Jobworksaz.com - Job Seeker Tips

Expert Advice for Full-age Job Seekers
By Joyce Lain Kennedy

Dear Joyce: At 50, I hold a senior management position and see the handwriting on the wall. I am finding that securing the same level of position at another company will be a difficult needle to thread. I've been looking for approximately six months and have had little to no luck, using the newspaper, Internet job boards, leads from friends and a headhunter. What should I be doing differently? -- B.O.

Dear B.O.: There are 25 simple rules for full-age (over 50) job seekers. Unfortunately, no one knows them all. But I recently discussed full-age search issues with five very smart experts from Drake Beam Morin, the premier company in outplacement consulting and career-transition services. Consultants and managers from DBM, which has more than 200 offices in 43 countries, are retained by employers to select, develop and transition employees. Here are some suggestions derived from a conference call with DBM's experts.

Consider making a contract proposal. When you sense that an employer is reluctant to make you an offer, suggest sharing the risk by working on a contract basis for a month, six months or a year. You can renew the contract for another predetermined period of time if both sides are satisfied, says Bob Critchley, a DBM international president in Sydney, Australia. You'll probably forego health insurance and retirement benefits, but by cutting the employer some slack in making a regular-status commitment, you get a chance to show what you can accomplish. Similarly, offer to work as a consultant to demonstrate how you think and how you work with employees and clients.

Dwell not on legacy but on future opportunity. Shift your perspective in job interviews away from the old and toward the new. The veteran worker who has a difficult time shedding the emotional baggage of the "good old days" and who emphasizes the skills associated with legacy knowledge comes across as rigid and historical, rather than as a producer of tomorrow's profits, explains Duncan Mathison, a DBM senior account executive in San Diego. Display an energized attitude and speak of your enthusiasm to take on new responsibilities, building upon a solid work history.

Be vibrant and current. Women aren't the only ones who can benefit from the services of an image consultant. Being conscious of your updated appearance is essential for a successful search outcome, says Leslie Bonagura, a DBM managing consultant in Stamford, Conn. Bonagura recommends exercising to stay fit and trim. In addition, says Bonagura, careful dressing and tasteful grooming are important.

Aim for smaller companies. A "small" company doesn't necessarily mean five employees or fewer; such companies may have several hundred employees. Many smaller companies use the wisdom of corporate alumni, the gray-hairs who anchor the offices of less-experienced individuals, notes Greg Pettenon, a DBM managing consultant in Deerfield, Ill. And remind employers that you can leverage your industry contacts to help build a small company or start-up.

Attract clients you know. Some executives and professionals would happily consult or seize the opportunity to temporarily replace someone who's on sabbatical if only they weren't too introverted to campaign for business. Active membership in professional organizations is a way around that impediment, says Mardi Hack, a DBM managing consultant in Raleigh, N.C. One of Hack's clients had a background in a very narrow science niche. This client went to his professional-association base when he was forced to reach out, and now he has plenty of clients. Nobody likes to hire strangers.

Weigh the issue of pay. Everyone on the DBM conference call jumped in on the pay dilemma: Should you hold out for the higher pay to which you're accustomed? If you drop your price, will you be perceived as damaged goods? DBM officials recommend examining your priorities and looking at the position as a whole. If the pay is a bit lower than you're used to, perhaps the lifestyle opportunity is better. To preserve value with the employer when you wish to lower your compensation, speak of "loving the industry" and being willing to take a cut from your previous earning level to stay involved in it.

One more of the 25 simple rules for full-age job seekers: Keep looking around. There is always some opportunity you've missed.

Send career questions for possible use in this column to Joyce Lain Kennedy at Box 368, Cardiff, CA 92007, or e-mail her at jlk@sunfeatures.com. Sorry, the volume of mail makes personal replies impossible.