JOB SEARCH TIPS FOR OLDER CANDIDATES

Published 18 October 2012 04:35, Updated 18 October 2012 05:00

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    • Set up a LinkedIn profile and Facebook account. People will “Google” you, so make sure they are active accounts with plenty of contacts and friends. You don’t need to go overboard but an inactive account will not help your cause.
    • Don’t use your home phone number on your CV. Give a mobile instead. Include your LinkedIn address but not your photograph.
    • Use Gmail for your personal email address.
    • Don’t go back into ancient history on your CV. The past 10 to 15 years is enough. Five to six pages is too long.
    • If you are out of practise, ask a young person to do a “mock” interview. Show them the clothes you plan to wear.
    • In the CV, say what you achieved, rather than the tasks you were responsible for.
    • Don’t broadcast how many years of experience you have – you may be typecast as “set in your ways”.
    • Acknowledge the issue. You can say something like: “I’m obviously of a different generation to you but what I think I bring is . . .”
    • Engage the interviewer in conversation and make it clear that you are not interested in career development, if that is the case.
    • Make yourself memorable, take the interviewer out of their routine by suggesting a meeting over coffee, give them the opportunity to see the real you. Subvert the typecasting.

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