Kerry E. Hannon

Finding a job when you’re over 50 is a lot like finding a job when you’re under 50. You need to tailor your resume and cover letter to the organization and the position, network to gather information and spot any inside tracks to the jobs you want, look and feel your best during job interviews and other meet-and-greets, and hone your negotiating skills so you get more of what you want.

Copyright © 2015 AARP. All rights reserved. Recognizing your soft skills can be useful in a job search after 50. In many ways, these softer skills, which include your outlook and attitude, are gauges of how well you’ll fit in. Employers want to be sure that you’ll work easily and efficiently with your coworkers, your supervisor, and perhaps the organization’s customers or clients.

Once you get that job you are seeking after 50, you need to negotiate the terms. Negotiations are best when both parties work toward an arrangement that’s mutually beneficial. Don’t approach negotiations with a hiring manager as an adversarial relationship. Follow these suggestions instead: Wait. Let the hiring manager offer you an amount, and then take a day or two to consider.

Copyright © 2015 AARP. All rights reserved. If you want to get a job after 50, you need to know what job skills you bring to the table. Job seekers often don’t know what they know or what skills they already have until they sit down and write a list. Make your own list, which will come in handy when revamping your résumé, filling out job applications, and preparing for interviews.

Copyright © 2015 AARP. All rights reserved. You will need to develop your personal brand if you are seeking a job after 50.Your personal brand establishes you as a relevant, credible expert in the field and enables prospective employers and recruits to get to know a little bit about you and feel a personal connection long before they ever meet you.

Copyright © 2015 AARP. All rights reserved. Seeking a job after 50, you need to know what you are facing. When in an interview, you want to show the best possible you that you can. Here are some interviewing tips and tricks along with some cautionary words to steer you clear of potential pitfalls. Be observant.

Copyright © 2015 AARP. All rights reserved. The cover letter is part of the dynamic duo that gets you past the first cut when applying for a job after 50, so spend some time writing a cover letter that catches the hiring manager’s eye. People who screen résumés get tired of reading the same old cover letter attached to hundreds of résumés that often looks something like this: Dear Sir or Madame; I am writing to submit my résumé for the position of Chief Cook and Bottle Washer at the Purple Valley Resort and Spa.

Copyright © 2015 AARP. All rights reserved. It’s not always the easiest thing to get the job you want after 50. Working on contract gives you the flexibility to do what you love to do and in the time you want to do it. Social media offers a multitude of ways to put your name out there as an expert in your field.

Copyright © 2015 AARP. All rights reserved. Finding your dream job after 50 would be terrific. “Pursue your passion” sounds like great advice until you pause to think about it and realize that you have no idea what your passion is or how to get started. Here are some suggestions to ease you into those first steps: Find a place to start.