<p>I am 45 and have been looking since the spring. I want to change careers - from school librarian to something that can use my ability to do research/manipulate data/teach. I have cast a wider and wider net, but I don’t get interviews on jobs I am very well qualified for. This week I applied for a banking job (one step above teller) and got an automated rejection back within 5 minutes - but at least I heard from them. I’m beginning to think I’m just overqualified, although I’m willing to start entry level. To add to the problem, I can’t widely advertise I’m looking for a job, since my current employer would not take kindly to it.</p>
<p>An automated rejection back within 5 minutes! Wow! Have not heard of that before.</p>
<p>Yeah, that did wonders for my self esteem! They required a minimum acceptable salary (pull down menu, no way to bypass), and my best guess is I chose too high, even though I thought it was probably pretty close.</p>
<p>In that case, just go back and resubmit with lower salary until the reject letter does not come. Its like hacking passwords…^^</p>
<p>One thing about LinkedIn if you put in your company experience is that they REQUIRE the dates. I don’t they require them for your degree, but they do for your work experience. I just took off my oldest stuff altogether out there. I actually don’t keep a “full” resume on LinkedIn, just sort of an outline of one. I send the full resume to anyone who wants it, though. I also don’t have a picture… that is more because I don’t have a professional shot to use, though. But I suppose that can give away age info as well! </p>
<p>The biggest use for me in LinkedIn is the job search function. It feeds my email every day and I review the new postings, apply for the ones of interest. I may have mentioned this earlier, but the search only seems to work for 30 days, then it quits without warning. And you have to go out and reactivate it.</p>
<p>Just keep linking with people you know/have worked with in the past/meet in any professional capacity. Over the years you will pretty effortlessly build up a great network, and LinkedIn keeps track of everyone so it is so easy to drop someone a note or let your network know you are looking for work.</p>
<p>I rcvd an email today from the company I have interviewed with twice - letting me know they want to meet next week and extend an offer. Yay! Quite excited and relieved.</p>
<p>I want to share a few thoughts with anyone who is looking. I did have my graduation year and all jobs listed on my initial resume, which is the one I sent to this company. Some experience I had 20 years ago, combined with most recent job, really fit what they wanted. Plus, my future boss was impressed with my college - it is on his son’s short list! So, you just never know. If I had removed my education and first two jobs out of college, I might not have appealed to this employer as much.</p>
<p>That said, the biggest thing I learned is not to view your resume as one version only. Instead, have several versions, each tailored to a specific type of job you are applying for, or better yet, customize your resume each time you apply for a job. I met with a recruiter this week who advocated a bullet-style resume and to focus on transferable skills if you are trying to change fields. Hopefully this offer will come through and the job will work out and I will never have to look for employment again!</p>
<p>Wishing anyone out there who is looking the best of luck.</p>
<p>Lots of these automated rejections–for the teller job for example-- are because the HR department uses the computer to scan for specific terms matching their own job description…the computer will not INFER or read between the liines. Check the terms used in their job description especially “3 years experience in XYZ” and retry.</p>
<p>Another thign you can do is look up the 100 top/biggest businesses in your area. Then start brainstorming who you know at each company…use that as a networking boost…
“Hey Jill, I see they are hiring cafeteria workers/a CEO at your company…how do you like working there …any hints…I seem to be having a hard time getting through HR’s computer screening…”</p>
<p>Congratulations, rockvillemom!</p>
<p>Congratulations! And there’s no rule that says you can’t list your college without the year!</p>
<p>I just put “school - degree” at the bottom of mine.</p>
<p>Rockville- hope you like the offer! Congrats! I need to jump into the job search pool but my resume needs a lot of work. Last time I had one was1992. Lol. My current job of 4 years was settled from a 5 minute interview. 16 years off in the middle raising kids. Not looking forward to applying my creative skills to my resume update.</p>
<p>Congrats! RVM. Its nerve racking to find a job, no matter in what economy.</p>
<p>Congrats Rockville!</p>
<p>@TempeMom - i concur about the computer not being able to read between the lines. I make sure every skill or experience requirement is mentioned in my letter, and I customize the resume for each position. I list degrees as well as recent continuing education workshops. All fancy formatting is gone so computers can easily scan the documents.</p>
<p>I have actually debated leaving off advanced degrees for some jobs. Perhaps masters degrees are seen as overqualified for “bachelors preferred” positions. Any thoughts?</p>
<p>For the banker job, I spoke to someone inside the company, and I did indeed list the salary too high (no way to bypass pull-down menu). I tried to reapply, but I’d have to get a whole new e-mail, etc. I think the job doesn’t pay enough to do that (it would be a significant pay cut from my current position as a private school teacher!).</p>
<p>Woohoo, Rockvillemom.</p>
<p>So happy for you RVM!!! - - I am going to be in your shoes very, very soon - - I am a little younger (46), but am really worried no one will hire me . . .sigh. I have an MBA and always thought that would be my ticket back to work after taking off an extended period for raising my children. Now, I’m not so sure.</p>
<p>^^I feel like that too amarylandmom. Not so sure my Masters and Ph.D. from the 80s will matter to anyone now since I stayed home for 16 years since then and did not come back to the workforce at the same level - instead opted for a job that was flexible so I could still be around when needed for school things. The advice of only listing jobs from the past 10-15 years only gives me 4 years of work in an admin. position when my previous 7 years (before 15 years ago) were professional level jobs.</p>