• Dress for the job you are going for, but take it up a notch. In other words, if your position is very casual and you’ll be wearing jeans for the most part, wear a pair of cotton or wool slacks.
• Even if you’re dressing casually for an interview, a jacket is always a good idea. It shows a certain amount of professionalism and projects an aura of confidence.
• Wear conservative jewelry and accessorize accordingly—same with makeup.
• Make certain that your outfit is clean and pressed and that your shoes are polished.
• Be sure to wear your very best asset—a warm, friendly smile!

For more tips that are guaranteed to help you make a great first impression and ace the interview, be sure to check out the latest, updated version of Land the Job You Love. For the same low price, you’ll get 18 more pages filled with all of the tools you’ll need to approach the job market with confidence, present yourself as a winning candidate, and create the success you deserve. And that’s a winning combo for sure!

It may not be sexy, but today’s economy calls for practicality and, if she’s unemployed or underemployed, I have the perfect solution! I’m thrilled to announce I’ve just updated Land the Job You Love to incorporate even more cutting edge techniques, proven success strategies, and methods that are guaranteed to make a positive difference.

With a full 18-pages of new exercises, tools, and strategies, this hot-off-the-presses version boasts:

• The latest (yet easy to follow) tips for using social media to full advantage
• Surefire ways to break through to the hidden job market using innovative and guaranteed techniques
• The best methods for preparing for webcam interviews (a quickly growing trend)
• And many more tools that won’t be found in other job search books

Job search has changed tremendously—even in the past few years—so the recipient of this special gift will be well armed with the tools to handle any situation she’ll encounter in the marketplace of today.  At the same low price of $12.95, you can give the woman in your life the means to distinguish herself from the competition, present her skills with confidence, ace the interview and land the job of her dreams.

And, in my book, that beats a box of candy any day!

But what do these messages do to your sense of self-esteem? Constantly being told your age is a giant turn-off to most employers can’t help you feel good about yourself. Moreover, having confidence in what you bring: your skills, experience, and your added value as a unique individual of talent and energy is the cornerstone to mounting a successful job search campaign. If you can’t believe in your own merit as a viable and attractive candidate, how can you possibly convince an employer you’d be a worthwhile addition to their team?

Therefore why not choose to focus on the advice that supports you and your efforts, and ignore the rest of the discouraging chatter? Why not concentrate on all of the advantages age brings and present yourself as a winning candidate of maturity? There are plenty of ways you have it all over your younger counterparts—so why not conduct your search from a position of strength and confidence in all you have to offer?

Here are just a few of the attributes of maturity that will help you start thinking of ways your age is to your advantage:

• You have market knowledge and a well-honed skill set gained over years of experience.
• You have an extensive network of clients, customers, coworkers, colleagues, and friends—and, because many people in your network are older, they’re more likely to have connections with senior-level contacts.
• You are liable to be more flexible and can present yourself as a full or part-time employee, or as a consultant.
• You are not necessarily assertively climbing the corporate ladder so you won’t pose a threat to the more aggressive up-and-comers.
• You have the knowledge and ability to mentor younger workers and teach them the valuable techniques and tools that translate into ongoing success for the organization.
• You have life skills gained over years of experience dealing with people. You can get along with others, know how to manage your emotions at work, and you realize the importance of being a contributing team member.
• You have a mature work ethic. You understand the value of being responsible, showing up on time, and following through to complete assigned tasks.
• You have the experience and knowledge to handle most any situation that arises because you’ve handled just these types of encounters many times before. All you need to do is compile a list of winning examples and have them on the ready to illustrate your skills and accomplishments.

Your age has gifted you with several additional positive attributes—too many to mention in this article. For now, consider the findings of a recent survey reported by CBS. More than a quarter of the women surveyed reported that they’d trade in IQ points for a larger chest. (It goes without saying these women were not on the far side of fifty!)

So, if you were an employer, which segment of the population would you want on your team?

For the tips and tools you’ll need to turn your age into your advantage, be sure to check out Land the Job You Love: 10 Surefire Strategies for Jobseekers Over 50. It’s packed with most effective ways to market yourself as a mature jobseeker and give you that needed edge over the competition!

Any savvy marketer realizes that prior to launching a product, he or she has to determine the needs and preferences of their customers.  In fact, it is only through a thorough understanding of their customers’ needs, that they can then go on to identify their product’s key selling points: what makes it unique, how it’s better than the competition, etc.

You’ll want to follow this same information-gathering process as you prepare for and conduct your job search. Consider that the only difference between you and a marketing department is that your customers are your potential employers.

Here are three ways you can ensure that you’re gathering the information you’ll need:

1) Use job postings as a research tool

Although job-seekers turn to online postings, they often do so for the wrong reason. It’s estimated that fewer than 15 percent of positions are obtained by responding to postings. So this means you should only spend about 15 percent of your time in that activity (way less than most job-seekers).

