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.

Traditionally January and February represent the strongest hiring period of the year. In the same manner we’ll be marking the onset of the New Year with our personal to-do lists, organizations will be starting new projects, putting annual budgets in place, and creating initiatives for the upcoming year. More than likely they’ll also need to bring on additional employees to carry out their plans, so there is a seasonal aspect to finding work.

Therefore, this is the time you’ll want to educate yourself as to the most effective means of getting noticed at companies where you want to work. Networking is the number one way to reach power players—those who can influence hiring managers by giving you the all-important nod of approval. For more on this topic, check out my latest post on Huff/Post 5o.

If you want to take advantage of this special time of year, it’s critical learn the rules of the game today and broaden your circle of contacts. That way, you should have plenty of opportunities in the works at all times. You’ll also need the tools to present yourself with confidence by speaking to your strengths in ways that distinguish you, your experience, and your added value from the competition.

To learn the optimum techniques and strategies to bring you success, I invite you to check out Land the Job You Love: 10 Surefire Strategies for Jobseekers Over 50. It’s packed with ways mature jobseekers can increase their options and come across as the valuable candidates they are. So why not go for it in 2012? What better way to ring in the New Year than with a brand new job?!

Bar none, the holidays are the best time of year to reconnect with your contacts. Holiday greetings are not only welcomed, they’re expected. So take the opportunity to send out cards and enclose one of those newsy letters people write to update friends and family on what’s gone on with them during the past twelve months.

This way you can greet people you don’t see on a regular basis and look for work at the same time. Using a light touch towards the end of the letter let them know you’re in a job search and what type of work you’re looking to find. It’s also appropriate (and helpful) to mention a few of your target companies and ask friends if they might know someone who works in one of these organizations. You might write something like: “I’ve been targeting companies X, Y, and Z and am interested in finding out more about them from the inside. If you know anyone who works at any of these firms, I’d appreciate you letting me know.”

Now you’ve laid the groundwork by mentioning your target companies in your letter. When you see your friends at holiday gatherings or follow up with them at a later date, you can ask if they were able to come up with any names or suggestions… again in a friendly, lighthearted manner.

Whatever you do, do not ask for direct help in locating a job. This might put your friends on the defensive. Your aim is to make clear you’ll appreciate any and all information your contacts might share. Remember, you’ll want to keep in the holiday spirit and remain festive. So don’t push too hard or overload them with a long list—three or four companies will do for now.

To learn how you can use holiday greetings to contact recruiters and managers with whom you’ve interviewed, check out my latest post on Huff/Post 50. For more information on your holiday job search, you’ll want to look at this brief, 3-minute video of my latest TV appearance. And, for a full recap of why the holidays can make your job search a success, tune into my 15-minute podcast: The Holidays: BEST Time of Year to Look for Work!

So make certain you’re primed and ready to take full advantage of all the season has to offer and take a look at Land the Job You Love: 10 Surefire Strategies for Jobseekers Over 50. It’s packed with the tools you’ll need to understand the job market of today and present yourself as the dynamic and accomplished candidate you are.

Above all, make good use of this very special time of year. People tend to be a bit merrier and certainly more open to reconnecting. So take the time to reach out, share the warmth of the season, and keep your ultimate goals in mind. Your friendly greetings might just translate into the job you’ve been seeking… and nothing beats ringing in a productive and prosperous New Year!

Suzanne Braun Levine, longtime managing editor of Ms. magazine and author of several books for women over 50, joined me once again on Feisty Side of Fifty Radio to discuss the various ways we undergo a multi-dimensional metamorphosis in midlife.

In truth, the beginning of the big change often looks like we’re standing still. It’s almost as is we go into shock…frozen by the overwhelming and often competing drives and feelings that inhabit out psyches. Do we want to quit our job and pursue a different career that’s more in line with our newly forming passions? Are we willing to step outside of our carefully constructed persona and start speaking up with a forcefulness that might surprise our friends and family? Do we opt to end a long-term relationship, that may be growing stale, in favor of a new one providing novelty and excitement?

All of these questions and more create what Levine terms “the fertile void.” This is the uncomfortable, albeit critically important, period of rebirth. On the other side of the fertile void lives the powerful land of “no” and the increasing ability to “toot.”

Learning both of these skills (and they are learnable skills) are your tickets to moving forward into mastery—living in a state of what psychologist Abraham Maslow called “self-actualization.”

So take a break from the holidays and give yourself time to think about how YOU can conquer new territory, how YOU can create your own state of mastery, and how YOU can experience your own state self-actualization. Take a listen to what Suzanne has to say in our 15-minute interview, at her appearance on TEDx Women, and on her post at Huff/Post 50.

And, if you know a boomer who’s looking for work, be certain to let them know about my own articles on Huff/Post 50. “’Tis the Season… So Get Out There!” and “Seasons Greetings Can Land You the Job” are packed with job search tips and reasons why December is the BEST time of year to look for work!

