How to Job Search as a Mid-Career Candidate

How to Job Search as a Mid-Career CandidateHow to Job Search as a Mid-Career CandidateSearchingforanewjob mid-career is different than when you first entered the workplace. Many aspects oftheprocessare easier as a mid-career applicant, you can point to yourbody of work or track record to help support your candidacy for a position. Plus, youre flush with examples when it comes toanswering questions about past triumphsand how youve tackleddifficult colleaguesor situations. You have substantial work experience on your resumeand strong credentials you can bring to your next employer. Successful Strategiesfor Mid-Career Job Searches The flip side to this mid-career advantage being in the middle isnt always easy (just ask any middle child you know). A mid-career candidate is too advanced for an entry-level jobbut oftenlacks the required qualifications for a senior level role. This can make finding a position harder, since you have to target your job search so precisely. Hereyoull find recommendations to help make your mid-career job search a success, so you can land the right job for this stage of your career. Know What You Want and Target Good Matches Early in your career, flexibility may have been a guiding force you may have applied to jobs in several cities and been open to working all sorts of hours. While its not always the case, many mid-career employees have more parameters when it comes to work needs. If youre a homeowner, for instance, geography may play a role in where you performyourjob search. Parents may feel that long hours or frequent travel arent ideal. (Parents, hereshow to know if a job posting is family-friendly.) Be realistic about what aspects of a job are a deal breaker for you, aswellas where you can be flexible. Unlike entry-level candidates, mid-career candidateswho have been in the workforce for several years know more about what works best for them, from company size toculture. Use this information to create a list of companies and positions that are a good matchforyou. Spend some time at the job you have now positioning yourself to move successfully to your next role. If youre considering a career change, start by creating a transition plan. It will be much easier to get started if you know what youre looking forand what you want to do next in your career. Identify and Use Your Network Your network is one of your biggest advantages. Even if youve worked exclusively in one job, youve likely encountered lots of people who have moved on to other companies. Use yournetwork to power your job search. Reconnect with former colleagues. This can be as simple as a quick email to say helloor an invite to a coffee date.Check on LinkedInto make sure youre connected with everyone youve worked with. Before you apply for a job, see if you have a connection there who can personally refer youtothehiringmanager. A recommendation from a valued employee at the organization youre interested in can help you secure an interview . Overhaul Your Resume andOnline Presence Has it been awhile since you updated your resume? Review thesetips for mid-career resumesand give yours an overhaul. There are simplebut powerful, ways you can update your resume to increase your marketability. Inadditionto updating your resume, you may also want to refresh orcreatean zugreifbar presence. This could beas simple as updating yourLinkedIn profileor requestingrecommendations on LinkedIn,but you may want to go bigger Consider if it makes sense for you to have a personal website or an online portfolio to broadcast your qualifications and show off your work. Update Your Interview Persona As a mid-career candidate, confidence, experience, results, and leadership are some of your strongest assets. Its no longer enough to say youre a hard worker - employers are looking for more. Think about how you carry yourself in interviews, fromyour outfittowhats on your resumetoyour responses to interview questions. Show the Right Qua lificationsand Make Sure Your Skills Are Up to Date Where early-career candidates may struggle to have any experience, mid-career candidates can run into trouble if they have out-of-date experience. This can be particularly true in tech-driven fields. Make sure any certifications are up to date, and review industry websites, newsletters, and social media to ensure that youre using the right lingo. Inadditionto making sure your skills are current, its important for mid-career applicants to show off the right level of qualifications. While you dont want to seem underqualified and downplay your experience, you may find that for some jobs you get dismissed as being overqualified. Here are tips forwriting your resumeandcover letterif you are overqualified for a position. Consider a Recruiter As candidates with proven experience, mid-career job applicants are attractive torecruiters, who act as matchmakers between companies filling open positions and candidates. Inadditionto arrangin g interviews and making introductions, recruiters can help you tailor your resumeand provide tips on how to answer questions and what to skills and qualities to emphasize. If this sounds like it could be helpful, heres more information onhow to find a recruiter. Aim High As you look at job postings as a mid-career candidate, dont be afraid to aim high. Stretch yourself Look to make a vertical move rather than a horizontal one. Its all too easy to undercut yourself or talk yourself out of applying for a job, but know that even if you dont have every single skill or requirement listed on a job posting, you can learn on the job. If youre feeling intimidated, try this exercise make a list of each of your on-the-job accomplishments. Once thats complete, youre sure to feel confident when sending cover letters and interviewing for jobs.