Postings, however, can prove extremely helpful as research tools. They tell you who’s hiring, the skills that are currently in demand, the latest buzzwords for your industry, etc. As you peruse the listings, you’ll want to:

Look for keywords/skills you see come up again and again. If they’re true for you, make certain they’re prominently displayed on your resume and that you can speak to them when networking or during a job interview.

Identify the types of training/technical skills required and ensure that you have them. If you need to update your skill sets, there are a number of low fee or free software training sites on line. Here are two to get you started:

GCF Learn Free

Microsoft Office Training

2) Look at the trends

Identify the recent developments in your field: locally, nationally, and internationally. (Today’s economy is a global one and you’ll need to be able to speak with confidence from all three perspectives.) Also ask yourself the following:

Is your field expanding or contracting? There are jobs to be found within contracting industries, but you’ll want to be aware of that fact so you can make an educated choice as to whether or not you wish to remain in the field.

What are your personal opportunities for advancement within the industry?

3) Research your occupation

Although you may have been in your line of work for years, you’ll need to present yourself as the consummate professional who’s on top of the game. You may also be considering a career change and, if so, you’ll want to determine:

Which organizations might employ someone like you?

How can you best present yourself to these companies?

What additional education or training might you need?

What is the current labor demand and future outlook for the occupation?

The Occupational Outlook Handbook is a resource providing current, helpful information regarding specific occupations. You’ll find detailed information on the “nature of the work,” “training and qualifications,” “job outlook,” “related occupations,” and more.

Research is your key to identifying the needs of potential employers, making certain you’re well prepared and properly trained for the job, and ensuring you will present yourself as the candidate they’re seeking. So do your due diligence, you’ll be well rewarded for your efforts and you just might land your next job in record time!

For more great tips and strategies, be sure to check out Land the Job You Love: 10 Surefire Strategies for Jobseekers Over 5o. This is a step-by-step guide is packed with information providing mature applicants with the tools to successfully navigate the modern job market and gain the edge over the competition.

There are tons of reasons why this is true. Some of these causes for celebration, like the social influence and clout our numbers provide, are legendary. With a grateful nod to our population bulge, we boomers continue our revolutionary ways: shattering outmoded social norms, molding the culture to our liking, and reinventing the role for what it means to be a post-50 citizen. (Which other generation could boast of forgoing the rocking chair in favor of the rock concert?)

But my thoughts are of a personal nature and I, for one, am grateful for the small things. Here is my list of seven reasons why I consider myself blessed to be a boomer:

1)     I’ve never had to consider piercing anything on my body beyond my earlobes.

2)     For much of my life, when I phoned customer service, I immediately spoke with an actual, flesh and blood person! Plus, (and big bonus here) they were trained to be polite and helpful.

3)     When I was young, there were no entertainment centers—no multiple switches, remotes, wires, and unintelligible manuals. There was a TV with rabbit ears, a dial, and one, elegantly simple, on/off switch.

4)     I’ve never had to deal with the heartbreak of a full-blown Internet addiction.

5)     I remember when people used real words and not just unpronounceable acronyms.

6)     Sixties’ and Seventies’ rock ‘n’ roll was the BEST and I know, without a doubt, that we boomers have never lacked for cool.

7)     We continue to be the grooviest generation on the planet.

So, what do you think? What are the ways you express your boomer bravado? How are you putting gold into your golden years? Whatever you’re doing, you can be grateful for being born into a remarkable generation. Let’s let those whippersnappers know we’re not about to drift silently into the margins of society. To the contrary, let’s shout it loud and proud: boomers forever!

Oprah Winfrey is the undisputed master of interviewing and no one could argue that this great communicator was born into circumstances that would guarantee her success. Rather, her phenomenal rise to stardom came about as a result of a number of personal factors that would bode well for anyone seeking employment to adopt. So, as you prepare for your next interview, remember the gurus’ advice and act “as if… Oprah.”

The following are three characteristics that set this media queen apart. These same factors will help you to distinguish yourself in a job interview and set you up as the candidate of choice:

Do your due diligence: Oprah prides herself on thorough preparation and doing her homework down to the last detail. As you ready yourself for your job interview, make certain you’re well versed on the job requirements and prepared to target your response to the interviewer’s initial background probe.

“Tell me about yourself” is your invitation to state your skills and substantiating examples that relate specifically to the position description. Follow this tact throughout the interview and you’ll be presenting yourself as a match to the hiring manager’s needs and the problem-solver the organization has been seeking.

Personality is a major plus: Oprah exudes an aura of professionalism blended with personal warmth. Her body language underscores her energy and engagement in the conversation. She smiles often and easily.

