Over 50 and Unemployed? Don’t Be.

By Ray Hatfield

Everything you are doing to land a job is probably wrong.

This is not one of those ‘look him in the eye and give him a firm handshake, go back to school and learn new skills, hire a professional to rewrite your resume’ type articles.

After 50, the chances of you landing an advertised job is next to zero. Apply if you want but don’t hold your breath. Here’s what to do instead:

Resumes don’t count.

This is how I feel about resumes: Nobody reads them. These days, everyone is padding their resumes with questionable achievements and hiring managers know it. Besides, did you ever try to read 5 resumes in a row, let alone a few hundred? (or a few thousand?).

The reality is most times your resume never gets read. There are just too many of them. If you feel you must have a resume because everyone says you need one and everyone asks you for it just because they think they should, at least make it look as interesting and creative as possible. Include graphics, cartoons, a letter from your third grade teacher — anything that draws attention and makes it stand out. And NEVER include it as an attachment. Put it in the body of your email instead. Nobody wants to open an attachment You’ve heard of viruses?

Here’s when you do need a resume: After you’re hired there’s always somebody who needs to have a copy for their files. So you might as well do one just in case. But don’t include dates and don’t go back further than 15 years.

Avoid online applications.

Like the plague. They are programmed to reject you if choose one answer they are not looking for. And that’s after you spend an hour filling one out. And talk about impersonal. I suspect that no human even looks at your application. One computer looking over the shoulder of another computer -how nice!

Nix headhunters

Headhunters are having the same difficulty you are having in finding a job. In today’s economy, many employers would rather not pay a headhunter’s finding fee – they’ll use craigslist or word of mouth to get the word out.

Besides, many headhunters are snakes. (They’re not called ‘headhunters’ for nothing.)  They are your best friend if they think you might be a hot prospect and don’t return your calls if you turn out to be cooling down. You’ve got better things to do, trust me. Avoid the humiliation in dealing with them.

Postings and grapevines

Don’t bother applying for jobs that you find posted online or heard about through the grapevine. A zillion other people will be applying for that job having seen the same posting or by being on that same grapevine. The odds are not with you. Chances are you are not the “best” qualified person applying for the job. (Sorry) Besides, with all those people applying, the person hiring probably won’t even get to or read your resume.

Exception to that rule: Try being over-qualified

Apply for a job that you are over-qualified for and that is offering much less pay than you would be willing to work for. Assume that they would never hire you because you’re overqualified and that they will think you would probably quit if you found something that would pay you more.

Tell them that you are sure, based on your experience that you are over-qualified for the position but tell them jokingly, that they shouldn’t be concerned because you are an under-achiever. Push for a meeting. The object of this approach is to somehow get them to want to at least meet you even if they would never hire you. You want them to keep you in mind if something else comes up.

Don’t let yourself be interviewed

Think of it as a meeting, not an interview. In fact, act as if you are conducting the interview. Ask a lot of specific direct questions like “Tell me, the truth, is this a good place to work?” “Are the people in charge intelligent?” “What’s the level of talent or expertise of the employees?” “Is the company in good financial shape?” “How long have you worked here?” This approach shows that you are carefully considering if this is the kind of company you might want to work at. It also puts the interviewer on the defense a little, which is always to your advantage.

Never think of yourself as being unemployed or out of a job.

As far as anybody is concerned you are a successful consultant or have your own small business. Have business cards made. It’s alright to say the economy has affected your business which is why you are getting out and meeting people more. You are always in a stronger position when the person in the hiring position thinks you already have a job rather than you need a job.

Don’t be modest/exaggerate/drop names

These are tough times. If you don’t have genuine success stories, gross exaggerations are perfectly acceptable. Exaggerate how successful a campaign or sales event you were instrumental in implementing and at the same time drop some names.

For example: “It was the biggest sales promotion success in Coca Cola’s history.” “I was instrumental in making the Chicago Lottery the #1 Lottery in the country.” “We used Sean Penn as a spokesperson – great guy. “The “successes” will provide you with both credentials and endorsements by association.

Mind their business

Find out if a company you have been pursuing is participating in a local trade show or convention. If they are, make it your business to attend and visit their booth. Meet some of their people. Tell them you have been corresponding with so and so and you like the way the company does business. Take business cards. Afterward follow up with the CEOs or hiring managers and mention you visited their booth at the trade show. Offer your observations of the show, their booth, their pitches, their competition, etc. This is a great way to show that you are not only interested in their industry but are interested in their company as well.

Contact an old guy

Do some research and find companies with CEO’s older than you who are still very much active in the company. Over 70 is ideal. Find a way to make contact. (This is sometimes difficult.You might try saying you are interviewing local CEOs about the current business environment.)

Older people won’t consider you old. Even if they do, they know that older workers have value and appreciate your experience.

I recommend writing letters rather than emails. Everyone gets dozens of emails. Very few people get regular mail these days that isn’t junk mail or a bill. Use multiple denominations of stamps on the envelope so that the envelope looks a little different than the rest of his mail. If you can, find an article about the industry he’s in, include it as something you found that he might find of interest.

Flatter him by telling him how you admire his company and the way it does business. Find a nicety you can play back to him or her and thank him for it. Tell him how refreshing it is to find a company that has values. This works best with CEOs that own the company.

When you meet, find a way to mention your particular skills and offer your help if needed. DON’T ask for a job. He’s probably not the person who does the hiring but it sure doesn’t hurt if he passes your name on to the one who does.

Get a professional but casual photo taken

If you’re attractive, by all means include a small photo of yourself via business card or resume. The more attractive you are, the better your chances to get to see someone in person. That’s how pharmaceutical company reps get in to see doctors. Unfortunately, like it or not, as a rule the best looking people have an advantage. If you look like George Clooney or Michelle Pfeiffer – you’re hired automatically.

Awful question #1: Why did you leave your last job?

Answer it this way: Tell them you were let go because there was a difference of opinion on what constitutes “ethics.” (Say “ethics” in a way that clearly shows that you think your former employer lacks them.) And then say you would rather not discuss it. Say, “Let’s just say I don’t think it would be in my best interest for you to contact them.”

Awful question #2: What are your salary requirements?

I hate that question. Nobody wants to price themselves out of contention by going too high or screw themselves by asking too little.

Answer it this way: “I have no salary requirements, I have job requirements. If the job seems like it’s a good fit, I’m willing to work within your budget. On the same token, if you think I’m the person for the job, I would appreciate you offering me a fair salary.”

Finally, if the above suggestion don’t get you anywhere, and if you’re really ballsy, try this:

Blow up your resume 3 ft. x 5t. On the top in giant letters say Marketing Manager (or whatever you are) Needs Work. Include your resume beneath it. Make 2 copies and mount them on heavy Styrofoam boards.  Wear them as sandwich signs, front and back. Walk up and down a busy thoroughfare like Madison Avenue in New York. You’ll get noticed and maybe make the evening news. Get a friend to video it and put it on YouTube.

The point of this article is to encourage you to try and think and do things a little different than everyone else is doing them.

Hey, tough times require innovative means. Good Luck.<<

Ray Hatfield is 59 years old. He has recently been hired by a national company using his above strategies. His name is not really Ray Hatfield.