Career Aviators Ireland and Career Aviators Canada specialize in helping professionals, managers, and executives find positions in which they will excel, value highly, and love to do.

We have teamed up to launch a podcast series called Taking Charge Of Your Professional Future. Podcasts will cover interesting topics relating to career discernment, job search strategy, resume writing, application customization, interview preparation and job offer negotiation.

We will also delve into the Career management aspects of outplacement and the rapidly changing future of work, job search, and work culture.

Our first podcast explores the unique challenges of career development when you are over 50.

Are You Over 50 And Conducting A Job Search Or Career Transition

Job search is difficult at any age but its is harder and takes longer when you are over 50. There is no denying that ageism is a reality on the part of some employers, but our clients often discover that their own biases about age get in their way too. If you find yourself saying “ they will probably hire someone younger” it may be a sign that your own biases are affecting your job search. If this is the case, notice what other thoughts like this one are coming into your mind. Don’t try to stop them or they may get stronger. Just notice them and forge ahead with what you really want to achieve. If you do this repeatedly, gradually the thoughts will have less impact on you.

Like any job search, the key to success is determining the role you want, the kind of culture you need to thrive, the strengths you choose to bring to this role, and your core values that you want to use to drive these strengths.

Then, with this direction firmly in mind, don’t stop full time networking until you get the role you are looking for.

Clients over 50 are often shocked to hear that unless their skills are in exceptionally high demand, they need to be prepared for 10 – 12 months of full time job searching to transition into a job that fits.

Here are 5 steps to make your search go faster

1. If you are not already digitally literate don’t wait – Get yourself digitally literate as soon as possible. Digital literacy is a critically important job skill. Check out the free online training offered by Grow with Google

2. Be Present and Forward Thinking. Your stories of your successes from the past are very meaningful to you. They will be extremely helpful when you talk about accomplishments in your resume or in a formal employment interview; but during networking and on the job, it is very important to leave those stories behind and be present and future oriented. Rather than talking about your successes, you want to directly apply the wisdom of your experience. You can do this by asking relevant questions and listening effectively to understand the employers current context and pain points.

3. Focus on the strengths of employer’s situation. Some of us are wired to identify what is wrong with what we see. If you are like this, then change your mindset to look for strengths and ask the employer questions to help him or her see solutions.

4. Remember that collaboration is more than a buzz word. It is the default way of operating in many businesses. You need to approach your job search with a mindset and the language that reflects this way of thinking.

5. We send a message in the way we dress. Choose your clothes to be authentic and at the same time consistent with the work culture. Get some help from a friend who has an eye for current style.

Older workers do have a more challenging experience in their job search. At the same time, our clients often find that the hard work pays off when they find positions where they can apply the strength of their experience to complement the skills of others as they collaborate in the development of innovative solutions to current challenges on the job.

Wayne Greenway is the Chief Executive Officer for Career Aviators - Canada. a Certified B Corporation® helps professionals, managers, and executives find positions in which they will excel, value highly, and love to do. The profits from our work support programs to help vulnerable youth flourish in the face of highly stressful life situations.

Sinead Mellett PhD, MSc, BA is Chief Executive Officer, Career Aviators – Ireland Sinead Mellett, holds a doctorate in Philosophy, a Masters in Technology Management, a Specialist Diploma in Teaching, Learning and Scholarship and a Degree in Marketing. She brings international industry experience working in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Europe in diverse sectors, including academia, banking, research, the public sector, retail, manufacturing, training and media. Sinead has many publications in the area of e-learning, practice-based learning, green innovation, micro-business and small and medium enterprise. In 2019 Sinead completed a year of training and supervised practice in the Career Aviators methodology, helping clients to find positions in which they will excel, value highly and love to do