You’ll want to display a similar friendly yet professional demeanor when you interview. Better yet, be certain to go beyond body language and openly express your interest and enthusiasm for the position. Employers want to hire problem-solvers but, equally important, they want to work with someone who’s pleasant to be around and who wants the job.

Ask the right questions: Here’s where you can really use Oprah’s style to make a difference. Your job interview is your opportunity to sell yourself to the employer’s needs. But it can be difficult to thoroughly understand the specifics of what the hiring manager is looking for. The posting/job description will provide you with a general idea, however you’ll want to ask the right questions to dig a bit deeper and uncover the details.

So do as Oprah does and ask well-thought-out, open-ended questions. For example asking, “what do you consider to be the most critical components of the position?” Or, “what needs to get done immediately?” will start the hiring manager opening up about their real concerns and help you present yourself—once again—as the problem-solver they’ve been looking to find.

Therefore the next time you prepare for an interview, remind yourself of the positive qualities of the Talk Show Queen and “think Oprah.” Prepare well, exude warmth and professionalism, ask the right questions, and anticipate success. That’s a combo that’s guaranteed to get their attention and, with a little luck, you just might ace the interview and land the job!

And for suggested responses to frequently asked questions, the most effective ways to prepare for behavioral style interviews, and other essential tips to help you do your best, be sure to check out Land the Job You Love. It’s packed with strategies that will distinguish you from the competition and make you THE candidate of choice!

With all of this constant change, how can you, as a member of the mature workforce, possibly keep up? The answer lies in taking the time to proactively plan and manage your own career path.

Gone are the days when we could show up, do a good job, and expect to be rewarded for our efforts. Career advancement is no longer guaranteed and neither is job security—even for star employees. Instead, it’s necessary for each of us to consider ourselves as consultants: keep abreast of the marketplace, make certain our skills are current and in demand, and chart our own course.

So take some time to review and renew your own career by asking yourself the following five questions:

1) How valuable is your position to the organization?

Do you affect the bottom line? Are your skills critical to the company’s success? If your answer to these questions is “no,” it’s time to take on additional tasks and responsibilities so that your contribution level increases and you begin to add real value to the overall goals of the organization. Otherwise you’re likely to be viewed as expendable… and we all know what that means.

2) Is your field expanding or contracting?

If your field is contracting, you should consider getting the necessary retraining to refocus your direction. Your job may easily become vulnerable as a result of a decreasing market. Moreover, if you’re in a job search and looking for a new position, you might not wish to invest your time and focus on a field that is no longer in demand.

3) Are you being given opportunities for advancement and professional growth?

This is a sign your company wants to invest in you. If you’re not being given these opportunities, ask for them. Request more responsibilities, volunteer for projects, look around for problems you can solve. Be proactive about this and let them know you’re committed to making a positive difference.

4) Are you receiving the salary and benefits appropriate to your financial goals?

First do your homework and know the pay range for your position. If your company is doing well and you’ve just completed a major project, you’re in a good position to ask for a raise. Before you broach the topic, however, be certain you’re able to list the positive contributions you’re making and how your efforts consistently add value.

5) Is your job meeting your own needs for meaningful and fulfilling work?

This is critical because it affects your attitude. Your commitment, work ethic, demeanor, and personality are at least as important as the skills you bring. If you aren’t feeling fulfilled and generally pleased with your position, do something about it. An unhappy employee will appear to be just “putting in time” and that’s a giant red flag to any employer. They want someone who’s motivated, eager for fresh challenges, and happy to be there.

So spend some time to review and renew your career direction. The more you take charge of your own path, stay abreast of changes in your field, and make the necessary changes to keep your skills relevant, the greater your opportunities will be. Better yet, many times the risks involved in charting your own course will produce multiple rewards. Take chances, ask for what you want, and anticipate success—your career is worth it!

And, if you’re looking for work, make certain you know the 10 key strategies to land the job you love as quickly and effortlessly as possible. Grab a copy of Land the Job You Love: 10 Surefire Strategies for Jobseekers Over 50 and put yourself on the fast track to success!

Although the software has been around for a while, many are unaware of how it works. This mistake can be costly because applicant tracking systems process today’s massive numbers of resumes, whittle them down to a manageable size, and select only those that are suitable to pass along to reviewers and recruiters. Therefore, as a savvy applicant, you should presume that the resume you submit to an online posting will be screened in or out by this software.

In order to ensure your resume gets passed along, you’ll need to:

Learn the rules of the game. Applicant tracking systems are programmed to allow only those resumes that match the search criteria (i.e. keywords) to make it through the screening process and eventually wind up on the recruiter’s computer screen. If yours does not reflect what they’re looking for, it will disappear into the black hole of cyberspace—unseen by human eyes.

