The Voice of Job Seekers

Mark Anthony Dyson ★ Career Writer ★ Speaker ★ Thinker ★ Award-winning Blog & Podcast! ★ "The Job Scam Report" on Substack! ★ I hack and reimagine the modern job search!

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by Mark Anthony Dyson

8 Ways Older Job Seekers are Prey to Unconscious Bias on Facebook

8 Ways Older Job Seekers are Prey to Unconscious Bias on Facebook

This is originally published on Career Pivot.

You have become susceptible to unconscious bias on social media because you can’t help yourself. You judge and cringe and being judged. It’s your fault. Read on for the whole truth…

Job seekers after 55 have a hard (but not impossible) task of finding work. Many find themselves searching for much lower paying jobs, creating a business, or both. Employers and recruiters look for ways to exclude candidates such as baby boomers. One way is to check to see if he or she has a social media profile, and next what does someone’s timeline say about them.

Older and younger job seekers are not as conscientious about personal brand awareness as they should.

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Although we see many people talk about transparency, there are limits. There are absolutes needing privacy like medical information or personal affiliations.

Listen to Unconscious Bias: Your Career, Workplace, and Everywhere 

There are other things people share offer more unneeded scrutiny:

Too proud to let old accomplishments go

I know you were an award-winning salesperson or sold a startup in the 90s, but it’s likely irrelevant. Most employers want to know your new industry or career exploits. Don’t have any, then make some. There are too many platforms to display expertise on the web. Volunteer work is also plentiful for picking and choosing career growth.

You’re sharing age-defining stuff on social media

Yes, I know what you’ll say, you never shared your age. Right? Well, how about using words like grandkids (not in all instances but suspect), remembering old events like it happened yesterday (You say you’re old school, right?), or referring to groups of ethnicities in old terms builds the perception of your age

Sharing physical or medical aches, pains, or illnesses

I get you are crowdsourcing information, but I plead with you to reconsider. It’s one thing to share too much information, but often sharing age defining information is detrimental to your career. Sharing you have prostate cancer, strokes, or certain chronic illnesses says more than you think

Listen to Facing Unconscious Bias in Your Career and Life

Sharing old pictures

OK, old high school and college pictures are one thing (especially when you scan a Polaroid). Your 30 and 40-year-old children tell an employer everything they need to know. You’re too old

Sharing incessant complaints about lacking energy

Most employers claim to manage a fast-paced environment, and you are complaining about your lack of energy. Always. It says you’re too old to keep up

Sharing you’re relying on old job search strategies to find work

You update show: You work hard and a team player. You’ve applied to hundreds of jobs without a response. There’s one evergreen job search strategy rarely talked about: Networking. You want employers to see you’re connected and active in professional organizations and affiliations. They want to see you add value

Complaining “things aren’t the way they used to be”

Technology has changed everything, and the statement says, “I’m not willing to change.” Instead, show how agile you are with technology even if you are crowdsourcing from your network. Updates are opportunities to demonstrate knowledge and relevancy

Vocalizing your resistance to constant technology changes

It’s bad enough you’re hanging onto your iPhone 4 (by the way, Apple isn’t supporting it anymore), but you are asking for help. Or any technology you’re unwilling to make a shift to a more relevant device or software it says more about you than you think. No one wants to work with someone with their technological heels dug in

Ageism is still the great Uncle in the room no one wants to acknowledge. We’re glad he’s here, but we wonder for how long.

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Saying you have 15+ experience if you’re not an executive smacks the wrong label on your career. Although your feelings have validity as you own the right to say them, someone will have an unfavorable interpretation. Friends and family want to refer you, but you can’t upload a clear picture. And that’s a problem.

About Mark Anthony Dyson

I am the "The Voice of Job Seekers!" I offer compassionate career and job search advice as I hack and re-imagine the job search process. You need to be "the prescription to an employer's job description." You must be solution-oriented and work in positions in companies where you are the remedy. Your job search must be a lifestyle, and your career must be in front of you constantly. You can no longer shed your aspirations at the change seasons. There are strengths you have that need constant use and development. Be sure you sign up to download my E-Book, "421 Modern Job Search Tips 2021!" You can find my career advice and work in media outlets such as Forbes, Inc., Fast Company, Harvard Business Review, Glassdoor, and many other outlets.

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Filed Under: Baby Boomer, Personal Branding, unconscious bias Tagged With: Baby Boomer, Unconscious Bias

by Mark Anthony Dyson

Repurpose Your Career for the 2nd Half of Life

Repurpose Your Career for the 2nd Half of Life
http://traffic.libsyn.com/thevoiceofjobseekers/thevoiceofjobseekers162.mp3

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Marc Miller is back on the show again to talk about his new book, “Repurpose Your Career: For the 2nd Half of Life.” He shares stories from his clients and helping them to align their interests and careers.

Have you decided to make a career pivot in your career? Are you in your 2nd half of life? Let’s discuss!

Let me know what you in one of three ways:

  • Call and leave a voicemail at 708-365-9822, or text your comments to the same number
  • Go to TheVoiceofJobSeekers.com, press the “Send Voicemail” button on the right side of your screen and leave a message
  • Send email feedback to mark@thevoiceofjobseekers.com

Marc’s new book is now in the Amazon bookstore. His media features include CBS Money Watch, U.S. News and World Report, and Forbes.  His blog, Career Pivot, is a Forbes Top 1oo Best Career Website and has achieved several other best career website awards.

