Change it up! Tips for a Midlife career switch

Youth comes with a number of advantages, one of them being an enhanced ability to bounce back from adversities with energy and passion. As we grow older, we often settle into secure patterns, and don’t always have the enthusiasm to make bigger changes in our lives. But a career change at this time in our life can be a welcoming choice!

Undoubtedly, a midlife career change is a frightening business, laden with obstacles—an unwilling spouse, financial apprehensions or the fear of failure. But the opportunity to follow your passion and do the kind of work you’d always dreamt of doing could be well worth the effort. It can get taxing, but if planned properly and executed, it can be a gratifying and enriching experience. You might be even amazed at your ability to fine-tune and succeed when presented with newer challenges.
So where do you exactly start? And how do you prepare yourself for the path ahead?

Set below are few tips to help you handle a mid-life career change with enthusiasm and grace.

Take inspiration and stay realistic:

It’s great to take motivation from all those who ‘made it’ later in life and who credit their former experiences in preparing them for the career they ultimately found success in. But before you think of making a similar move, mull over your personal situation from all significant angles critically. Assess your financial condition and other realities you’ll be accountable for. Be certain you’re not seeing a new career through rose tinted glasses; research it extensively, speak to those already in it, and have a genuine zeal for it that’s so absolute, it’s almost real.

Don’t be in a hurry:

Don’t move too quickly! A mid life career change is a huge step, full of career and financial pitfalls. Don’t imagine all you job disappointments to fade away magically. Instead, utilize this time to take stock of what you cherish in life, what you want to leave as a legacy from your life and work, and how you would want to balance out the first phase of your life. You might experience bouts of fear and anxiety but do it anyway! – As long as you have done a thorough self-analysis and the career transition seems like the better option – go for it! There will always be some doubt, but don’t let that paralyze you or stop you from achieving better things in life. Leaving a secure job you have had for a long can be tricky, but don’t throw away the opportunity you have to create a more meaningful life. You might think that the time for challenges and thrilling opportunities are over but it’s always better to give it a shot rather than regret later!

Don’t Short-change your skills:

At some point, it might seem like you need to have a vast assortment of tech-based skills just to match pace with the younger generation. If you see things this way, it’s time for you to change your perspective. Your knowledge is worth more than a lot of certifications and is extremely important. You have made things happen during your career and your knack to drive results makes you exceptionally attractive to organizations that need people with years of experience behind to come in and make significant improvements. These qualities are unparalleled and are hard to come in from the younger generation. So don’t be reluctant to let the world know about the tools in your toolbox!

Test the waters:

As per research, people looking for a midlife career change are more likely to make successful switches experientially rather than analytically. The big exposure comes from diving in and trying new things to see what works. The choices are way too many depending on the field you are in. Sabbaticals, college courses or even short apprenticeships can allow you to step out of your daily practice, get hands-on experience and test-drive a new path before quitting your job.

Reach out to your peers:

One of the toughest parts of handling a midlife career change is the feeling that you have to do it all alone. Switching careers takes guts, and doing it all by yourself can get draining. Fortunately, there are several other professionals who are in the same boat as you. So reach out to them to find opportunities more easily and quickly. Additionally, you can also foster connections that will help you build your new career once it’s off the ground.

Remember guys, it’s never too late! Like many other professionals, if you’ve spent time doing work that doesn’t seem to be your true calling , embrace the exhilaration that comes from forging a new career path. You have amazing skills and talents and you’re finally in a position where you can explore your abilities. So stay positive and gear up for the most satisfying time of your professional life. The possibilities are limitless. Just set aside fear and take the plunge. Because the biggest rewards come from taking the biggest risks!

Does Your Resume Have The Magic Keywords?

In an age where resumes are dime a dozen, making yours stand apart becomes quite critical. Adding the right keywords to your resume is an excellent strategy while you are aggressively looking for a job or just testing the waters for your next probable career move. But what, exactly, are “keywords” and why are they so significant? Keywords are industry- or job-specific terms, jargon or buzzwords. In times when more and more, companies are using search engines to scan resumes, the right keywords have the ability to land your resume at the top of an employer’s pile!
So how exactly do you use keywords and what difference can they make in your resume? Read on to know more.

Job Description- The perfect place to locate the keywords

The job description of the role you are applying for is the ideal place to find keywords. If it says that a candidate needs to have good communication skills, then the keyword “good communication skills” should ideally show up at some place in your resume. It is also recommended that you search for ads of similar jobs of other companies. Every industry has its own jargon, and getting familiar with a broad range of ads help you see keywords that show up again and again in the ads.

Use them effectively

The usage of keywords while writing your resume should be done generously all through but using them near the opening, particularly in your Professional Profile or Summary Section makes more sense. You can utilize these sections to give your keywords a more general context in relation to your complete professional silhouette. While recounting your previous role and experience, focus on skills, job-specific terms, functions and industry terms. Make sure to bring out the types of products and services you dealt with in your earlier work and the particular industry, rather than just the name of the company so that the computer’s search engine can search these terms.

