{"id":186786,"date":"2020-03-27T07:00:25","date_gmt":"2020-03-27T11:00:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.virtualvocations.com\/blog\/?p=186786"},"modified":"2024-04-18T18:29:43","modified_gmt":"2024-04-18T22:29:43","slug":"boomers-age-is-just-a-number-heres-how-to-present-yourself","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.virtualvocations.com\/blog\/telecommuting-job-search-help\/boomers-age-is-just-a-number-heres-how-to-present-yourself\/","title":{"rendered":"Entering the Job Search, Baby Boomer? Age is Just a Number. Here’s How to Present Yourself."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Updated April 2024<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Entering the job search as a baby boomer is becoming more and more common. But what do you do when you already feel stigmatized because of your age, you need a new source of income, and you haven’t breached the world of resumes and interviews in decades?\u00a0 Read on for our best tips!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

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“Okay, Boomer.” <\/em>The phrase is enough to send anger pulsing down a baby boomer\u2019s spine, yet elicit a chuckle from the younger generation. Since its <\/span>emergence in the lexicon of internet slang in 2019, \u201cOkay, Boomer\u201d has underscored the dismissive, argumentative, and often heated nature between generations.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet the difference in attitudes, politics, and the overall outlook of the future may have to be put on hold in the near future. In 2020, the baby-boom generation, or those born between 1946 and 1964, was set to become the <\/span>fastest-growing age range in the workforce<\/span><\/a>, growing from about 12% of the total to over 20% according to a Glassdoor study.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What was once considered a time to consider retirement or build wealth at the highest wages possible (mid-to-late 50s and up) has been extended into a baby boomer job search for a variety of reasons. Though some have determined they cannot live on Social Security and pensions alone due to soaring housing and medical costs, other workers in the baby-boom generation are staying on the job simply f<\/span>or fulfillment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether continuing their career out of necessity or enjoyment, the baby-boom generation still has a problem they can\u2019t shake: a common misconception that they can\u2019t compete against a younger, more technophile generation. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

But as the old adage goes: age is just a number.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As boomers continue to age, their experience and wisdom about a particular job or industry make them attractive <\/span>candidates for remote work<\/span><\/a>. Coupled with the necessity for competitive advantage and the benefits of age-based diversity, companies also find a breadth of ages an attractive hiring strategy. As a result, the role of baby boomers in the professional world should continue to soar. So be bold and be courageous. Now\u2019s the time for the baby-boom generation to leave their professional mark.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Discover how to adjust your mentality, embrace change & technology, and update your resume to reflect your experience and not your age<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
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Adjusting Your Mentality in Your Job Search as a Baby Boomer<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The baby-boom generation isn\u2019t averse to finding a job or going to interviews. But in most instances, they\u2019re less likely to have recent job search and interviewing experience. Still, even with the lack of interviewing and job searching prowess, these individuals must first adjust their mindset and mentality. This obstacle stems not only from changes in generational thinking but also from a dynamic job market that may require some baby boomers to rethink their approach.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fear and doubt associated with such alterations are often the most daunting to overcome for boomers, but with a few tips, you can present a m<\/span>indset that\u2019s appealing and attractive to employers. And that includes instances when it\u2019s your first job search ever, your initial remote job search, or your first new position since the Clinton administration.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Don\u2019t Let the Younger Generation Deter You or Scare You<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s a stark contrast between the baby-boom generation and millennials with respect to their reasons for getting a job. According to <\/span>a survey by The Atlantic<\/span><\/a>, 64% of baby boomers put their earnings and learning new skills above all in a job, while 57% of millennials care more about enjoying their job or make a societal difference.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This statistic doesn\u2019t seem all that alarming at first glance; just a change in generational opinion. However, baby boomers often point to the lack of monetary motivation as the root of millennial laziness and complacency. But millennials don\u2019t have the same outlook.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Money is certainly an important part of the millennial job equation, but baby boomers shouldn\u2019t see their ability to take monetary concessions in lieu of free time as a threat or a deterrent from applying. Instead, they should embrace it.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just like having coworkers of different ethnic, racial, or national backgrounds, different generations can offer you another viewpoint. By understanding this mindset even before your baby boomer job search, you can find ways to relate to interviewers and coworkers.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Break with Your Normal Routine<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Because of the dependency on hierarchy and departmentalization, many baby boomers are creatures of habit. They tend to follow the same routine day-in and day-out with little variance or volatility. Younger generations are far different. Typically, they employ a go-with-the-flow mentality that provides flexibility. This continues to become the norm among the younger generation.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Therefore, baby boomers should have an openness to varying or nontraditional scheduling in the workplace. By accepting this idea in your baby boomer job search, you present yourself as more relaxed, accepting, and ready to do whatever needs to be done for the common goals of the company.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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If you aren\u2019t quite ready for retirement, but you\u2019d like a change of pace and a boost in income, here are popular remote jobs for baby boomers<\/a><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
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Embrace Change in Your Job Search, Baby Boomer<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In the minds of Gen Xers and millennials, baby boomers constitute a narrow-minded subsection of the population. These older individuals are against change no matter what the capacity. Yet times, they are a-changin\u2019. According to <\/span>a 2019 survey from Virtual Vocations<\/span><\/a>, baby boomers, Gen Xers, and millennials all gravitate toward remote work \u2014 an idea once thought foreign by older generations.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re a person who hasn\u2019t included a baby boomer job search in the remote world because of your prior experience, now is the time to embrace change. Changing your overall perspective on work, goals, and how to finish a project will open up a new world of possibilities. Hopefully, the other generations and your coworkers will notice your atypical approach.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Open Yourself to New Skills<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Perhaps the most important thing you can do in your baby boomer job search is to hone some modern skills that you may have only briefly used in the past. First and foremost, learn basic computer proficiency. You should know how to send emails, sign into accounts, and navigate the online workspaces necessary to complete your job.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet you shouldn\u2019t stop there. Opening yourself to new skills or learning some in your free time can make your job profile all the more attractive when coupled with your experience. In a remote role, the importance of computer skills and proficiency with online work platforms (Trello, Asana, Slack, etc.) can help you collaborate with coworkers and build a resume that gets noticed.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Trade Freedom and Flexibility for Money<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Financial instability vaults many baby boomers back into the workforce or prolongs their careers. However, that doesn\u2019t mean the dollar should rule your baby boomer job search. Some remote workers in the baby-boomer generation often cite freedom and flexibility as the greatest trade-offs that were unavailable when they were younger. So before you look solely at job salaries and how you can negotiate your salary at an interview, think about the work-life balance and freedom that only a remote job can bring. You might be pleasantly surprised by the prospect.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Remote Job Search Tips for Baby Boomers<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The baby boomer job search \u2014 especially in the remote world \u2014 can bring an entirely new set of challenges over traditional job hunts. Technological qualifications are mandatory for nearly every position just to communicate. Teleconferencing and video platform knowledge are essential. Even basic knowledge of Google Suite or Microsoft Office is often preferred over other types of qualifications.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Learn the Tech Side of Remote Work<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The upside of this required knowledge is that it will only take you a few weeks or months to learn the basics, depending on your level or lack of technological expertise. But once you\u2019ve got a handle on Skype, Slack, Trello, Google Suite, and a f<\/span>ew other platforms, you can pack your resume with tangible skills your employer or client will adore.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most remote jobs also require a basic level of proficiency even to apply to a position. Often, you\u2019ll have to upload a PDF of your resume and a cover letter. Without the ability to construct these documents, you\u2019re at a standstill. The skills you may need for a job will fluctuate depending on the role, but you can focus on these as a general starting point:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n