Too many people have negativity about themselves in their job search. They have negativity about their spectacles, job changes, age, the colour of their hair, and more. Most of the negativity I hear is regarding signs of a client’s age…not age discrimination from recruiters or hiring influencers, but self-doubt and negativity from my clients!
I have a client who, when he first came to me, left the dates off his 3 degrees and omitted other information from his resume because he was so worried that his age was a barrier to the job he wanted. He is technically savvy, an accomplished man, and a great candidate; he just could not get past his own fears about his age to market himself effectively, and wasn’t generating the interest. Negativity really does come through over the phone, in a resume, and during an interview. No one is eager to hire a candidate who shows signs of insecurity, depression, or a negative mindset. My advice? If he could cast that negativity aside and rebrand himself positively, he would be far more successful! He agreed to try it.
This same client, despite being 55+, has put in the work and turned his insecurities about age into a focus on the value he adds to any organization with skills, maturity, and leadership experience. He emphasizes this positive spin on his age on both his resume and in interviews. He now has multiple offers!
Are you having trouble with your own negativity in your job search? Glasses aren’t aging or a hiring turn-off, as long as they aren’t Elton John glasses. Age isn’t a barrier to a great job: Look, a little “snow on the roof” or white hair isn’t a business barrier, no one thinks Richard Branson is losing his business savvy as he ages! Baldness isn’t a barrier either, some of the most powerful men in business are balding, such as Amazon.com founder and CEO Jeff Bezos.
In today’s solid economy, you don’t have to hide your true self to get a job. In any economy, a positive, enthusiastic candidate is far more attractive than an insecure, “Negative Nellie”. Age is just another number, and experience, maturity, and leadership expertise add value to any organization. Emphasize your value, not your age. Wear your glasses, polish your bald spot, and turn your age into a reason why hiring influencers should make you a great offer!
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