You’re Not Too Old
Looking for a job can be a difficult process. This is especially true if you haven’t looked in a few years. In fact, if you’re been working at your company since 2002, your job there is officially older than LinkedIn. It goes without saying, but the job search process has completely changed in the last twenty years.
If you’re like most people, there is something you fear the most when it comes to looking for a job. You might be afraid that employers will think you’re too old. Or, you might think employers will think you don’t have enough education.
I see this pattern in job seekers every day. They begin to apply for jobs. When they don’t get interviews, they try to make sense of it. They begin to think, “The hiring manager saw my resume and had no interest in me because I’m just too old!” These stories allow us to understand why we aren’t hearing back.
But, what if those stories are simply fears? What if they aren’t the truth? Don’t get me wrong. Age can be a factor in hiring. But, it’s very possibly not the first issue.
If it’s not your age, then why aren’t you getting any interviews? Sites like LinkedIn have made it incredibly easy to apply for jobs online. Companies also want you to apply on their websites. Because of this, the volume of job applicants is much higher than it would have been twenty years ago. These days, it’s not uncommon for a job to receive hundreds of applications for one job posting.
Then, your application must go through a computerized process to be selected. So, if you’re applying through the internet only, the chances that anyone ever sees your resume are low. The issue might not be your age. It very well may be that the hiring manager doesn’t know that you exist.
So, what can you do? If you want to be cautious, start by applying online. Then, keep going. Look to see if you know anyone at the company. If so, reach out and ask if they will give you a referral for the job. Often times, they may receive a referral bonus if you’re hired. So, they likely won’t mind helping out.
Then, brush up on your research skills. Try to find the hiring manager on LinkedIn. In other words, if you are looking for a role in IT, you may report to the CTO. Or, you might report to a vice president of technology. If you can locate that person on LinkedIn, you can send them a message via LinkedIn. Or, you can try sending them an email. If you do send a message, use a cover letter for the body of the email. And, attach your resume.
By following these steps, you greatly increase your likelihood of landing an interview. And, you may just find out that you aren’t too old after all.
I hope these tips have helped you. Visit CopelandCoaching.com to find more tips to improve your job search. If I can be of assistance to you, don’t hesitate to reach out to me here.
Happy hunting!
Angela Copeland
@CopelandCoach
HR Is Not Your Friend
What’s the biggest misunderstanding in the modern workplace? It’s that HR is your friend.
You’ve probably heard the rumors. HR is there to help you. If you’re having a problem with a coworker or your boss, you should call HR. They’ll sort it out for you. They’re there to help the little guy. HR will stick up for you.
Does this sound familiar? If so, your HR department has done a great job with their own PR. And, it makes sense. HR departments want you to feel comfortable with them. They also often help to facilitate things like company holiday parties. They help with responsibilities that almost feel paternal, such as helping with health insurance, performance reviews, and vacation.
But the truth of the matter is a little different. HR is there to protect the company. You heard that right. HR is responsible to protect the company, not the employees. And, in situations where the company is protecting an employee, it’s because they are hoping to protect the company from a potential lawsuit.
You heard me right. I know it can be shocking, but it’s true. So, how can this impact your job, and what should you do?
Many employees who are having a problem with a colleague or boss will turn to HR for help first. They’ll call at the first sign of trouble. HR will welcome the employee in with open arms. The employee will feel comfortable to vent all of their frustrations about their boss.
The problem is, this can backfire fast. One minute, you feel like they’re enlisting the help of HR. The next minute, they’ve got their eye on you, and your boss isn’t happy. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a situation where going to HR resulted in an improved situation with a boss. But, I’ve heard of many situations where someone was fired or pushed out shortly after talking to HR. On top of looking out for the company’s best interest, HR is not made up of therapists. They’re not there to help sort out personality differences.
Now, don’t get me wrong. If you are being harassed or something illegal or dangerous is going on, HR may be the answer. But, for many other issues, they are not.
Rather than go to HR, you should start by trying to talk to the person directly. Although it can be hard, direct conversations can sometimes help to resolve problems and increase trust. If this doesn’t work or is not an option, you may want to consider speaking to the person above your boss. Or, you may want to talk to someone else in a leadership role. Sometimes, those in leadership can help you to navigate a tricky situation.
I know work can be tough. I’ve been there. But, call a friend. Call a therapist. Call your mom. But, think hard before you call HR. They are not there to be your friend.
I hope these tips have helped you. Visit CopelandCoaching.com to find more tips to improve your job search. If I can be of assistance to you, don’t hesitate to reach out to me here.
Happy hunting!
Angela Copeland
@CopelandCoach
Headhunter 101
In the world of job searching, there’s quite a bit of confusion around recruiters. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard the question, “Are you going to hire a headhunter to help you find your next job?” Somewhere along the way, we got mixed up about how this process works, and in some situations, it can hurt us.
Let’s start at the beginning. When it comes to recruiters, there are generally two types. There are internal recruiters, and there are external recruiters.
Internal recruiters work for a company’s human resources department. If you applied for a job online via the company’s website, you will most likely interact with an internal recruiter. They screen candidates to see who might be a good fit for the job. They will ask basic questions, such as, “Why do you think you’re a good fit for this role?” They are also tasked with asking you the tough questions, such as, “How much money are you looking to make?” An internal recruiter also helps to coordinate the interview schedule. And, at the end of the process, they are often the person who will present the winning candidate with a job offer.
External recruiters work outside of the company that is hiring. They typically work for a large recruiting company, such as Robert Half, or they may work for a small boutique firm. External recruiters help companies to source candidates for hard to fill roles, and executive roles.
