Looking for a job over forty? This is how you turn your age into strength | MyGuide

People in their 40s or 50s sometimes tend to focus a lot on the word experience and on tasks and responsibilities. “These were important criteria,” says Petra Ivens. “Today it is relevant to translate your experience into what your years of experience actually bring to a new employer. For example: What does this experience mean? Can you solve problems faster? Do you think from a broader perspective? Or can you collaborate more easily or coach the people around you based on Do you know people?”

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According to Ivens, it is advisable to highlight your competencies and achievements relevant to a potential new employer, rather than your number of years of experience. Play on the benefits of your past experiences. You can reject possible clichés — like outdated, inflexible, no longer open to change or growth — by giving concrete examples. For example, also use a contemporary resume, follow relevant e-learning courses and more. One of the courses is to put it on your resume.”

You can only set the right accents if you know yourself well, Ivins continues. What are you good at? What do you want to do? What is (not) important to you? Then relate that to the vacancy in question. To do it right, you need to have a good understanding of the job, the company, and the sector you’re applying to. What do they need today? What is their vision? What are the challenges they face?

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“The better your insight into all of these matters, the better you can match your competencies to what the company needs. In other words: every resume and motivational text sent is unique and it is best to focus as much as possible on the company and job in question.”

“Every time you put in different accents. What is relevant to Company X may not be relevant to Company Y, so take that out. Or at least make it less prominent.”

With or without a photo on your resume? And if so, what should it look like?

To make yourself an attractive profile, you need to invest in yourself. That’s what Ivins says. A nice resume is great, of course, but if you feel like you’re missing some knowledge or something is getting covered in dust, update. Today there are many free or affordable options for training. Also consider apps like Duolingo (an app where users can learn Languages ​​for free by self-study, ed.).

You can choose slightly longer courses, but often a short course or e-learning of a few hours is enough to refresh certain knowledge. This makes you more attractive to the market, because you simultaneously demonstrate your openness to change and your willingness to learn.”

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What is the exact (additional) salary that your years of experience are worth? We’d love to help you calculate it in the box below.

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