Recruiting and hiring managers are sometimes hesitant to hire people they consider overqualified. Yesterday we got a recruiter’s perspective on why they might not want to hire someone who is overqualified. Today, an action plan for overcoming the label of “overqualified”. Read More
Why Won’t Employers Hire Overqualified Workers?
“Why wouldn’t an employer WANT a candidate who is overqualified?”, a Jobfully reader asks. “Wouldn’t they be happy to have someone who was completely competent from day one and readily able to take on more responsibility as needed? Why is being overqualified Read More
Video Friday: Are You Coming Across as Old?
Are you sabotaging your job search with behaviors and traits that make you look like an undesirable hire? Jobfully’s Carrie Krueger looks at how some job seekers simply come across as old, and what you can do to avoid this problem. Read More
Job Search and the Multi-Generational Workforce
Becky was telling me about a recent job interview at a local technology firm that left her frustrated and confused. She described her interviewer as a “girl” half her age who dressed casually, asked unexpected questions and spoke in shorthand. As an older worker, Becky is not alone in her reaction to the traits and behavior observed in “the younger generation”. But understanding new ways of communicating and working can really help older workers in their job search. Read More
Interviewing with the Young and Inexperienced
Many job seekers, particularly mature workers, have experienced interviewing with someone much younger or less experienced than themselves. It’s a common scenario and need not lead to disaster. Here’s how to handle it. Read More
Why Years of Experience Don’t Matter
Yes, you read the headline correctly. Years of experience do not get people hired. Why? Because experience does not equal success or future value. For example, I can claim 30+ years experience as a runner. Does that make me a candidate for the next Olympics? Could I be a track coach? Am I even a good runner? No. Just because I have been doing something for a long time does not mean I am good at it.
Which is more impressive: Read More
Is it Age Discrimination or Something Else?
Do you believe you are you being turned down for jobs because of your age? Age discrimination is often blamed after an unsuccessful application, but it’s almost always impossible to know if age really was a factor. Here are some of the common reasons given for not hiring a mature worker: Read More
Showing How Age is an Advantage
Older workers tend to believe their age will be viewed as a disadvantage by potential employers. But are there ways to portray it as an advantage? Absolutely! There are many positives to hiring an older worker and lots of ways to demonstrate them throughout the job search process. Read More
Are You Coming Across as Old?
Ask 40+, 50+ and 60+ job seekers and most will tell you they do not feel old. Yet even with resumes free of dates, hiring managers say some mature workers simply come across as “old”, making them less likely to be hired. Of course age discrimination is illegal. What these hiring managers are talking about is not discriminating based on date of birth, but rather preferring to avoid candidates who have traits and attitudes that make them seem out of touch, difficult to work with, unwilling to learn new skills or lacking in long term potential. Awareness of these conscious and unconscious messages can help job seekers of all ages come across better in every communication. Read More
Job Search Strategies for Mature Workers
Being over 50 and looking for work can be a scary proposition. A New York Times article details the fears and realities of looking for work at a time in life when many expected to be thinking their upcoming retirement, not job search. Although the article painted a grim picture, the reality is, a job search at 50+ does not have to be frustrating or fruitless. There is a great deal mature workers can do to make the most of the opportunity and end up with fulfilling employment. Read More