Internal recruiters are paid directly by the employer as a full time employee. In other words, they receive a normal salary. External recruiters are typically paid a commission when they make a placement. This percentage can vary, but it is somewhere in the ballpark of 25 percent of the candidate’s base salary.
An internal recruiter will typically help their employer with all sorts of roles. An external recruiter will often specialize in certain types of roles. For example, as a hiring manager myself, I once used an external recruiter that specialized in web analytics roles to find a web analyst.
Recruiters are not really working “for you.” This is something external recruiters may tell you as a candidate to build the relationship. But, don’t be mistaken. Their loyalty is to the employer. Also, recruiters aren’t fighting to get you the very highest pay. They are fighting to make a sale. The extra few thousand dollars you are asking for will only make a recruiter a few hundred dollars. It’s more important than they make the sale, than getting the highest price.
Note that no recruiter will ever ask you, the job candidate, for money. If a recruiter asks you to pay for anything, this should be a red flag that they are not legitimate. Walk away from any recruiter asking for money to revise your resume or to represent you to employers. There are plenty of legitimate recruiters who will help you for free.
I hope these tips have helped you. Visit CopelandCoaching.com to find more tips to improve your job search. If I can be of assistance to you, don’t hesitate to reach out to me here.
Happy hunting!
Angela Copeland
@CopelandCoach
New Beginnings
As we close out the year, you may spend some time reflecting on what you accomplished. You are also likely beginning to think of what you would like to achieve in the New Year. This is a great time to set goals for the future.
Unfortunately, achieving something new in the future can often mean letting go of something else in the past. For example, to have a new job, you will eventually have to let go of your current role. As much as you are gaining something new, you will also lose something.
We often don’t think about how much our jobs mean to us. They are often a bigger part of our identity than we are consciously aware of. And, we are attached to our colleagues more than we might want to admit. On more than one occasion, I’ve stayed in a job longer than I should have because I loved my team.
Change can also be tough when the decision is made for you. From the news reports, it’s clear that many companies used the end of 2024 to lay off workers. This is a tough experience for anyone, and can take months or year to fully recover.
Whatever the reason, if you want to look for a new role in the New Year, this is the perfect time to begin. As many companies return from the holiday break, their hiring will begin to pick up speed again.
Start by sprucing up your LinkedIn profile. Then, ensure your resume is up to date, and uses a current style. If you haven’t searched in a while, look around online to find the latest resume trends.
Think twice before publicly posting on LinkedIn that you are open to work. It’s a new trend to let your network know that you’re looking for a job. Unfortunately, if you are still employed, it may make you look like you aren’t committed to the company. And, if you aren’t working, it might make you look desperate. It’s better to tell your contacts individually that you’re looking. Set your profile as open to work privately, so that recruiters who are looking for candidates will find you.
Begin to reconnect with old business contacts, and friends who may be aware of job openings. But, be sure to lead with your friendship, rather than your request for help.
When your resume and LinkedIn are up to date, begin to apply for jobs. But, don’t apply in the typical online way, or if you do, do more than just apply. Try to find the hiring manager. In other words, try to look up your potential future boss on LinkedIn and send them a message. If they like you, they will ask the recruiter to interview you. It can be a faster and easier process than applying online.
Today is the perfect time for new beginnings. I hope you will commit to starting your journey today.
I hope these tips have helped you. Visit CopelandCoaching.com to find more tips to improve your job search. If I can be of assistance to you, don’t hesitate to reach out to me here.
Happy hunting!
Angela Copeland
@CopelandCoach
Keep Hope This Holiday Season
Have you ever heard that companies don’t hire over the holidays? Me too. I’ve heard it more times than I can count. Many job seekers make the decision to pause their job search around Thanksgiving. They wait to restart it after the New Year, because they assume that the search is a waste of time.
These job seekers could be right. On average, there is less hiring during the holiday season. There are definitely more layoffs as we get closer to the end of the year.
But, there may be another side to consider. As a job seeker, over the years, I have received more job offers in November and December than any other time of the year. It has truly surprised me each time it has happened.
Here’s my theory on why this has happened. First, employers are hiring throughout the year. Yes, there may be fewer job postings near the end of the year, but I suspect that jobs posted at the end of the year are roles that the company definitely wants to fill.
Because many job seekers put their job searches on hold during the holidays, I suspect the competition may be less intense. In other words, you may find yourself competing with fewer resumes during December.
In addition, if a company is going to the trouble to post a job and to interview for it during the holidays, the company really wants to fill the role. They aren’t posting just to see what’s out there. They aren’t trying to waste your time.
Speaking of timing, companies who are hiring near the end of the year are often looking for the next year to start out strong. They hope that the candidate they hire will start their new job in January. So, interviews are less likely to be delayed or to go on for months.
We are all busy during the holiday season. But, if you are in need of a job, I would encourage you to keep an eye on the latest job postings. Don’t assume companies won’t hire during December. They do it every day.
Think of it like going to work out at the gym during December. In December, the gym is empty. There’s peace and quiet. There’s little competition for the equipment. The gym is yours.
But, the minute January first rolls around, the gym is packed. Everyone has a new goal. You have to wait in line. It’s an entirely different experience.
The same thing is true for job searching. Get out there while everyone else is distracted. Show your next company that you’re serious, and that you are ready to start off the New Year strong. A little work this year can go a long way at laying your foundation for a successful 2025.
It’s time to revise your resume, update your LinkedIn, and begin to attend networking events. Keep hope about your job search this holiday season!
I hope these tips have helped you. Visit CopelandCoaching.com to find more tips to improve your job search. If I can be of assistance to you, don’t hesitate to reach out to me here.
Happy hunting!
Angela Copeland
@CopelandCoach
Copeland Coaching Podcast
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