Because of your age and experience, you have many more options and a much better network of colleagues than younger workers.
Many jobs are never posted publicly. So, your large network is a very big advantage!
The network of people who know and respect you, a network built up over the years, will help you succeed in your job search.
Chances are people in your network are either also looking for work, or they are -- or know -- someone who is looking for good help.
So, you can help, not "use," each other to move ahead with your careers and renew old friendships, too.
That network is gold, right now, and it's something that younger workers usually don't have!
Your excellent network is your not-so-secret weapon in getting your next job.
Yes, employer bias against "older" job candidates definitely exists, and networking is the best way to beat that bias!
Yes, you DO have a network. If you think you don't read this article -- What Network? Finding Your Network!
Now, put that invaluable network to work for your job search! And, do NOT forget to return the favor to members of your network when you have a great new job.
The members of your network know what a good worker you are, how smart you are, and what an asset to the organization you can/will be -- if an employer is smart enough to give you a chance.
Employee referrals are most employers' NUMBER ONE FAVORITE source of hires.
Employers love to hire people who are referred by current employees because they know that those new employees are usually more successful and stay longer than someone hired from another source.
Since your network is larger than the network the kids have, reach out to your network to get a referral leveraging a site like LinkedIn (more below) to find members of your network who work for a target employer.
Members of your network can open doors for you to land jobs with their employer via their employer's employee referral program. And you can open doors for them when you have a job with a good employer!
Many people don't consider this option, but employers are increasingly interested in re-hiring former employees, who are often called "boomerang" employees.
Are you sorry you quit a job with a specific employer a few years ago? Would you like to go back? Returning to that previous employer may well be possible by leveraging your network.
A “boomerang employee” is one who has left an organization (usually quit rather than fired) to work somewhere else or to drop out of the workforce for a while and is then rehired by that organization.
In the distant past, some employers refused to rehire people who left voluntarily. The tighter labor market has taught many employers that re-hiring former employers is often a very smart move.
Those former employees know how the organization works and know how to work in the organization. They may also know many of the current employees, making them more effective in their jobs from day one.
So, if you really liked that former employer and would like to go back, give it a try. Reach out to members of your network who still work there (or who know people who still work there) to see if opportunities exist.
For more information, read How to Become a Boomerang Employee.
Leverage your great network to learn more about the job market. When you are exploring your options (choosing jobs, employers, industries, locations, etc.), informational interviews can be extremely useful.
Start with people you know, asking for a few minutes of their time in person or over the phone. Be focused and prepared, and ask for additional people to talk with.
Informational interviews, done well, provide very valuable "insider information" about something you are considering and a chance to catch up on what's happening with a member of your network They also help you to continue to grow your network as you ask for referrals to others who can help you learn more.
For more information, read Top 10 Tips for Successful Informational Interviews from Job-Hunt's Guide to Informational Interviews for more ideas and details.
Employers search for qualified job candidates online, particularly in LinkedIn. When they find a good job candidate, they also search to verify the "facts" on the resume, and check out the candidates' communications skills and attitude in their social media visibility.
If you aren't visible in social media today, especially in LinkedIn, you have "OUT-OF-DATE" stamped on your forehead!
So, catch up! It is not hard to do.
Done carefully and correctly, social media is a powerful way to do the personal marketing required for a successful job search today.
Because so many people use Facebook as though no one was watching or reading their comments, be careful. Potential employers will judge you based on what you post on Facebook.
Read Optimize Your Personal Facebook Profile: Your NEW Resume and How to Use Facebook to Prepare for an Interview for more information.
Participating in Facebook is NOT required. If you have time for only one social network, LinkedIn is the one you want to invest your time and energy in.
Take advantage of that large network you have to track down that next job. Contact the people that you know and/or have worked with in your career.
When you meet someone, don't even bring a copy of your resume (you can offer to send it to them after the meeting -- if they have indicated that they are interested in seeing your resume).
You are not begging for a job! You really are just looking for advice on what companies are good places to work, what companies are growing (and hiring), and where there might be opportunities for you.
You are simply asking colleagues and friends for advice and leads. Ask them where they would look for a job if they were in your shoes right now. Which employers offer a great next place to work? Which employers would be best avoided?
These are NOT "informational interviews," and you don't need to feel humble. You are just staying in touch colleagues and members of your business network. You may have helped them in the past, and you may help them again in the future.
These are just colleague-to-colleague discussions. Business as usual!
If your network doesn't have any good leads at the moment, you can always check out sites on the Web for opportunities. In addition to the usual job boards (Indeed, Monster, CareerBuilder), check these other options:
Don't be discouraged! A job search is never easy, but you will make it. Your network, knowledge and experience, and solid skills and work ethic will see you through to a successful conclusion.
Good luck!
About the author...
Online job search expert Susan P. Joyce has been observing the online job search world and teaching online job search skills since 1995. A veteran of the United States Marine Corps and a recent Visiting Scholar at the MIT Sloan School of Management, Susan is a two-time layoff “graduate” who has worked in human resources at Harvard University and in a compensation consulting firm. Since 1998, Susan has been editor and publisher of Job-Hunt.org. Follow Susan on Twitter at @jobhuntorg and on Facebook, LinkedIn.
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