Give them what they want. You’ll need to match your skill sets to the skills advertised in the posting. Whatever you put on your resume needs to be 100% truthful, however it is your decision as to which skills you choose to emphasize. So ignore your creative urges and repeat the words you find in the posting. Remember—software cannot make assumptions—your resume needs to duplicate the advertised skills as closely as possible.

Placement is Important. If your resume makes it through the screening process of the applicant tracking software, it will eventually be viewed by a human screener/recruiter. Most reviewers claim to give resumes only a 30-second scan to determine whether or not they are worth reading. Therefore your key skills and experience need to be readily visible and literally leap out at the reader. This means you’ll not only need to match the skills/keywords in the ad but also place them at the top of your resume, surrounded by plenty of white space, and using bullet points to catch the eye.

Ask yourself the “so what” question. Although keywords and skills are critical to getting through the initial screening process, you’ll need to sell the reviewer on your abilities by stressing your accomplishments. Asking yourself “so what” after each bulleted statement on your resume will help you focus on the positive results you’ve achieved.

For cutting-edge tips and strategies that will give you the edge over the competition and help you present yourself as the valuable candidate you are, I invite you to check out Land the Job You Love: 10 Surefire Strategies for Jobseekers Over 50.

Technology plays an important role in today’s job market—but nothing beats the impact of a confident candidate with job search savvy and a winning attitude. And, armed with the right information, this could be you!

Suzanne Braun Levine writes of the “Fertile Void,” that time in a woman’s life between first and second adulthood when every part of her reality seems to be in flux. Her mindset is shifting away from the cares and concerns of mothering young children, building a career, and attempting to behave like society’s ideal of the modern woman—you know… the one about doing and having it all. At 50, she still wants it all–but less according to society’s definition and more on her own terms.

Gloria Feldt describes the dilemma further by recognizing that our generation is the first to encounter these types of thoughts and issues. In a recent article in Life Goes Strong, Gloria reminds us: “We are the first generation of women to have been responsible for our financial security throughout most of our lives. We never thought we’d be trying—or needing—to craft new careers at 50, 60, and in today’s economy, even 70.”

Yet it is in second adulthood that many women discover their essence. We start to identify that which satisfies our personal drives and learn the keys to finding work that fulfills our hearts and minds. But sometimes we can use a little help along the way.

So for mentoring material that will provide you with answers to your own quest, I suggest you take a look at Gloria Feldt.com and Suzanne Braun Levine.com. These two amazing women have personally inspired me. To my mind, there are no better role models of the true power of womankind at its best.

Also, if you’re looking to find a new job or career, I invite you to take a look at Land the Job You Love: 10 Surefire Strategies for Jobseekers Over 50. Along with job search techniques, there are plenty of self-assessment exercises to help you choose the path to the livelihood that’s right for you.

January is mentoring month… so, if you need one, find one. And, if you’ve had one, take a little time to let her know what she’s meant to you. Especially in the years past 50, we can all use a boost of female empowerment to keep us feeling feisty!

So if you are looking for a job or concerned about the one you currently hold, here are four career realities of 2012 you’ll want to bear in mind:

The new job security—You’re considered only as valuable as the skills you offer, the problems you can solve, and the ideas you present. Job security is no longer met through external structures. Rather it is experienced by way of internal direction, innovation and preparation.

Flexibility is key—The ladder of advancement is more likely to be horizontal rather than vertical (i.e., increased skills, experience and training rather than enhanced job titles). Recognize you are the master of your own destiny. Take a proactive approach to your career by keeping current with the demands of the times, identifying opportunities as they arise, and consistently reevaluating your direction.

You have to market yourself—Whether you’re in a job search, vying for opportunities within an organization, or attracting clients or customers to your own business, you’ll need to market yourself as a valuable problem-solver. Although tooting one’s own horn is anathema to many, it’s a necessary skill. And you can learn it!

It’s generally helpful to think of yourself as selling a product—and that product is you. You’ll need to define the product (you) with well-chosen descriptive words, differentiate it from other products, and identify its benefits (how employing you as a problem solver will bring value to the organization). To substantiate your claims, you’ll want to identify and describe problems you have solved in the past, the skills you used, and the positive results you achieved. This way you’ll be providing a framework for demonstrating what you’re capable of accomplishing in the future.

Managing your career in 2012 is a bit like piloting a boat. In order to avoid being blown adrift by the winds of change, you have to adjust your sails, keep your eyes on the horizon, use your skills to best advantage, and proceed along your chosen course. To help you succeed, take a moment to check out Land the Job You Love: 10 Surefire Strategies for Jobseekers Over 50. Whether you’re currently in a job search or not, preparation and planning will make for smooth sailing… even in the choppy waters of  today’s workplace.