Target, target, target<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nGet specific about the kind of job you\u2019re seeking and how it syncs with your skills and ability. Do you really want to replicate your old job, just with higher pay or better benefits? Is it work from home opportunities you\u2019re looking for? Do you want flexible, part-time, seasonal, or full-time work?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Importantly, is there a company or nonprofit in your town that has a mission or product you respect and value? One approach for finding a new job is to start with who you<\/em> want to work for and why. Then look at those organizations\u2019 websites to find opportunities through their job boards. Seek out specific people you know working at the firm, or who might know someone who works there.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIt\u2019s often who you know, not what you know, when it comes to getting that first interview. Sixty percent of job seekers have referred a friend or contact to a company they\u2019ve worked for \u2014 and 35 percent of job seekers obtained their current or most recent job from a referral, according to a 2018 Jobvite report<\/a>.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nConsider temporary positions<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThis is <\/em>the new reality. And it\u2019s been coming for a while now. Employers are concerned about the possibility of a recession, the volatility of the stock market and other kinds of big picture economic events. As a result, they\u2019re minimizing the risks and costs associated with hiring full-timers, who carry the additional expenses of benefits such as employer-sponsored retirement plans and health insurance. The result: Employers offer part-time and contract positions with the potential to transition to full time down the road.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIt\u2019s not just older workers who are facing this hiring jig. Millennials, too, are weaving together contract work and side gigs to pay the rent and student loans. This can <\/em>play out in your favor. The upside is that it\u2019s your chance to check the company out before you\u2019re stuck in a job you don\u2019t like. Even better, you\u2019re keeping your r\u00e9sum\u00e9 alive, your skills sharp and building new relationships.<\/p>\n\n\n\nRead on AARP<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nExpect more tech<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nExpect the human touch to be harder to come by this year. The hiring process is growing frostier, with more requests for applicants to take online personality assessments and convene for \u201cvirtual\u201d interviews by a recorded computer program. Employers are increasingly connecting with candidates via online rendezvous settings\u2014texts, web chats, Zoom meetings, WhatsApp, Facebook and other cyber playing fields.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Employers also are browsing social media sites to learn more about you, sometimes before an interview is even scheduled. Seventy percent of employers use social networking sites to research job candidates, while another 7 percent plan to start, according to a CareerBuilder survey<\/a>. Of those that do social research, 57 percent have found content that caused them not to hire candidates. Understand how social media<\/a> impacts your job hunting and learn how to ace your virtual interview<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nGet serious about soft skills<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nEven with the increased use of computers in the workforce and the recruitment process, human skills are actually hotter than ever. According to an analysis of job postings<\/a>, r\u00e9sum\u00e9s and social profiles by the Strada Institute for the Future of Work, job seekers who want to be competitive should focus on their soft skills. \u201cHuman skills\u2014like leadership, communication, and problem solving\u2014are among the most in-demand skills in the labor market,\u201d according to the findings. As the report concludes: \u201cAutomation will create an opportunity for those in work to make use of the innate human skills that machines have the hardest time replicating: social and emotional capabilities, providing expertise, coaching and developing others, and creativity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nEmployers look for skills in two categories: hard skills and soft skills. Hard skills (also referred to as work skills) are those required to do the job, such as network security, accounting, marketing, data analysis or graphic design. These skills are typically learned and are quantifiable. For example, you can earn a degree or certification or at least point to a course on a transcript showing that you received training in a particular area. Or you can point to jobs you held that required those same skills. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Soft skills are more subjective and harder to quantify, such as an ability to communicate clearly, solve problems, manage your time and be a team player. In many ways, these skills, which include your outlook and attitude, are gauges of how well you\u2019ll fit in. Employers want to be sure you\u2019ll work effectively with your coworkers, your supervisor and the organization\u2019s clients. They also want to be sure that you can think on your feet and can make smart decisions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Take note of transferable skills. If you\u2019re switching industries, you\u2019re \u201credeploying\u201d skills you already have in place. Most soft skills are transferable to a new industry. For a skill boost, you might check out your local community college for offerings, or look for courses accessible via Coursera<\/a>, edX,<\/a> LinkedIn’s learning platform<\/a>, and Udemy.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nFocus on fitness<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nYou don\u2019t have to run fast miles or bench-press, but do develop a workout regime\u2014walking, swimming, spin classes\u2014that you stick to a couple of times a week, and eat with an eye to nutrition and health. When you\u2019re physically fit, you can give off a positive vibe. You have energy and feel confident. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Financial fitness is a plus, too. Do a budget. Pare down debt. If you\u2019re not trapped by needing a certain salary to pay the bills, you\u2019re nimble and open to options where the pay may not be as high but the work is rewarding. And job hunting is stressful, so spiritual fitness can provide ballast. You might try mindful meditation, yoga or tai chi to help center you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cover letters count<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nEven though you\u2019re sending your r\u00e9sum\u00e9s electronically, your cover letter can set you apart, if it\u2019s done right. This one-page greeting is where you tell employers straightaway how your skills can help them achieve their goals. One way to do that is to share a quick story of something in your life\u2014personal or professional\u2014that resonates with their mission and the work you would do for the company. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