Actually December is, bar none, the very best time of year to find a job! There are 4 reasons why this is true:

1. Competition levels plummet.

• Most jobseekers figure the holidays are a waste of time and make only marginal efforts to look for work.
• Their big mistake becomes your big advantage because opportunities for socializing and networking abound.

2. January and February represent the strongest hiring period of the year.

• New projects, initiatives, and budgets are put into place and hiring generally skyrockets at the beginning of the year.
• By actively networking, you’ll position yourself as a valuable and enthusiastic candidate and will be well on your way to getting the call for an interview on January 2nd.

3. There’s no better time of year to schmooze.

• Parties, gatherings, and community events are prime opportunities to press the flesh and tell your story.
• Don’t deliver a rehearsed elevator speech. Instead come up with an engaging one-liner that keeps it light but will peak the interest of your audience.
• Example: A buyer states she “shops with other people’s money.”

4. The holidays are a great time to get out there.

• Volunteering, seasonal hiring, and all sorts of opportunities present themselves for moving out of your immediate circle of contacts.
• Take advantage of as many of these as you can that will comfortably allow you time to pursue other holiday networking activities.

For more information on each of these points, be sure to check out my latest post on Huff/Post 50.

And, to make certain you’re primed and ready to take full advantage of all the season has to offer, take a look at Land the Job You Love: 10 Surefire Strategies for Jobseekers Over 50. It’s packed with the tools you’ll need to understand the job market of today and present yourself as the dynamic and accomplished candidate you are.

So let’s raise a toast to December… it is, after all, the season to be merry and to make connections. Enjoy your journey to success!

Thoughts of being of service enter my mind. I’m guessing a number of you have entertained similar feelings. After years spent focusing on rearing children and building careers, the hearts of many in our generation are returning to the spirit of the sixties and our earlier goal of changing the world. What better way to do that than with an encore career in the nonprofit sector?

This well meaning transition can be difficult, however, if you don’t know how to go about it. Several months ago I interviewed Betsy Werley, the Executive Director of The Transition Network on Feisty Side of Fifty Radio. Betsy herself made the shift from the corporate world to the nonprofit sector and now oversees a national community of engaged and energetic women over 50. Betsy loves her job!

If you’ve got thoughts of renewing your own spirit of the sixties and looking to make a positive change in the world, here are some of Betsy’s suggestions:

• Think about which aspects of society get you excited and/or get you riled up and angry. Therein lie the clues to your passion and a possible career choice.
• What type of organization best suits your style? There are several options in the nonprofit world including organizations that involve direct service, consulting, foundations, and trade associations.
• Which skills do you bring with you that will provide added value to the organization?
• Build credibility in the nonprofit arena by becoming active in organizations that interest you. This it the most direct route to building a network in the not-for-profit sector and, at the same time, define which positions are best suited to your talents and skills.

So take a little time away from the hustle and bustle of December to listen to what Betsy has to say. It’s 15 minutes that just might change your life or … at the least give you some solid tips about finding your own encore career.

We were on to something in the sixties. And there’s no better time to remember our earlier aspirations. After all, helping to change our word for the better is the best way to celebrate the true meaning of the season.

Here’s a list of 5 tips to help you get started:

1) Learn the rules of today’s job market:

• Take a proactive approach—target opportunities and companies where you’d like to work
• Learn to use your network effectively and build the critical connections that can act as a “bridge” to where you want to go
• Incorporate social networking into your job search

2) Get the technology training you need:

• There are plenty of free or low fee classes on the Internet
• Check out local libraries, one-stop centers, and community colleges

3) Update your resume:

• Give it a modern look—remove the clutter (employers are mainly interested in only the last 10 – 15 years of experience)
• Highlight your accomplishments and the results you’ve produced
• Customize your resume to the individual job description
• Downplay the age element and remove dates of graduation

4) Nail the frequently asked age-related interview question

• Where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years?

5) Come from a position of strength—attitude is everything:

• Take pride in your highly developed skills and extensive market knowledge
• Highlight the personal strengths you’ve built over a lifetime
• Stress your mature work ethic
• Remember to use the extensive network of friends, coworkers, associates, and clients or customers you’ve accumulated over the years

To get more ideas on how you can use these five tips to market yourself as the valuable candidate you are, take a look at this brief, 3-minute video of a recent interview I had on the local news. And be sure to check out Land the Job You Love—it’s packed with techniques that will set you apart and help you navigate the marketplace of today.

Use these 5 tips and get the tools you’ll need to approach the job market with confidence, express your numerous skills with pride, and anticipate success!

Warren Buffet is asking each of us to forward this email to a minimum of twenty people on their address list; in turn ask each of those to do likewise. In three days, most people in The United States of America will have the message. This is one idea that really should be passed around.

Congressional Reform Act of 2011

1. No Tenure / No Pension.

A Congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they are out of office.

2. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security.

All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, and Congress participates with the American people. It may not be used for any other purpose.

3. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans do.

4. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.

5. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.

6. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people.

7. All contracts with past and present Congressmen are void effective 1/1/12. The American people did not make this contract with Congressmen.

Congressmen made all these contracts for themselves. Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, so ours should serve their term(s), then go home and back to work.