Saturday 16 August 2008

Interview tips for the mature job seeker

abridged from Business Wire in The Career News Volume 8 Issue 2

Make a favourable first impression in interviews.

  • Radiate energy, friendliness, confidence and competence.
  • Look savvy and contemporary.
  • Outdated haircuts and clothes reinforce stereotypes that older workers resist change.
  • Sit or stand erect. Slumping projects exhaustion and age.

Demonstrate strengths.

  • Arm yourself with examples or anecdotes to reinforce strengths.
  • Refer to past accomplishments and skills, explain how you'd tackle problems.
  • Show how judgment, experience and consistent achievements enable you to make significant contributions.

Demonstrate enthusiasm and passion for the work.

  • Show you're in tune with industry trends and have the necessary technical skills.
  • Demonstrate ability to mentor less experienced co-workers.
  • Speak comfortably of your flexibility, tolerance for ambiguity, and openness to new ideas.
  • Emphasise patience and good health.
  • Maintain optimism. Your attitude about age influences how you are perceived by others.
  • Accentuate your ability to contribute. Believe you can continue to grow and produce.

Hazel's comment:
Not that different from the advice given to any job seeker to which I'd add one more item.
Don't try to hide your age. Dressing as lamb when you're actually mutton, using "trendy" language to show how "with it" you are or cutting out several years of work experience from your CV will only lead to your downfall not getting the job. And saying that you have six O-levels is a dead giveaway!

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