To write persuasively, you\u2019ll need to research the prospective employer and the industry at large. Study the company\u2019s website, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter pages. Check up on employee reviews on Glassdoor.com. Find out who the hiring manager is, or who your supervisor might be if you landed the job, and look up the person on LinkedIn. Do you have any shared hobbies, volunteer interests, professional contacts, alma mater or hometown touch points? That could be rich fodder for your cover letter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Recharge your r\u00e9sum\u00e9<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nAn up-to-dateLinkedIn profile<\/a> remains essential for a myriad of positions. Your conversational summary page on that site can make the difference in getting in the door for an interview. Your r\u00e9sum\u00e9, however, is your hard-core calling card. It\u2019s your stats sheet and quickly provides nitty-gritty details about your career performance. It\u2019s not your biography, but an advertisement and teaser to get an employer\u2019s attention. And, yes, it can be longer than a page, but don\u2019t go too crazy. <\/p>\n\n\n\nYou may even want to consider using a service that offers critiques and rewrites, such as AARP Resume Advisor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stay positive<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nDespite all the news about employers anxiously seeking helping hands, finding a great job can still be a slog, particularly for older workers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are a variety of factors that come into play when you\u2019re job hunting, from whether a hiring manager thinks your personality will fit the company\u2019s culture to your application making it through the hoops of the elusive online gateways. None of these things necessarily reflects your ability to do the job well. These potential roadblocks are beyond your control, so don\u2019t beat yourself up. Turn your attention to those goals you\u2019ve achieved in your career and personal life. Surround yourself with people who support and admire you. Feed off the positivity; it\u2019s energizing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Do one thing each day to push your job hunt to the next stage. Find a job-hunting partner to keep you accountable. Find a career coach for some unbiased advice. Have some moxie and tell everyone you meet you\u2019re looking for a job. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
by Kerry Hannon,<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nKerry Hannon, AARP jobs expert, is the author of Great Jobs for Everyone 50+: Finding Work That Keeps You Happy and Healthy \u2026 and Pays the Bills<\/a>; Getting the Job You Want After 50 for Dummies<\/a>; Love Your Job<\/a>; and What\u2019s Next? Finding Your Passion and Your Dream Job in Your Forties, Fifties, and Beyond<\/a>. Follow her on Twitter @kerryhannon<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n
It\u2019s often who you know, not what you know, when it comes to getting that first interview. Sixty percent of job seekers have referred a friend or contact to a company they\u2019ve worked for \u2014 and 35 percent of job seekers obtained their current or most recent job from a referral, according to a 2018 Jobvite report<\/a>.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n This is <\/em>the new reality. And it\u2019s been coming for a while now. Employers are concerned about the possibility of a recession, the volatility of the stock market and other kinds of big picture economic events. As a result, they\u2019re minimizing the risks and costs associated with hiring full-timers, who carry the additional expenses of benefits such as employer-sponsored retirement plans and health insurance. The result: Employers offer part-time and contract positions with the potential to transition to full time down the road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s not just older workers who are facing this hiring jig. Millennials, too, are weaving together contract work and side gigs to pay the rent and student loans. This can <\/em>play out in your favor. The upside is that it\u2019s your chance to check the company out before you\u2019re stuck in a job you don\u2019t like. Even better, you\u2019re keeping your r\u00e9sum\u00e9 alive, your skills sharp and building new relationships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read on AARP<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Expect the human touch to be harder to come by this year. The hiring process is growing frostier, with more requests for applicants to take online personality assessments and convene for \u201cvirtual\u201d interviews by a recorded computer program. Employers are increasingly connecting with candidates via online rendezvous settings\u2014texts, web chats, Zoom meetings, WhatsApp, Facebook and other cyber playing fields. Employers also are browsing social media sites to learn more about you, sometimes before an interview is even scheduled. Seventy percent of employers use social networking sites to research job candidates, while another 7 percent plan to start, according to a CareerBuilder survey<\/a>. Of those that do social research, 57 percent have found content that caused them not to hire candidates. Understand how social media<\/a> impacts your job hunting and learn how to ace your virtual interview<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even with the increased use of computers in the workforce and the recruitment process, human skills are actually hotter than ever. According to an analysis of job postings<\/a>, r\u00e9sum\u00e9s and social profiles by the Strada Institute for the Future of Work, job seekers who want to be competitive should focus on their soft skills. \u201cHuman skills\u2014like leadership, communication, and problem solving\u2014are among the most in-demand skills in the labor market,\u201d according to the findings. As the report concludes: \u201cAutomation will create an opportunity for those in work to make use of the innate human skills that machines have the hardest time replicating: social and emotional capabilities, providing expertise, coaching and developing others, and creativity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Employers look for skills in two categories: hard skills and soft skills. Hard skills (also referred to as work skills) are those required to do the job, such as network security, accounting, marketing, data analysis or graphic design. These skills are typically learned and are quantifiable. For example, you can earn a degree or certification or at least point to a course on a transcript showing that you received training in a particular area. Or you can point to jobs you held that required those same skills. