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

How Does Unconscious Bias Affect Older Job Seekers at Work or the Job Search?

How Does Unconscious Bias Affect Older Job Seekers at Work or the Job Search?
http://traffic.libsyn.com/thevoiceofjobseekers/thevoiceofjobseekers168.mp3

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This week’s episode is a republishing of an interview done by Marc Miller, host of the Repurposing Your Career podcast, and the mega huge CareerPivot.com. The basis of our discussion was the article I wrote for Career Pivot, “8 Ways Older Job Seekers Invite Age Unconscious Bias on Social Media.”

As always, you can share your thoughts about the show:

– 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 [email protected]

As you know, Marc was on this show several weeks ago and as always quite enjoyable. His new podcast focuses on the person who is experiencing the 2nd half of life. Since Marc has written detailed show notes for our discussion, I will just provide the link for you to check it our here.  There are a couple of highlights to note from Marc’s show notes:

“Gut instinct is relied on in hiring decisions. This includes bias. If merit hiring were implemented in many more companies, the unconscious bias would be minimized. The Illinois State Attorney sent a notice to major job boards regarding ageism on their online forms. NPR ran a good article about ageism in hiring.”

I also discuss how to deal with ageism. Satchel Paige pitched in the major leagues when he was near 60. George Blanda played football near 50. Don’t accept the perceptions of hiring managers.

Do you need coaching or instruction?

I am here for it! Use my contact information above to inquire about individual or group coaching. You can also sign up for my weekly newsletter at the top of my page.

Don’t forget–

I will not publish a podcast next week (for the week of July 4) and no shows between July 19-Sept 11. I will post articles throughout the summer at least twice a week. Love to hear from you about your challenges and how 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.

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Filed Under: unconscious bias, Workplace Tagged With: Job Search, Unconscious Bias, workplace

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.

Click To Tweet

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.

Click To Tweet

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

The Beyonce Syndrome, Career Aspirations, and Unconscious Bias

The Beyonce Syndrome, Career Aspirations, and Unconscious Bias
http://traffic.libsyn.com/thevoiceofjobseekers/thevoiceofjobseekers164.mp3

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The Beyonce Syndrome. Our definition of the show is about the career woman who has it all and does it all. Many feel it’s not enough to achieve the recognition for women to gain the same opportunities as men. Janine Truitt and Chris Fields are back on the show to discuss why it affects people of color much more. Much of what we talk about is unconscious bias, although it was accidental.

We would love your perspectives on this episode.

Here is how you can be a part of this conversation:

  • 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 [email protected]

Let me share a little about each of my co-hosts:

Janine Truitt is the founder of her company, Talent Think Innovations, LLC is a multi-disciplinary business strategy and management consulting firm. She has been in HR and talent acquisitions for more than ten years. Her media features include Black Enterprise, Entrepreneur Magazine, and US News and Careers.

Chris Fields is the founder of the Resume Crusade, and also an HR professional and resume writer. He helps around 150 people yearly with resume and job search advice. His career advice was in O Magazine, Mashable, and Monster Working!

Here are a few of the highlights:

  • Women: Is it possible to have it all? Want it all?
  • Having it all doesn’t mean all at one time. Everyone defines what “all” means differently
  • We talked about how more work is not recognized by women (even more women of color) with the same respect
  • Janine noted how assertiveness and aggressiveness has negative connotations coming from people of color
  • Chris shared how standards are different for black men and white men in their use of language

Need help with your career goals, directions, or efforts? Do you need coaching or instruction? I am here for it!

Please note my spring hiatus is from May 9 to June 6, and Summer break July 19 to Sept. 12. No shows to be published during these dates. We will, however, publish more articles on the blog.

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: Career, Career Management, unconscious bias, Women, Work Performance Tagged With: Unconscious Bias, workplace

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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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