| Avoiding the “Too Old” Stigma in Your Executive Job Search |
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| Written by Abby M. Locke |
 It has to be startling news to an executive jobseeker to learn that age discrimination activities can creep into your career as early as the age of 40. Although there are employment laws to protect jobseekers who are 40+, age discrimination practices in your career development and employment procedures still occur more often that not. Here are some real, proven strategies that you can apply in your executive job search campaign. Renew Your Mind Have you ever considered that you could be the one sabotaging your own job search progress? Have you embraced an attitude of defeat that is visible in interviews and networking events? Avoid being the first person to bring up age concerns in any of your verbal and written communications – don’t eliminate yourself from the race by talking about “many, many years ago” or “back in my day” when dealing with a potential contact. Recognize that your age, breadth of experience, and wisdom are valuable assets that any employer can use. Be prepared to discuss and give actual examples from your career that demonstrate strategic leadership, problem–solving capabilities, and staff leadership. Count your age as an asset not a liability. Develop and Communicate Your Personal Brand Don’t let the main focus or selling points of your executive job search campaign be centered on fighting age discrimination myths. Work closely with a personal brand coach to explore, identify, develop, and communicate your personal brand. Having a solid understanding of your personal brand will help you streamline all aspects of your job search activities. With a strong personal brand, you can confidently discuss your unique value proposition and the contributions you can bring to an employer. Maximize the use of your personal brand statement – include it as part of your executive profile on a resume; revise it to create your attention–getting 30–second elevator pitch; expand upon it through career success stories in an interview; and communicate it frequently to others in networking events. For example, this is a personal brand statement revised into an elevator pitch. I am a senior communications manager who has influenced key decision makers at Fortune 500 companies to employ strategies that protected their corporate reputation and positive shaped consumer perception about their product and services. |