The document provides 10 rules for job seekers over 50 to take advantage of in their job search. The rules include: taking control of your career by knowing yourself and your market; recognizing that age is an advantage with experience and skills; understanding the changing marketplace; differentiating yourself through your unique experiences and values; exploring new types of work; networking which is key to finding opportunities; taking action such as updating profiles and reaching out; and focusing on finding fulfilling work for the future rather than dwelling on challenges.

1. Over 50 ?
Use these 10 Rules
to Your Advantage in
the Job Search!
Jean Erickson Walker, CMF
www.jeanericksonwalker.com 503-816-5956 jean@jeanericksonwalker.com

2. “This time, like all times, is a very good one,
if we but know what to do with it.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

3. Rule 1: Take control of your career
 Know yourself
Understand the marketplace
Identify your market niche
Create your marketing plan
Become a career entrepreneur

4. “Be an entrepreneur, an explorer, challenged and excited about the
frontier of your own life.”
The Age Advantage by Jean Erickson Walker

5. Rule 2: Recognize your age is an
advantage
If you think it is, you’re probably right;
if you think it isn’t, you’re definitely right.

6. Hiring Advantages
Depth and breadth of experience
Good judgment
Interpersonal skills
Work Ethics
Commitment to company goals
Credibility with stakeholders
Political “savvy”

7. Perceived Hiring Disadvantages
Inflexible
Lack social media skills
Corporate mentality
Difficulty working for younger boss
Too high salary expectations
Ingrained prejudices and biases
Locked in past ways of doing things
Authoritative leadership style

8. Rule 3:
Understand the
marketplace

9. Then vs. Now
Project
Process
Market
Silos
Focus on status quo Rapid, unpredictable change

10. Rule 4:Differentiate yourself
Identify your market niche

11. “Fortune favors the audacious.”
Erasmus

12. What is unique about
you?
No two starfish are alike……it’s about who you are, how
you do what you do, not about your titles, employers or
even your skills and accomplishments.

13. Do a Thorough Self-Assessment
What is your unique product or service?
What are your product guarantees?
Who is the ideal customer for your product or service?
What differentiates you from your competitors?
What are your core values?
What are your top three priorities in life?
What are the common threads of your successes throughout
your career?
When are you most energized, most creative, most
productive?
What are the circumstances, the culture, the profiles of the
organizations and the people where you are most successful?

14. Create an Impact!
Resume
Cover Letter
Interview
Your brand is your guarantee. Is it consistent, comprehensive, visible?
Is it focused on action, outcomes and promise for the future?
Is it authentic?

15. Rule 5: Dare to dream...

16. Don’t confuse the edge of your rut
with the horizon.

17. Rule 6: “Start looking for work that
needs doing.” William Bridges
Consulting
Contract work
Project
management
Interim leadership
Internal consultant

18. Rule 7:Create your marketing
plan

19. Remember, it is a
process, not an event

20. Take a Strategic View of Job
Listings
What does it say about the company’s needs?
Is the company leadership team in transition?
Who is the company’s primary competition?
What is happening in the global marketplace?
Where are the Private Equity firms investing?
What are blocks the company may not be
anticipating?

21. Rule 8 : “Do something. Do
anything. Get Going. Posthaste.“
Tom Peters
Finding a job is a full time job. Plan your work and
work your plan.

22. Keep your eye on the goal
Keep challenging your perceptions, ask fundamentally
new questions throughout the process, test the validity of
your assumptions and make adjustments. Never assume
the next ice flow will be the same as the last.

23. “Obstacles
are those
frightful
things you
see when
you take
your eyes
off the
goal.”
Hannah More

24. Rule 9:Networking is the key

25. It’s Who You Know that Counts
Create a powerful Linked-in profile, reach out to grow
your presence
Start a blog
Get involved in professional associations; go to
conferences
Participate in networking groups at your level
Volunteer: Be visible!
Call up old customers, vendors, professional colleagues
Re-connect with recruiters
Join a community task force
Write an article; teach a class

26. YOU have the power!

27. Rule 10: Go find the future!

28. Be here now, be somewhere else
later. Is that so complicated?