Use the ones that exhibit your worth

The trouble with most resumes is that they come across as biographies. Employers don’t really bother about the story of your life; all they care about is whether hiring you is of any value to them or not. That’s where keywords come in handy. Potential employers want to establish within 30 seconds what value you bring to the table. So, you have to emphasize on the work skill sets that make you eligible for the job that you wish to target.

Refrain from going overboard

As significant as keywords are in helping you get noticed, cluttering your resume with words that don’t exactly replicate your work experience may not work in your favor. Too often, candidates simply spoil their resumes by stuffing in too many keywords. The trick is to weave in the keywords with your accomplishments. Just put enough to help employers find you faster. Remember this equation: Excellent Resume + Keywords = Job Opportunities.

Remember one thing, after your resume is scanned and selected through technology; it goes through a review by the human eye as well. So, you don’t really want to stuff your resume with keywords that do not make sense or efficiently display your qualification for the job. Try and use the keywords in context. The overall presentation and good writing still count in making a perfect first impression.

How to Answer “Tell me about yourself” Question!

The “tell me about yourself” job interview question is not only a warm-up question but also a perfect chance to sell yourself as the ideal candidate for the job. Technically, ‘Tell me about yourself’ isn’t even a question. It is an open invitation for you to impress your interviewer and get the job. But most candidates often stutter, stumble and freeze in the moment and articulate just a couple of irrelevant points.

So read on to know our TIPS on how to come prepared for this open-ended classic!

There are multiple ways to approach this question. You can resort to the popular method of preparing “your own 30 sec commercial” or can prepare and practice separate answers for different individuals you might interview with.

Start off with your name

This question sets the panic button on for most candidates who often assume that the interviewer has asked an overloaded question. In actuality, he wants to check how well you can sell yourself and how confident you are. Start with your name and feel free to add a line or two about things you like to do.

Talk about your background

Always back up your introduction with a short narration of your education and experience. Think bullet points and hard facts – do not waste your time on trivial details. Mention your pedigree and also where you see yourself heading in terms of your dreams and aspirations. Don’t be taken aback if the person interviewing you starts taking down notes. It is a positive indication and means that the interviewer is hooked onto your conversation and is listening to you keenly. So exude confidence and remain honest throughout!

Connect it to the Position you are applying for

This is where the catch is. Your aim is to narrate your accomplishments that are related to the position you are applying for and smartly blend them with your background history. You need to convey that you are the person they are looking for!

Turn the table on them

Don’t be scared of asking questions! If you say, I’m originally from Bombay;” back it up with “Have you ever been there before?” If you say “I worked on a marketing project,” back it up with “Does your firm focus on B2C or B2B projects?” These examples might not fit your situation but the point is to engage your interviewer and not just rattle off points. Remember it is a conversation after all!

Don’t Blabber

Less is more! Apply this same rule to this age-old question. If you just sit there blabbering and telling the interviewer the story of your life you’re eventually going to bore him to death. Smile, keep an optimistic and eager tone during your abridged, micro-biography and let the rest of the interview begin.

Remember, your answer should be targeted to the job, not a personal biography—because employers don’t really care where you grew up. What matters to them is how you’ll be a value addition to their company!

Is your resume keeping pace with the changing times?

Not long ago, resumes were merely chronological fact sheets and jobseekers had a somewhat strictly defined rule about writing them. But those times are long gone! Not only has the job market changed radically over the last couple of years but the competition has also become rife.

A hiring manager’s first impression of you is most likely your resume. So you would ideally want to package it and hope that this cautiously crafted employment record catches the attention of those with the hiring power. However, capturing this much sought-after attention isn’t always easy! Employers are inundated with multiple resumes and making sure that yours makes the impact you seek requires much more than just a few tweaks.

So why not put in a bit more effort to spice up this humdrum document with a few creative changes:

Try some color:

Add a subtle creativity to your resume by spicing it up with some color. By this we mean not a riot of colors! You can create blocks of the selected color on the sides of your resume to hold additional information, like your references. While some creative options might be too much for a conventional office job, this one is placid enough not to upset, regardless of how old-fashioned your reader might be.

Use the latest fonts:

A “font” is the shape and style of the words on your resume. The more “traditional” fonts are Times New Roman and nothing too fancy. So if your resume is in Times New Roman font like most, change it to Arial. You’ll be surprised at how much cleaner, contemporary and more professional it looks.                                                                               .

