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Mature Job-Seekers: Your Game, Your Rules

By Rowe Leathers
Contributor, Career Servicesleading-older-generation

With age comes experience, and with experience comes opportunities only afforded to mature workers. That said, seasoned workers must approach their job search differently than the younger and less experienced.

The strategy of younger candidates is to lead with their education, embellish their experience, and highlight any and all certifications. Mature workers should consider an alternate approach: showcase your many years of relevant experience – it is the one great advantage that the young cannot claim.

Realizing that the playing field is not even and that the game is different, you can re-assess your job search strategies. When younger workers are describing their tasks and responsibilities, experienced candidates should be touting their effectiveness and quantifying their success. Presenting only what is relevant to the target job will help you highlight your strengths and qualifications for the position. With mature candidates, it’s not the years spent building the career that matters; rather, it’s what you have accomplished during that time.

Energize your resume with descriptions that showcase your initiative, talents, and success. Fill your resume with results-oriented projects, initiatives, and improvements that you have made in your previous roles. Tell your story in a way that will help the potential employer see how you are the right fit for his or her organization.

To the mature job-seekers, I say, “Embrace your experience!” Realize the value of what you bring to the table. Years spent building your career arsenal can pay off. Knowing that you are not on a level playing field and that you are in a different game will allow you to play your own game by your own rules.

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