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Soft skills are more subjective and harder to quantify, such as an ability to communicate clearly, solve problems, manage your time and be a team player. In many ways, these skills, which include your outlook and attitude, are gauges of how well you\u2019ll fit in. Employers want to be sure you\u2019ll work effectively with your coworkers, your supervisor and the organization\u2019s clients. They also want to be sure that you can think on your feet and can make smart decisions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Take note of transferable skills. If you\u2019re switching industries, you\u2019re \u201credeploying\u201d skills you already have in place. Most soft skills are transferable to a new industry. For a skill boost, you might check out your local community college for offerings, or look for courses accessible via Coursera<\/a>, edX,<\/a> LinkedIn’s learning platform<\/a>, and Udemy.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You don\u2019t have to run fast miles or bench-press, but do develop a workout regime\u2014walking, swimming, spin classes\u2014that you stick to a couple of times a week, and eat with an eye to nutrition and health. When you\u2019re physically fit, you can give off a positive vibe. You have energy and feel confident. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Financial fitness is a plus, too. Do a budget. Pare down debt. If you\u2019re not trapped by needing a certain salary to pay the bills, you\u2019re nimble and open to options where the pay may not be as high but the work is rewarding. And job hunting is stressful, so spiritual fitness can provide ballast. You might try mindful meditation, yoga or tai chi to help center you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Even though you\u2019re sending your r\u00e9sum\u00e9s electronically, your cover letter can set you apart, if it\u2019s done right. This one-page greeting is where you tell employers straightaway how your skills can help them achieve their goals. One way to do that is to share a quick story of something in your life\u2014personal or professional\u2014that resonates with their mission and the work you would do for the company. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To write persuasively, you\u2019ll need to research the prospective employer and the industry at large. Study the company\u2019s website, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter pages. Check up on employee reviews on Glassdoor.com. Find out who the hiring manager is, or who your supervisor might be if you landed the job, and look up the person on LinkedIn. Do you have any shared hobbies, volunteer interests, professional contacts, alma mater or hometown touch points? That could be rich fodder for your cover letter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n An up-to-dateLinkedIn profile<\/a> remains essential for a myriad of positions. Your conversational summary page on that site can make the difference in getting in the door for an interview. Your r\u00e9sum\u00e9, however, is your hard-core calling card. It\u2019s your stats sheet and quickly provides nitty-gritty details about your career performance. It\u2019s not your biography, but an advertisement and teaser to get an employer\u2019s attention. And, yes, it can be longer than a page, but don\u2019t go too crazy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You may even want to consider using a service that offers critiques and rewrites, such as AARP Resume Advisor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite all the news about employers anxiously seeking helping hands, finding a great job can still be a slog, particularly for older workers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There are a variety of factors that come into play when you\u2019re job hunting, from whether a hiring manager thinks your personality will fit the company\u2019s culture to your application making it through the hoops of the elusive online gateways. None of these things necessarily reflects your ability to do the job well. These potential roadblocks are beyond your control, so don\u2019t beat yourself up. Turn your attention to those goals you\u2019ve achieved in your career and personal life. Surround yourself with people who support and admire you. Feed off the positivity; it\u2019s energizing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Do one thing each day to push your job hunt to the next stage. Find a job-hunting partner to keep you accountable. Find a career coach for some unbiased advice. Have some moxie and tell everyone you meet you\u2019re looking for a job. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n by Kerry Hannon,<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Kerry Hannon, AARP jobs expert, is the author of Great Jobs for Everyone 50+: Finding Work That Keeps You Happy and Healthy \u2026 and Pays the Bills<\/a>; Getting the Job You Want After 50 for Dummies<\/a>; Love Your Job<\/a>; and What\u2019s Next? Finding Your Passion and Your Dream Job in Your Forties, Fifties, and Beyond<\/a>. Follow her on Twitter @kerryhannon<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\nConsider temporary positions<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Expect more tech<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\nGet serious about soft skills<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Focus on fitness<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Cover letters count<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Recharge your r\u00e9sum\u00e9<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Stay positive<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Share](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/static.hupso.com\/share\/buttons\/share-small.png?w=640&ssl=1\")
<\/a>