Add Infographics:

Infographics or Visual resumes are a growing trend these days. The paper resume certainly isn’t going anywhere, and the visual resume is not designed to substitute the conventional resume. Visual resume is basically a supplement to the conventional paper resume. It’s that ‘something extra’ that can give you a competitive edge over the others! It can represent your experience and information in a visual and creative way that makes it easier for the employers to review at a glance. It can also showcase a distinct flair and determination to your potential employers, something innovative that they might not have seen before. It can bring you and your skills to life!

Modify it frequently:

Do you read the last month’s news to get the recent information? No. Then why should anyone read your obsolete profile to discover what you’re doing right now? Not updating your resume frequently can communicate sluggishness if you’re seriously trying to use your profile to get jobs. Today, it’s very important that you send a distinct resume for every job you are applying for. So take a few moments to tailor your resume for the exact job posting. But remember – when you are updating your resume, do not warble a lot in the additions that you are making to your resume. Keep the information short and concise. If you want the job; spending 20 minutes updating your resume is well worth the time.

Make it exclusive:

Your resume mirrors the progression that you have covered in years as a professional. So if you think it should get the attention it deserves, make it unique! Think of ways through which you can make it stand out in the pile. Consider putting your resume on a DVD or a flash drive or better make an E- Resume. But just be wary of getting too imaginative if the industry you’re applying to doesn’t value too much creativity.

Whatever design or format you choose for your resume, remember to inject individuality while maintaining professionalism! Demonstrate your expertise in a significant way and last but not least, pique the interest of the recipients.

The Best (and proper) Way to Resign

Once a new job has been accepted, you need to consider is the timing of your resignation. Since two weeks’ notice is considered the norm, make sure your resignation properly coincides with your start date at the new company.

Try to avoid an extended start date. Even if your new job begins in 10 weeks, don’t give 10 weeks’ notice; wait eight weeks and then give two weeks’ notice. This way, you’ll protect yourself from disaster, in the unlikely event your new company announces a hiring freeze a month before you come on board. By staying at your old job for only two weeks after you’ve announced your resignation, you won’t be subjected to the envy, scorn, or feelings of professional impotence that may result from your new role as a lame-duck employee.

Some companies will make your exit plans for you. I know a candidate whose employer had the security guard escort him out of the building the moment he announced his intention to go to work for a direct competitor. Fortunately, he was still given two weeks’ pay.

Your resignation should be handled in person, preferably on a Friday afternoon. Ask your direct supervisor if you can speak with him privately in his office. When you announce your intention to resign, you should also hand your supervisor a letter which states your last date of employment with the company. Let him know that you’ve enjoyed working with him, but that an opportunity came along that you couldn’t pass up, and that your decision to leave was made carefully, and doesn’t reflect any negative feelings you have toward the company or the staff.

You should also add that your decision is final, and that you would prefer not to be made a counteroffer, since you wouldn’t want your refusal to accept more money to appear as a personal affront. Let your supervisor know that you appreciate all the company’s done for you; and that you’ll do everything in your power to make your departure as smooth and painless as possible.

Finally, ask if there’s anything you can do during the transition period over the next two weeks, such as help train your successor, tie up loose ends, or delegate tasks.

Keep your resignation letter short, simple, and to the point. There’s no need to go into detail about your new job, or what led to your decision to leave. If these issues are important to your old employer, he’ll schedule an exit interview for you, at which time you can hash out your differences ad infinitum. Be sure to provide a photocopy of your resignation letter for your company’s personnel file. This way, the circumstances surrounding your resignation will be well documented for future reference.

If you fail to plan, you plan to fail: Preparation before the Interview is the Key to your Next Job.

As the saying goes, "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail". So here is a valuable insight into the world of interview questions and the techniques best used to answer them. There are some questions that are asked frequently in interviews and you should prepare your answers beforehand. The key things to remember when responding to interview questions are to keep your answers relevant, brief and to the point. If you are faced with a difficult question, make sure you stay calm, don't get defensive, and take a moment to think about your response before you answer. Remember, these responses are only suggestions. Try to personalize your response as much as possible.

Q: Tell me about yourself.

A: Identify some of your main attributes and memorize them. Describe your qualifications, career history and range of skills, emphasizing those skills relevant to the job on offer.

Q: What have your achievements been to date?

A: Select an achievement that is work-related and fairly recent. Identify the skills you used in the achievement and quantify the benefit it had to the company. For example, 'my greatest achievement has been to design and implement a new sales ledger system, bringing it in ahead of time and improving our debtors' position significantly, saving the company $50,000 per month in interest'.

Q: Are you happy with your career to date?

A: This question is really about your self-esteem, confidence and career aspirations. The answer must be 'yes', followed by a brief explanation as to what it is about your career so far that's made you happy. If you have hit a career plateau, or you feel you are moving too slowly, then you must qualify your answer.

Q: What is the most difficult situation you have had to face and how did you tackle it?

