I just finished reading an article that stated jobseekers over fifty believe they have it much tougher landing new positions than their younger counterparts. Being laid off is no picnic at any time of life. However, as boomers grow older, reentering the workforce gets more difficult. It isn’t that we can’t do the job; many of us have skills and experience that far exceed the competition. It isn’t that we don’t have the right attitude; older workers are almost always more dedicated, stable, and happy to have the job than the twenty or thirty-somethings. The answer, of course, is obvious: age discrimination.

So how can we get around the obvious? How can we sell ourselves as viable candidates who will bring our well-honed talents and enthusiasm to the position? How can we turn our age into a plus and show our added value? The most effective way is to think of ourselves as products to be marketed to potential “buyers” (employers). With this thought in mind, we can then distinguish ourselves from the competition by highlighting our attributes. In other words, we need to sell ourselves through our skills sets.

In this final post in my series on skills, we’re going to take a look at transferable skills—those that can move from one job to another. In addition to work-specific skills and personal traits (described in earlier posts), these are the qualities that will attract an employer.

Transferable skills are wide ranging and run the gamut from budgeting and calculating to motivating and negotiating. Basically they fall under six categories: people/helping skills, people management/persuasion skills, creative/artistic skills, math/science skills, outdoor/active skills, and organizational/data skills.

Identify two or three of the categories above where your natural abilities lie and write out a list of ten skills under each of your top skill areas. Then come up with examples of how you use these skills in work situations.

Make sure these example statements are peppered throughout your resume and that you can speak to them during an interview.  By naming your skills and substantiating them with actual examples, you’ll provide a real-world illustration of what you are capable of achieving. Employers believe that, if you’ve done it before, you’re likely to do it again.

Speaking to skills is even more important for older job seekers. We tend to stress experience. However, if you find yourself interviewing with a thirty-five year old, and refer to your twenty-five plus years of experience, what will he or she likely be thinking?

So take the time to know your skills, make sure they are visible and strongly stated on your resume and give examples of these strengths in your interview. By highlighting your skills, you are well on your way to making the sale and putting yourself back in the ranks of the gainfully employed.