Are you 40+? Are you job hunting?
Meet your personal Job Hunting Coach
LIZANNE BARNETT
‘In 1980 I stopped being a job-hunter and became an opportunity seeker. Up until that moment I had used traditional job hunting methods, but when every CV I sent out was not even acknowledged, I gradually began to despair until there was no energy left to hunt.
But then a serendipitous discovery led me to someone who in turn led me to believe that there was a place out there in the world of work, which matched my unique set of skills, experience, interests and goals, just like a jigsaw shape in a puzzle.
My teacher was Richard Bolles, whose unique perspective of how job-hunting actually works, convinced me that traditional job-hunting was counter-productive. As I did the work he suggested and started looking, I found the job I had dreamt up. I was 34 then and it seemed easy. So easy, that I taught others to do it too.
Ten years later I was searching again and I must admit to a little voice tweeting annoyingly in the background ‘You are 44, who is going to want to employ you?’ and this was confirmed in one interview where barely disguised ageism lay behind a polite interviewer’s smile. But when I reminded myself there is always a place, I did the work and voila, once more, I found it!
And again at 54, and at 64, as long as I reminded myself of Richard’s lessons, I could rise above the doubts, do the work and find an opportunity that had the shape I was looking for.
In 2011 I discovered Career Planet (online career planning/job hunting website: http://www.careerplanet.co.za for 16 – 35 year olds) and approached them for a job. They were looking for someone but had not advertised! As Ask Us Manager there, I have answered about 4,500 queries about career planning and job hunting and have learned a lot!
But the occasional older enquirer made me realise that they needed to tackle job hunting AND career planning and even career changing (yes career changing!) in quite a different way. I found that they were using out-of-date methods like sending out dozens of CV’s and going to interviews unprepared, without success.
Who can blame them? It was the only method they knew. But their attitude was: ‘I know how to job-hunt!’ and so they were reluctant to try any other method.
So this way to success requires a willingness to try new methods. It will involve some diligent but exciting work, assessing skills and experience as well as exploring the world of opportunities. This will result in serendipity, the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way.
For full details please go here:
It is extremely disappointing to learn that, at a time when you have so much knowledge, strength, hindsight and emotional stability you can not be a member of the productive workforce in society. For us from previously disadvantaged sections of society especially, it is quite debilitating as one has not had enough time to save for retirement and the future one has to face is a bleak one without any prospects for retirement homes or any substantial retirement annuities save for the measly government handout from SASSA. I am fitter than most young men half my age, exercise regularly (am an avid mountain cyclist) am not overweight and have the agility to handle even intensely fast sports and for all practical purposes live the “age is just a number” credo.
I cannot agree more – your situation is awful and unfair. That is exactly why I created Silver Mettle – for people like you.
But you have the advantage that on top of your experience and wisdom you are fit! So there is much to work with.
Please accept my offer to help you reach your potential. As my first commentator, I offer it free of charge. Write to me and I will help you take back the power.
Take a look at this https://silvermettle.com/2015/07/30/forget-cv-hello-resume-for-the-2nd-life/
Does it make sense to you? You are so articulate so I am sure you can use some of it 🙂
In the meantime send me your conventional CV to [email protected] and I will do my best to help you.