Here some highlights from our discussion on how to repurpose your career:

  • Marc added five years of client stories and shifted from baby boomers to clients in their 40’s
  • “Failure is an option” and a requirement, fail fast, then pivot
  • Big changes can occur by just moving with the flow
  • We discuss the importance of self-awareness or as Marc phrases it as “Know Thyself.”
  • “Just because you’re good at something doesn’t mean you should do it all the time!”
  • Authentically put your best foot forward, then an employer can if you’re fit
  • Marc goes back in time with his clients to the best/worst times in their career to understand “why.”
  • Making the same mistakes twice is not a bad thing
  • We discuss the chapter on personal operating systems. He uses the Berkman assessments with each of his clients.
  • Behavioral patterns are insightful to discovering your career goals

Do you need help with resume writing or career direction? Do you need coaching or instruction?I can help.

About Mark Anthony Dyson

I am the "The Voice of Job Seekers!" I offer compassionate career and job search advice as I hack and re-imagine the job search process. You need to be "the prescription to an employer's job description." You must be solution-oriented and work in positions in companies where you are the remedy. Your job search must be a lifestyle, and your career must be in front of you constantly. You can no longer shed your aspirations at the change seasons. There are strengths you have that need constant use and development. Be sure you sign up to download my E-Book, "421 Modern Job Search Tips 2021!" You can find my career advice and work in media outlets such as Forbes, Inc., Fast Company, Harvard Business Review, Glassdoor, and many other outlets.

  • Mail
  • |
  • Web
  • |
  • Twitter
  • |
  • Facebook
  • |
  • LinkedIn
  • |
  • More Posts(760)

Filed Under: Baby Boomer, Career Management, Personal Branding Tagged With: Baby Boomer, Personal branding

by Mark Anthony Dyson

Why Your Interview Skills Suck

http://traffic.libsyn.com/thevoiceofjobseekers/thevoiceofjobseekers127.mp3

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Older job seekers do many things well. One of the obstacles for many of them is presenting well in an interview. The lack of preparation. The lack of research. The application of relevant knowledge. All of those things can impede your chances. Jeff Altman has 40 years experience advising job seekers with interviews and helping them with their challenges.

What are your interview challenges? I would love to know your thoughts about today’s show in three ways:

    1. Call and leave a voicemail or text me at 708-365-9822
    2. Go to TheVoiceofJobSeekers.com, press the “Send Voicemail” button on the right side of your screen and leave a message
    3. Send email feedback to mark@thevoiceofjobseekers.com

Why Your Interview Skill Sucks with Jeff Altman

Jeff Altman (@TheBigGameHuntr) has been a recruiter for around 40 years.  He has many resources on his website where more than 1600 videos to help with anyone’. He has a new website, jobsearchcoachinghq.com. His podcast is a useful resource too. On “Job Search Radio” he interviews career coaches, resume writers, and recruiters to get their perspective and advice for job seekers.

    Here are some discussion highlights:
    • The point is always missed with job seekers — skills defining the job are different than the skills to do the job
    • Over 50 job seekers must not buy the notion – “I’m over 50, I’ll be discriminated against
    • One of the frequent causes of a lack of presentation is the lack of preparedness
    • Practice will help you execute at the drop of a hat
    • Converting education to real experience is a barrier if the professors don’t know how to make it transfer to todays real world expectations
    • The preparation is work needing to be done in order to make your capabilities plain to employers
    • Jeff recommends initiating the tone and pace of the interview – shift mindset from expecting to be interrogated. The job candidate positions himself better by having a conversation than a boss/subordinate Q & A
    • Ask more consultative questions defining the problem the employer wants to solve. Find out what matters to them
    • Recognize the stage, the audience, and find ways to make them respond. Make your presentation sound fresh
    • Energy is a key for older job seekers to engage the audience—don’t be the parent telling a younger interview what to do
    • Social media is great for research and to leverage the interview for familiarity and to stand out

Need help with your career goals, directions, or efforts? Do you need coaching or instruction? I am here for it! Also, join our Linkedin community! You’ll enjoy some of the insights shared by community members and other career pros!

I would still like to help self-published career professionals promote their books. If you’re interested, find more info here.

About Mark Anthony Dyson

I am the "The Voice of Job Seekers!" I offer compassionate career and job search advice as I hack and re-imagine the job search process. You need to be "the prescription to an employer's job description." You must be solution-oriented and work in positions in companies where you are the remedy. Your job search must be a lifestyle, and your career must be in front of you constantly. You can no longer shed your aspirations at the change seasons. There are strengths you have that need constant use and development. Be sure you sign up to download my E-Book, "421 Modern Job Search Tips 2021!" You can find my career advice and work in media outlets such as Forbes, Inc., Fast Company, Harvard Business Review, Glassdoor, and many other outlets.

  • Mail
  • |
  • Web
  • |
  • Twitter
  • |
  • Facebook
  • |
  • LinkedIn
  • |
  • More Posts(760)

Filed Under: Baby Boomer, Interview, Job Tagged With: interview advice

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I moderated a panel on Wealth Management for executives by Black Enterprise Magazine in October 2023 in Miami.

I was interviewed on Scripps News show, “The Why!” 4/13/2023

I talked with John Tarnoff and Kerry Hannon of “The Second Act” podcast about job searching after 50 in October 2022.

I was on “The Career Confidante” podcast to talk about “boomerang employees” and “job fishing” in June 2022.

Making Job Search a Lifestyle With “Dr. Dawn Graham on Careers,” SiriusXM Ch. 132, Wharton School of Business May 2021

In May 2020, I talked with LinkedIn’s Senior News Editor Andrew Seaman on “#GetHired” Live.”

Beverly Jones, host of the NPR podcast “Jazzed About Work,” invited me back to talk job scams, job search trends, and AI tools in April 2024

WOUB Digital · Episode 183 : Job search expert Mark Dyson says beware of scams, know AI & keep learning

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