What do you do if age-related challenges hinder your job search success?

If age-related hurdles are getting in the way of your job hunt, then start by upskilling yourself to match what's in demand today. Network with professionals who may help you find job opportunities, and be open to part-time or remote work options. When applying for jobs, highlight your accomplishments rather than focusing on your age. Explore different industries or roles. With determination and strategic approaches, you can overcome age-related hurdles and land the job you deserve.

If age-related challenges hinder your job search success, consider emphasizing your relevant skills, experiences, and adaptability in your resume and during interviews. Focus on highlighting recent achievements and staying updated with industry trends and technologies. Networking can also be invaluable, both online and offline, to connect with professionals and uncover hidden job opportunities. Additionally, consider seeking out age-friendly companies and industries that value diversity and experience. Lastly, be open to exploring alternative career paths, freelance opportunities, or retraining programs to leverage your expertise and stay competitive in the job market.

Need to prioritize skill enhancement, networking, and leveraging your experience. Highlight relevant achievements, and practice interviewing to boost confidence. Engage with alumni networks and make sure you maintain optimism throughout your search.

Highlight transferable skills and relevant experiences on your resume. Stay updated with industry trends and technologies through courses or certifications. Network actively to build relationships and access opportunities. Embrace a growth mindset and remain adaptable to change. Seek support from mentors for guidance.

There are a few ways. Number one is networking, networking, networking. Be brave. Ask people for help. Create your resume to include the last 10 or so years depending on what skills you need to highlight.

If you are facing rejections because you are over experienced for a role, it may not be just because of the age but maybe because of a limited budget that may block the company from affording you & hiring you. Don't try to short change your expertise just for the sake of fitting into the company's requirements. Be proud of who you are and what you have accomplished in your career.

Keep the focus on recent experiences. Avoid statements like “back in my day” or anything negative about age - especially anything negative about other generations. I speak to a lot of people who face age discrimination but in the next sentence speak negatively about a younger generation. If you don’t want to face age discrimination then do show discrimination towards others either.

You get certifications and things that give you a guaranteed level of skill and experience to perspective, employers. Most people have no idea how many certifications that they are eligible for because of their past experience, especially older workers as they are probably been asked to do many things to help get progress in previous companies so instead of just discounting and downplaying these skills, they need to be certified and played up because that way employers will understand the value that they are getting in this new skilled powerhouse. They will see that they are getting many skills that are extra than the skills. They are hiring for in that position, and they will see much value in the older worker because of the certification.

By updating her marketing skills, (via coursera, linkedin, Google and Facebook) my wife managed to shift her career from a retail physical shop to an online digital marketing role. Could not be more proud of her.

Areas like digital and tech are always changing - everyone needs to keep up to date. Brush up on office technology, social media, think about a new qualification.

Building professional connections can be a pain for many people who are not comfortable in this exercise, however this is probably your best chance to get interviewed and get job offers, faster than just the traditional way of job applications, where you only stand a 2% chance.

Leverage your professional network to uncover hidden job opportunities and gain referrals. Build relationships and showcase your value to overcome age-related challenges in your job search.

Your personal story is what makes you unique and stand out. If well done, recruiters & hiring managers will remember you longer than any other job seekers without story. It can an emotional one or a happy one. Everybody loves a good story, right?

Being able to tell your story is such an underrated skill - forget elevator pitches, just get good at telling people about you! Make it memorable, show your passion for it (or why you do it, I get not everyone is passionate about what they do) and just talk like a human being. When you’re in interviews, get really good at telling you career journey - I like to coach people in talking about what they do now /most recently and then weave in early experiences. Don’t just tell your career history like it’s an encyclopaedia.

Online interviews are very different from face to face and should be practiced. Goes without saying - familiarise yourself with the technology used for the interview - can you log in, what does your background look like, do you know how to share your screen (and the stop sharing it)…all things that you don't need to know how to do in a face to face! Remember to rehearse the intro and the farewell too!

Don't let age biases stop you from knocking that interview out of the park. There will always be some kind of ageism, and that can be young or old. But what you need to remember is that if you are in that interview- you were a top tier candidate. Your experience and background got you there. Bring up results from projects during all the answers, and don't be afraid to lead the conversation by asking the hiring team, if they have encountered certain issues or need someone to navigate a team though those. You should know from your company research. It shows them you are not afraid to jump in, lead, and you have the experience to solve their problem. Remember, they are hiring because they have a pain point. You are are there to solve it.

The best way to showcase your value, professionalism, energy and creativity is to design and send your "value proposition" to them. Research the company's culture, values, products, services, people and create a project that is going to highlight your expertise and will make them realize about your value, compared to all the other applicants who never did the extra mile with just a CV and maybe a cover letter.

To navigate age-related obstacles in job searches, it's vital to continually update skills and knowledge, network proactively, and customize application materials to showcase relevant experiences. Exploring flexible work arrangements can broaden opportunities, while addressing any age bias with confidence and positivity during interviews can counter stereotypes. Seeking guidance from career advisors or mentors and exploring alternative career paths may also provide valuable insights. Persistence and optimism remain key as you navigate through challenges and pursue fulfilling opportunities.

I believe in continuous professional development and update my skills via researching the subject, finding someone who has that skillset to gain further knowledge, volunteer or complete a course.