Be positive.
Don't underestimate the value you can bring to an organisation, and don't assume companies only want younger (cheaper) candidates. But remember that you may need to overcome negative perceptions; for example that you're over-qualified, over-experienced, or too inflexible to take orders from someone younger. Prepare a strategy for dealing with potential age bias in your initial job application and at interview. For example, make it clear you're not expecting more than the market rate for the job, or that you're prepared to start at a lower level if you're changing career.
Keep up-to-date
Don't give an employer a reason to disqualify you through lack of required skills. Make sure you can use any new or unfamiliar technology necessary for the job, and that your computer skills are current. LJFil advises: "Get confident using computers otherwise you are going to find it very difficult getting a post..."
If you're changing career, you may also need to retrain. Research any essential requirements and seek advice from professional associations and industry experts on the forums, such as OJPowell.
Be up-to-date in other areas, too. You don't necessarily need to know how to use the latest technology, but admitting you've never heard of Facebook, for example, may make others think you're behind the times or unlikely to fit in with younger colleagues.
Finally, ensure you're familiar with trends and developments in your chosen industry or company.
Take full advantage of your strengths
Greater experience works in your favour, so apply for positions where it's required. PhilipLandau advises in the forums: "If the company can show that a minimum level of experience was required for the position, then they could jusify their selection processes on these grounds alone, even if this necessarily means an older person is more suited for the position."
With more experience you can choose which career accomplishments to highlight. Careerenergy says: "You should be able to look down upon a record of achievement that has led you to this point and that you can be proud of."
Make use of the range of skills you've acquired over your career. Which are transferable to different sectors and roles?
kaeustice underlines the importance of background skills. She says: "Although the jobs market is tough at the moment, being equipped with both design and writing experience will be beneficial and make you stand-out as a multi-skilled candidate...So your design background is likely to be taken very seriously...Age won't come into it, as long as you can produce the material."
Throughout the application process, highlight the personal qualities that employers value, such as reliability, self-discipline, a strong work ethic or company loyalty. Play to your strengths, while simultaneously dispelling any worries that your experience makes you inflexible. Your covering letter is a good place to illustrate how your experience has enabled you to solve problems and get results, as well as work successfully with different people.
Finally, make the most of your network of contacts. Ask them for advice, inside information on companies, or for an introduction to a decision maker. Contact ex-colleagues, friends, bosses etc, and get involved in online networking such as LinkedIn. See Using social media and Getting the most from social media for more tips. Attend industry events to meet other people in your field.
CV tips
Make your CV look modern. Use a font such as Arial, and present information concisely, using bullet points and headings to highlight important points. Sending hard copies of CVs is less common these days, so experiment with a PDF version and check how your CV looks when printed as an email attachment.
Rather than emphasising the number of years' experience you have, show your potential value to a company by emphasising key achievements from your most recent or relevant experience, ideally from the last ten to fifteen years.
