If You’re In A Job Search, You Need To Hear This

by Dawn Graham at forbes.com

A listener looking to make a career switch called into my weekly radio show on SiriusXM to ask if I could help hone his professional introduction. When I asked what he did for a living, he immediately confessed, “Well, right now I’m unemployed, but...”

    Immediately I cut him off (something I rarely do), because unemployment is a temporary state and never a part of your brand.

Q:   I’m retired and 65, and usually take on seasonal retail work. The extra cash gives me a nice boost for the holidays. I’m worried employers won’t consider me due to my age, given the COVID situation. I know they can’t normally discriminate, but can they use that as an excuse not to hire me?

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A:   Since the scientists say older people are more at risk, employers can use that as an excuse to discriminate on the basis of age? It would be a novel rationale — that they are declining to hire you for your own safety. No matter how you slice it, that is an adverse employment decision based on age, and the law doesn’t allow it.

To be sure, many retirees finally have the time for fun stuff like hobbies, travel or spending more time with family. However, stats about retirees indicate that many are looking for more.

    Often, the new retirement plan is to keep working. And if the stats about working in retirement are any indication, the new way to retire could include a job.
 

Q:    I am worried about the employment gap in my resume and whether it is appropriate to address the fact that I stayed home with my children.

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A:   There is no need to address the reason for your gap in employment on your resume or cover letter… You do not need to address this at all and instead should focus on your previous experiences, achievements and continued professional development. By concentrating on your work experience, versus the reason for your absence from the workforce, you focus the hiring manager’s attention on the areas that enhance or support your candidacy.
 

No doubt that looking for a job in 2020 is turning out to be a unique experience – regardless of your age. Unfortunately there are some statistics out there that claim that being over 50 and looking for a job is that much more difficult.

    Fortunately, “more difficult” does not equal “impossible.”

    Let’s start with knowing where to look. Whether you’re using LinkedIn, Indeed or a library directory such as Reference USA, correctly assessing the circumstances of the job market and your place in it can make all the difference.

    The 600-pound gorilla in today’s job market is the impact of the Covid pandemic and resulting economic lockdown. What kinds of companies would be strong targets under such circumstances? Maybe companies who have pressing work that can be outsourced to remote workers. Just as you are looking for companies with novel approaches to meeting their needs, so too are companies looking for candidates with novel approaches to doing the work.

    Who else might be hiring? How about new industries or new companies where growth seems impervious to virus-related slowdowns? Companies that are growing so fast that they have needs that must be addressed today.

    On the other side of that coin, where might you be wasting your time? Large, old-line companies that have just laid off hundreds or thousands of workers probably are not in search of new hires. Likewise, non-profit organizations that depend on private donations (as opposed to government grants) are suffering. Unable to host fund-raising events due to the shutdown, many such organizations are struggling financially.

    You also could look inward. Where do you see yourself as being most competitive? What skills do you possess that may be in the greatest demand? Pairing your skills with companies that value those skills will make your job search more targeted, more refined.

    In times as unprecedented as these, taking novel approaches and looking under different rocks should put you in the strongest position possible.