Older Job Hunters - Avoid These "Traps"

Job hunting can be the most stressful thing you ever do. Why? Well, first, we are never properly trained to do it, and so we rely on what we have heard or advice from friends. (Who, by the way, were never trained to do it either!) Second, some of the more fortunate ones get "Outplacement" which is a service designed to help us take all the steps properly, and is often paid for by the previous employer. This is a formal process that teaches everyone to do the same thing.

One of the other big problems is that there is little or no feedback. You apply over and over and...... nothing happens! You can't tell if you are doing something wrong or just do not fit the jobs. So you change a few things, and modify the message and the resume, and, guess what? Still, there is no feedback and nothing happens!

It is extremely easy to get distracted or depressed or feel hopeless, and then stray from you job hunt plan. One of the biggest challenges is to not get mad or angry. That shows up on your face like a beacon, and the people talking to you will run, not walk away from you. Then guess what? You will get even angrier! That is the kiss of death!

These are three of the most important "traps" to tackle.

==> Not having an Accountability Person

I think this is the most important plan of all when you are job hunting. You need to find a person you can trust and have them agree to have "Check In and Update " meetings once per week.

You need to be really clear with them about your plan. How many resumes do you plan to send each week? What companies are you sending them to? What is your ideal job? Set a time to check in each week and you report to them with specific information. Do not say "I sent out 10 resumes". Tell them what companies and what jobs you applied for, so there is little or no opportunity to "look busy". Also, a brief comment on why you liked the look of the position. Make it real.

==> Do not be "Too Fussy" (Look at your Expectations)

By this, I do not mean for you to apply to jobs way outside of your experience or way below your pay grade. I suggest you have three lists. The "A" list is companies you would really like to work for. this might only have 10 or 12 names on it. For these companies, you are going to put in a concentrated effort. Watch their website, look up employees on LinkedIn and ask to connect, watch the news and see if there are changes coming up that might mean new opportunities.

The "B" lists are companies or opportunities that generally fit your interests and skills and could be possible companies or roles to consider. For these, you will do your research and submit resumes, possibly follow up, and be as active as possible.

The "C" list is anything else, long shots way out there roles etc. that you would consider if they were to call. Let's be honest, this is just throwing stuff at the wall to see what sticks, but, hey, you really need a job.

Older employees are still very attractive to smaller firms who could otherwise never afford the level of experience and knowledge you would bring. But beware, these often pay less salary for the role. You need to decide what you would be happy to accept regarding money if it was a good opportunity.

==>Be Practical (and not too hard on yourself)

If you got a settlement from your company, even if it is a really big one here is my suggestion. Take a week off and go somewhere with your significant other. This draws a line in the sand. Then get busy right away and get back to work as soon as possible. It is a mistake to think you have lots of time or you deserve to take the summer off. Go find your next role and bank what is left of the money. By the time you retire it could have grown substantially, and you can enjoy it then!

Also, there is another trap to avoid. "Job hunting is a full time 8 hours a day job" That is not always true. Some days you have done everything possible from the application side in a few hours. You can then do some research or take some time for yourself from time to time. Also, setting small rewards for achieving your daily plan is a very positive action.

Here are a few more obvious problems, but worth avoiding none the less.

Checking your email is important when you're searching for jobs, because potential employers may contact you by email.However, checking your email more than two or three times a day is just counter productive. If you're refreshing your email constantly, perhaps once every hour, you're just wasting time and energy.

The same is true with Facebook and Twitter. Unless you're reaching out to your social contacts for job leads with Facebook or Twitter, you shouldn't check it any more than once a day for a few minutes.

It's very tempting to burn time on the internet when you're job hunting. It can help alleviate stress and it feels like you're doing something. In reality however, it's wasted time that could be spent on job searching. Balance is the key. Sometimes five or ten minutes distraction is a good thing

Constantly Checking the Job Boards is a time waster. Just set Job Alerts, and then the right jobs come to your email directly. Sites like Monster.com, CareerBuilder.com and Craigslist get new posts every day.

In summary, be kind to yourself, it could be a long haul. Have a routine for daily activity. You only want ONE job, and I can assure you, there is still one good job out there, and I hope you can find it a soon as possible.

[email protected]