A: The purpose of this question is to find out what your definition of difficult is and whether you can show a logical approach to problem solving. In order to show yourself in a positive light, select a difficult work situation which was not caused by you and which can be quickly explained in a few sentences. Explain how you defined the problem, what the options were, why you selected the one you did and what the outcome was. Always end on a positive note.

Q: What do you like about your present job?

A: This is a straightforward question. All you have to do is make sure that your 'likes' correspond to the skills etc. required in the job on offer. Be enthusiastic; describe your job as interesting and diverse but do not overdo it - after all, you are looking to leave.

Q: What do you dislike about your present job?

A: Be cautious with this answer. Do not be too specific as you may draw attention to weaknesses that will leave you open to further problems. One approach is to choose a characteristic of your present company, such as its size or slow decision-making processes etc. Give your answer with the air of someone who takes problems and frustrations in your stride as part of the job.

Q: What are your strengths?

A: This is one question that you know you are going to get so there is no excuse for being unprepared. Concentrate on discussing your main strengths. List three or four proficiencies e.g. your ability to learn quickly, determination to succeed, positive attitude, your ability to relate to people and achieve a common goal. You may be asked to give examples of the above so be prepared.

Q: What is your greatest weakness?

A: Do not say you have none - this will lead to further problems. You have two options - use a professed weakness such as a lack of experience (not ability) on your part in an area that is not vital for the job. The second option is to describe a personal or professional weakness that could also be considered to be a strength, and the steps you have taken to combat it. An example would be, 'I know my team think I'm too demanding at times - I tend to drive them pretty hard but I'm getting much better at using the carrot and not the stick'.

Q: Why do you want to leave your current employer?

A: State how you are looking for a new challenge, more responsibility, experience and a change of environment. Do not be negative in your reasons for leaving. It is rarely appropriate to cite salary as your primary motivator.

Q: Why have you applied for this particular job?

A: The employer is looking for evidence that the job suits you, fits in with your general aptitudes, coincides with your long-term goals and involves doing things you enjoy. Make sure you have a good understanding of the role and the organization, and describe the attributes of the organization that interest you most.

Other questions to consider:

• How does your job fit in to your department and company?

• What do you enjoy about this industry?

• Give an example of when you have worked under pressure.

• What kinds of people do you like working with?

• Give me an example of when your work was criticized.

• Give me an example of when you have felt anger at work. How did you cope and did you still perform a good job?

• What kind of people do you find it difficult to work with?

• Give me an example of when you have had to face a conflict of interest at work.

• Tell me about the last time you disagreed with your boss.

• Give me an example of when you haven't got on with others.

• Do you prefer to work alone or in a group? Why?

• This organization is very different to your current employer - how do you think you are going to fit in?

• What are you looking for in a company?

• How do you measure your own performance?

• What kind of pressures have you encountered at work?

• Are you a self-starter? Give me examples to demonstrate this?

• What changes in the workplace have caused you difficulty and why?

• How do you feel about working long hours and/or weekends?

• Give me an example of when you have been out of your depth.

• What have you failed to achieve to date?

• What can you bring to this organization?

43 Reasons for Not Getting a Call Back from an Interview

1."Poor communication skills (excessive talking, no projection, hand over mouth when talking, poor poise/diction/grammar, indistinctive speech)"

2.Unable to articulate clear goals or future career direction

3.No match between skills or academic background and position

4.Level of technical competency insufficient for job

5.Lack of general enthusiasm and energy; appears unmotivated

6.Weak interpersonal skills

7.Failure to demonstrate leadership or management potential

8.Inadequate analytical or problem-solving skills

9.No active participation in or contribution to extracurricular activities

10.No pattern or history of top performance or success

11.Narrow interests

12.No relevant work experience part-time or summers

13.Did not prepare for interview; lack of company and/or industry research evident

14.Immature or lacking in self-confidence

15.Arrogant, overly aggressive, or over-confident personality

16.Misrepresentation on resume in regard to education, GPA, experience, or skills

17.Candidate not competitive with applicant pool

18.Poor personal appearance

19.Unrealistic expectations; unwilling to start at the bottom; expects too much too soon

20.Late to interview without good reason

21.Asks no questions or very poor questions

22.Overemphasis on money

23.Lack of tact, courtesy, social understanding, or appropriate manners

24.Condemnation of past employers

25.Marked dislike for school work

26.Lack of vitality; limp handshake

27.Failure to look interviewer in the eye

28.Indecisive

29.Loafs during summer vacations

30.Unhappy personal life

31.Friction with parents

32.Sloppy application

33.Merely shopping around or wants job for short time only

34.Little sense of humor

35.Parents make decisions for him/her

36.Cynical

37.Questionable ethics or low moral standards

38.Intolerant; strong prejudices

39.Poor handling of personal finances

40.Inability to take criticism

41.Lack of appreciation for the value of experience

42.Radical Ideas

43.Never heard of employer