‘You can’t Google experience’

Your experience counts for more than just years

With all the obstacles facing today’s older job seekers, the mightiest sword at their disposal to conquer the job market typically is their experience. As we all know, experience is not something that can be learned in school. There is only one way to gather experience and that is on the job. As one recruiter said, “You can’t Google experience.”

Most older job seekers learn early on in their job searches that playing the experience card may be the most effective tactic that they can employ. Yet, there is one aspect of this powerful tool which sometimes may be overlooked.

Beyond the obvious

Experience is a good thing. It typically encompasses years, even decades. But in most cases it can be more valuable than simply time served.

While older job seekers have experience in their work, they often have experience in several jobs, spread across several industries sometimes, in good times and in bad. It is this range of experience that reinforces the value brought to the table by today’s over-50 candidate.

Range of experience completes the 1-2 punch of breadth and depth of experience.

Experience can be horizontal as well as vertical – with vertical representing the length of service and the horizontal spreading applications over a multitude of situations and circumstances.

When asked about your experience, don’t think of it just in terms of years of service. Look at your entire body of work. How did you survive an economic downturn? How did you weather the storm of a merger? How did you pivot when other new technologies entered the picture?

Length of service is good, but range of experience greatly enhances your value to any potential employer. That’s a card that should be played.

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