2 minute read
Benefitting From Today’s Topsy-Turvy Job Market
By Stuart Karasik, Ph.D., AWWA Connections
At this point in the pandemic roller coaster, hiring employees is a sink-or-swim proposition for many organizations. The stresses of managing virtual school and work, changing mask and vaccination requirements, and dealing with illnesses and quarantines have contributed to employees either looking for better paying positions, quitting, or retiring early. What some call the ‘Great Resignation’ is leaving many operations short-handed.
I recently attended training to support the hiring needs of non-mainstream companies. I was surprised to learn that a key topic of discussion was job candidates over age 40. These workers offer valuable experience, skills, knowledge and dependability, yet they may struggle with today’s mostly-virtual hiring process.
This process requires preparing a digital resume, going online to research job openings and employers, submitting online applications, and even tracking your applications through the internet. It can be impersonal, time consuming, and frustrating.
Here are four simple tips to help ageproof your job search:
UPDATE YOUR RESUME.
If you're using the same resume from your last job search, you are seriously dating yourself. Check online for the latest formats. Email addresses that end in aol.com or yahoo.com, rather than gmail.com, are ancient by today’s standard. Do not include dates that may reflect your age, such as college and high school graduations.
NETWORK.
More experienced employees have a more extensive, effective network, so use it. Your contacts can provide references that validate your knowledge, skills and abilities. They also know who is hiring before positions are publicly announced. They also can refer you to others in their network.
PREPARE.
Rehearse answers for age-related interview questions. A recent AARP survey indicated that 41% of job applicants were asked age-related questions during pre-screening, interviews, or written questionnaires. Examples include: • Do you think you’re overqualified? • How old are you? • Why do you want to work? • Why are you unemployed?’ Answer calmly and be proud of your age, your achievements, and capabilities.
FOLLOW UP.
Send the interviewer an email thanking them for their time and reinforcing your strong points. Check in at a later date to determine the status of your application.
Even if you aren't a job seeker now, it’s a good idea to compare your resume to newer templates. You never know when you may need to use it!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Stuart Karasik spent most of his career in the human resources/personnel arena. He has a Ph.D. in education, a master’s in biology, and was the training program manager for the City of San Diego. More career resources and job opportunities are available at AWWA’s Career Center and at Work for Water.
For more career resources and job opportunities, visit AWWA’s Career Center at careercenter.awwa.org/careerresources/?msessid=w9wcm and Work for Water at www.workforwater.org. •
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