. However, in today’s competitive business environment, they do. As such, whether you are young or old, you need to be aware of what the current trends in business dress are. If you are fresh out of college, make sure you don’t look like a kid pledging at a fraternity. Likewise, if you have a few more years under your belt ensure that your wardrobe is up to date and that you don’t appear to live in a retirement home. Regardless of your birth date, you should:

  • Get a modern, professional haircut
  • Professional accessories
  • Modern business attire

Though you may want to wear something slightly more casual on days when you are not attending an interview, remember that you never know where you may meet the contact that will end up getting you your dream job. As such, you should dress professionally whenever you think you might encounter professionals from your industry. If you dress like a professional, people will perceive you as one. For some helpful tips on what to wear to the office, check out this article from Business Insider.

Be Selective

Applying for every job on the Internet and in the classifieds is not a good plan. If you are currently seeking employment, then you should spend some time seriously thinking about what jobs you are qualified for and what jobs you actually want.

If you are unemployed or unhappy at your current job, then you may feel desperation. As such, you might be motivated to find and fill any position with any company.

However, applying for jobs that you are not qualified for is likely a waste of time. It is highly improbable that a hiring manager will employ a candidate that lacks the skills and knowledge to fill a position well.

In addition, if you get a job that you don’t really want, then you will probably find yourself unhappy and looking for employment again in a matter of months.

Therefore, don’t be in a rush. Take the time needed to carefully select the jobs you apply for. In the end, you will probably end up getting hired more quickly and enjoying the position you fill.

Create Tailored Resumes and Cover Letters

One mistake that many job applicants make, both young and old, is sending out generic resumes and cover letters. By doing this, you will seem to be immediately irrelevant in today’s business world.

These days, employers expect job applicants to be able to create eye-catching resumes and cover letters that are tailored specifically to the company they are applying to and the position they hope to fill. If you are using a resume and cover letter that is so non-specific that it can be sent to multiple employers, then you need to rethink your strategy.

Take some time to rework your resume so that it shows how your work experience is relevant to the position you are applying for. In addition, research the company that you will be applying to and make sure that your cover letter really sends a message that shows why you would be a good fit there. Also, make sure that your resume:

Can be easily scanned for important information

  • Is not too long (there is almost no reason for your resume to be longer than one page)
  • Is not written in a small or hard-to-read font

Regardless of your age, taking the above advice will start getting you noticed and on the right track to gainful employment. However, for more information on how to get a job, read this article from Forbes. By taking the right steps, you will soon find yourself off the street and behind a desk.

About the author

Nicole Abrahams is writing on a freelance basis for Career Savvy, an online resource by eRecruit Solutions that was created to cater to the needs of job applicants in need of helpful advice.

About Russ Hovendick

My name is Russ Hovendick and my life has centered on helping others. To me there is no greater fulfillment than being able to play a part in positively impacting an individual's life. Connect with Russ on Google+

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