Lots of people are scrambling for work these days. For those over fifty who find themselves unemployed in a sea of unemployed, it can be particularly unsettling. What should you do when you find yourself out of work? How can you increase your odds of landing a job?
“First, get over the embarrassment of being unemployed and realize that many are in the same boat,” says Gordon Rauer, a behavioral economist from New Paltz. “Talk to people you trust and bounce around any ideas they may have. In this economy, you’re going to have to be creative and imaginative. Reach out to your local chamber of commerce about networking events and attend whenever possible. The truth is that there is no overall panacea.”
After two fruitless years of job hunting with no viable prospects, I could relate to that last statement. My health insurance had lapsed and although I’d deployed over 120 online resumes and cover letters in an effort to get just one of my sensible work shoes wedged in the door for an interview, I was still no closer to finding full time employment. I tried everything, including widening my search area to include commutes that would have been out of the question a few years earlier, and applying for positions both above and below my qualifications.
Pinpoint vs. Scattershot
According to Deborah Porter, job development coordinator and an adjunct at Dutchess Community College, that might not have been the best approach. “A common mistake people make is not having a strategic, targeted job search. As time goes by, disenchanted job-seekers may haphazardly apply online to virtually anything within their commuting distance, taking the stance that they’ve nothing to lose.” Porter says this can backfire, as employers, inundated with irrelevant resumes, have begun to construct keyword filters to automatically discard unqualified applicants. She says to be taken seriously for positions where you are well-qualified, you should populate your resume with keywords found in the job posting, composing variations of your resume depending on the specifics of the position offered.
- Rauer has a slightly different outlook, suggesting that job seekers accept any job they can get. “This boosts self-confidence and will afford you a better chance of finding future work.” Other advice:
Treat your job search as an actual job. Do something every day to help yourself find work.
- “I’d like to ward off boredom and bring in some extra cash,” is a creative way of presenting yourself to a future employer without sounding desperate, especially if you’re applying for a part-time position, or a job for which you both know you are overqualified.
- Take any civil service exams offered. They can’t discriminate by age.
Read on for more tips.
Kathryn Lukaske is a freelance writer. Her work appears in local print and online publications. She is available for full-time employment opportunities.