Job search for the over 40

Seeking a job is always a nerve-wracking experience and it has been observed that it accentuates in direct proportion with age. The middle-age person finds the market flooded with young college graduates who land jobs faster than them. This happens due to a number of factors such as:

Salary:
Freshers (young college graduates) will be willing to start on a lower salary than a 40-year old experienced candidate.

Relationship:
Many organizations have young managers who feel better working with a go-getter young team rather than middle-aged persons (who might also have their pre-conceived ideas about jobs and how it needs to be done)

Work capacity:
Freshers being young, unmarried and eager to gather experience, are willing to work longer hours. They are also eager to try new things and open to new methods of work.

Relevance of qualifications:
The present-day technology has brought tremendous amount of changes in the ways things are done today. The younger generation is well tuned in with the technology development. The qualification of the 40 plus generation many times feels (and is) a bit outdated and not relevant to the needs of the today's industry.

Attitude:
The basic traits of a person who reached their forties is stability of mind and attitude. While this trait is great under normal circumstances, in a job is actually a negative trait. Recruiters look for people who have an open attitude to learning and experiencing new things, while the forty-plus person seeks stability and well-proved methods of work. There is a definite attitude mismatch between the 20 plus and 40 plus candidates.

Though the above factors are serious deterrents, a little preparation can indeed the negative to a positive trend. The forty-plus professionals should be ready to negotiate well and work shoulder-to-shoulder with the younger generation. In order to improve the odds to land a job, the forty plus professionals should follow a few ground principles:

• Updated CV - Your CV should be in tune to the today's market. Mention briefly the jobs you have had in the past 10-15 years, elaborating only those areas where these are relevant to the present job. Your CV should ideally not exceed two pages and it must include the salary you expect so the recruiter will have a base for negotiations.
• Undergo skill-based training(s): Today every job requires the application of technology in some measure. You must be in tune with the present-day technology and its application to your job. A crash course or short skill-based training would put you in tune with the current scenario and highly improve your employability.
• Research well: The job requirements of ten years ago and of today are totally different. Be sure you know what the job entitles today; even if you have a rich 10-12 years experience, unless you are aware of what it involves today, you may loose out to the candidate who is half your age, but who knows the right ropes.
• Identify companies who need experienced personnel: The adage, ''There is a market for everything'' is totally true and applicable to people as well. There are companies out there who seek to employ only experienced people - seek these work places out through placement agencies, Internet research and classifieds.
• Network: Here is one place where the age is on your side. People who are forty-plus have a wealth of networks at senior positions; there is a high possibility that any of those senior positions may be vacant and if you are in constant touch, you will be given an offer to join.
• Consultancy: Many 40 plus persons have some 10-15 years of experience and that can you a veritable expert in your field. Be open to offer consultancy to companies and individuals in your field of expertise. Since the technology is in continuously up-gradation mode, many companies seek out in-house trainers which can be cost-efficient as well as have good coverage. In this scenario your age and experience can be extremely complementary. However, in order to be successful as a trainer, you need to love teaching.
• Cover a larger base: Approach the job search as a project with strengths, weaknesses, opportunity and threats (SWOT) and assign specific targets (getting ONE job). In order to reach your target you need to identify your target base. Once identified, ensure you cover sufficient number of companies/ organization so you can have a choice of offers. Do not limit yourself to one or two. Seek out a minimum dozen companies and actively follow it up.
• Be flexible and ready to negotiate terms: Being senior and experienced you obviously expect a high salary which many times some companies would not be very happy to pay. Be open to negotiate permutations of work and salary so both end up with a win-win situation. For example you could work for 15 days a month, or a few days a week or on assignment basis for a lower salary (and less mandays) allowing the company to use your expertise at their budget while you work part time (and hence still command your market value). Also, many companies offer a number of perks which when translated into cash amount to a tidy sum. Make sure you understand all that is offered as cost-to-company total before deciding whether the remuneration is okay or not.
• Consider a total change of profession: Many people who have worked for a long time in corporate sector do well in teaching in MBA colleges or similar higher education institutions. Some would do well in research - while at the same pursuing PhD degrees, while yet others find their calling in the social field. The middle age may be a good time to consider a total change. Many people feel totally charged and motivated with a new line, and a high percentage of people find great success exactly due to this aspect.
• Internet based employment: The Internet has ushered in a great host of jobs that can be done right from the comfort of your bedroom - with the help of a laptop/ comp. In case you are comfortable with a computer, you can easily take up any of the millions of freelance job available on the net and build your income from there. A medium level professional can very easily make a comfortable income from the Internet. Check out the freelance market.
• Entrepreneurship: Having 15 years experience can be great in starting your own venture. Many banks offer loans based on the feasibility of business plan and the qualifications of the professional applying. Entrepreneurship can be the right answer for many people not only in generating employment for self but also for a few others. Entrepreneurship is actually the acid test of your experience - however, success here will be highly dependent upon your aptitude.

''Life begins at forty'' - can be quite true and finding yourself without a job can be the right vehicle for you to start on a new and totally satisfying life.