How to get a job when youre over 50 -

How to get a job when youre over 50 - Can you get a job if youre more experienced, read: older? It is a tough market out there, but baby boomers can overcome  ageism  and land opportunities. Successful candidates plan ahead to help conquer potential objections before they become insurmountable obstacles. Here are some tips for older job seekers to consider: 1. Update your resume.  You cannot expect anyone to hire you when your resume harkens back to the dinosaur age. There are many ways to  tweak and transform your resume  so you appear to be a modern candidate: 2. Try a  new typeface.  Georgia, Calibri, Tahoma or Geneva may help give your resume a bit of a facelift. 3. Omit the objective. Modern resumes nix objectives in favor of headlines and bullet points featuring the connection between the job seeker and the positions requirements. 4. Do not write References available  on request.  This is dated; its also pointless. Everyone knows youll provide references if requested. 5. Include links to social media profiles.  Lets face it, you need to go above and beyond to show youre able to function in todays highly technical workplace. If employers see you  maintain  Twitter,  Google+  and professional Facebook pages, you will help them overcome their preconceived notions about older job seekers not using technology. 6. Dont write a list of things youve done. Resumes arent laundry lists of everything youve done. Avoid outlining experience using Responsible for____ or Assisted with____. Instead, focus on your skills and accomplishments. Make a point to highlight how you made a difference to your employers and relate those achievements to your target job. 7. Focus on recent experience.  Perhaps your most impressive accomplishment was 20 years ago, but dont feature it prominently on your resume. Make sure you dont do anything to cause employers to think your best days are behind you. Feature more recent accomplishments and if you dont have enough key things to focus on, find volunteer or other opportunities to expand your experience. 8. Network and use social media tools. Dont just maintain social media presences, actively use them to expand your network, demonstrate your expertise and to stay relevant. Make a point to post smart status updates to demonstrate that you know whats new in your field. If youre really diligent, you can become a go-to through leader in your field  using social media tools,  which goes a long way to overcoming any age discrimination issues. 9. Identify your transferable skills. Many in-demand jobs today didnt even exist several years ago, and its possible your former job is not going to come back into vogue. Consider if the skills you used at your past jobs are the same skills you need to land something new. Identify new, high-growth fields to determine if there may be good matches for you to do something brand new with your career. 10. Continue your education.  If you havent kept up-to-date in your field, you may need to seriously consider enrolling in some training or  certification programs. Before you invest in anything, be sure to do your research to make sure you choose to enhance marketable skills that will make it easier for you to land a new opportunity. 11. Look for jobs at companies looking for you.  You may be surprised to learn that there are  companies who purposely seek experienced workers.  Visit  www.retirementjobs.com to see thousands of listings from employers who are targeting older workers. AARP also lists companies who are interested in hiring people who are 50 and older.  www.aarp.org/money. 12. Start a business.  The real wave of the future is that people will be working for themselves as freelancers or for temporary firms that outsource their talent. Consider creating an online presence to support a new business endeavor instead of looking for a job. You may find that you can successfully land consulting opportunities, even if youve had trouble finding full-time jobs. Many job seekers who follow these steps do land successfully in new positions and discover new career paths and opportunities they may not have considered. Keep an open mind and think beyond updating your wardrobe or dyeing your gray hair and you may be one of those successful job seekers, too. Originally posted on AolJobs.com. Photo by marsmet526