Young Or Older, You Need Relevant Job Skills

Many job seekers don't dig deep enough into how their skills will look in other industries outside of their long-time careers. Anyone making that jump will need to consider how it will look elsewhere and function in other ways valuable to their next employer.

Job seekers and employed professionals need to heed the disruptive nature of changes and potential challenges (not just COVID). 

There is so much to be afraid of, but how can you continue if it paralyzes you. How about layoffs? Separations of any kind? Family crisis? All of these can happen suddenly?

The job seeker who pivots with intention and strategy successfully pivots quickly, and if needed, frequently.

Jack and I welcome Marc Miller of CareerPivot.com to join us for this conversation and to chime in with his perspective of his work with older workers.

Some of our discussion highlights include:

9:20 - Marc shares about a 62-year-old woman who made changes to her LinkedIn profile after sessions with a resume writer and career coach.

11:36 Marc shares the woman found an industry with so much demand, the company that hired her tripled in volume

12:00 Jack sees the value vs. experience can work out for job seekers if they apply.

13:00 Look at the businesses that are thriving

14:20 Think of addressing the issues instead of solely focusing on quality marketing materials (great looking resume, etc.)

17:35 Talking to lots of people to find the few who have good ideas

21:20 Marc: Consider the industries being disrupted and find where you can solve problems

22:50 Keep talking to a lot of people. You don't know where the next big idea will come from. Possibly, the best ideas will come from someone you don't know now.

24:30 Jack: Think of framing your conversations like an org chart

26:20 What areas or industries should people look at?

27:35 Marc: Innovative companies are winning, i.e. Food.

28:10 Jack: Supply chain, "Business is booming!"

29:50 Marc: Where are people spending money?

32:00 Marc: Old job search techniques don't work.

32:45 It's hard right now. Don't be afraid of rejection, grow a "thicker skin." Take a bolder approach. Be more persistent.

36:20 Marc: "Rejection is what we most fear." Target companies, find three people in each company and find out what problems they have. Figure out if you solve those problems.

38:10 How can people get a human being in that company?

39:40 Dig deeper through others. Show them you have the solution.

41:08 It helps to get more conversations through others. Possibly through someone championing you.

42:35 You have to be creative to get to the right people. Resilience is key.

44:10 Keep the person who says "NO" on your radar

44:40 Marc: "Weak ties" are key.

48:20 We discuss how to approach a "stealth" job search.

Look for us every Wednesday as Jack and I offer the live stream as a way to give free and useful advice and answer questions you have during the show.

Enjoy our last episode: