Does any of this ring a bell?

When people reach out to me for guidance on their job search and career, we begin by having a short “get-acquainted” call so that I understand how I can help. One of the questions I always ask is: “What are your top three job search/ career challenges?”

What I have found is that while prospective clients vary widely in terms of where they are in their careers and the types of jobs they are seeking, the challenges they face are remarkably similar. You are not alone if you feel that looking for a job can be an isolating and disheartening experience, and you can take hope in the fact that there is help.

Here are the six most common concerns I hear:

1. “I’m in my mid- 50’s and I’m afraid I’ll never get a job because of my age.”

2. “I’ve been applying to jobs and sending out my resume but not getting any responses.”

3. “I hear networking and LinkedIn are great resources to find a job but I’m clueless on how to use them.”

4. “I haven’t looked for a job in 15 years and now I’m in job search. I’m overwhelmed and don’t know where to start.”

5. “I’ve lost confidence and am having a hard time believing in my value and selling myself in interviews.”

6. “I get so nervous during interviews and tend to ramble on and on when answering questions. I think this is why I am not making it to the next round of interviews.”

Do any of those sound familiar? Let me address the first concern – conquering perceived ageism.

The tough love is that this is a perception you hold of yourself and I recommend you start with an attitude shift. Shift from seeing this as being a disadvantage to seeing the benefits. Highlight the wealth of experience, knowledge and wisdom you bring and opportunities to help develop and mentor younger employees. Emphasize your stability and reliability making you a good role model in the company. Finally, mention you love to learn and grow professionally and are excited to take on new learning opportunities. Positioning yourself this way will bring attention to the value you bring an organization rather than your age.

Conquering ageism is just one of the areas in which I help job seekers identify and apply strategies to overcome their challenges. In future newsletters I will address strategies for creating a compelling resume, leveraging your network and learning to use LinkedIn effectively, succinctly and confidently articulating your value proposition, and mastering interview skills.

In the meantime, if you’re struggling with any of these issues and want immediate help, contact me at megan@wallscareercoach.com to schedule an exploratory call.

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I’m excited to be leading a workshop about taking a career inventory as one of The Present Moment’s Power Hours. This will be a one-hour session where I will explain the components of a career inventory, discuss its importance and review how to use it. To register, go to The Present Moment – Power Hours: https://www.thepresentmomentinc.com/all-events-page/

The cost is just $25.00. I hope you can join me.