Interview tips for mature-age workers

Interview tips for mature-age workers Interview tips for mature-age workersPosted October 13, 2011, by Josie ChunNow that youve gotten over the first hurdle nabbing an interview you may be feeling a little nervous if youre out of interview practice. As a mature-age worker you may worry about age discrimination, especially if you have experienced it in the past. But dont let that faze you. Here are some tips on approaching the interview with energy and strategy so you can shine and prove that you are the right applicant for the job.PreparePreparation is the key to a successful interview. It is vital that you research the company which is interviewing you so you can answer their questions from an informed position and project the right image to align with their culture and the role that youre applying for.Read up on possible job interview questions and prepare your answers using concrete examples from your past. Make notes and be sure to reiterate and elaborate on the strengths youve highlighted in your resume and cover letter. The mora prepared you are, the more relaxed you will be able to feel on the day.PracticePractise answering the interview questions aloud, and conduct mock interviews with family and friends. Youll be amazed by how much this will help you to articulate when youre in the actual interview. And dont forget that every interview you have will provide you with valuable experience. Like everything, they get easier with practice.First impressionsThe importance of first impressions cant be overemphasised. This means paying close attention to grooming because whether you like it or not, instant judgments will be made based on your appearance. That means wearing professional-looking, pressed clothes, having neat, clean hair, clean fingernails and polished shoes. The devil is in the detail. To state more of the obvious, be sure to arrive on time and prepared, armed with an extra copy of your resume and any other supporting documentation you may require. And be sure to turn your mobile phone off before you go into the interview Even if you feel disadvantaged by your age, dont let it show. Walk into the interview with a confident smile, stand tall, give a firm handshake, and exude positivity and energy so everyone can see that you are confident, competent, willing to learn and embrace change, and will work well with others including younger colleagues. When you walk into an interview, employers can spot frustration and despondency a mile off, warns Phil Hatchard of Adage, a website which caters to mature-age workers and mature-age-friendly employers. Presentation is vital once you have a foot in the door, so stay fit and healthy and keep the energy levels up.Sell yourselfIf youre not used to it, selling yourself can feel foreign and uncomfortable. But downplaying your assets and being overly modest will do you no favours. You dont have to be brash, but be able to sell your skills and suitability to the role, and state yo ur strengths with confidence.Interview tipsRefer to your strengths and achievements as outlined in your resume and cover letter, and tie these in to geschftliches miteinander outcomes make it tangible.Talk about what you have achieved in the past and how you can easily transfer your skills to the new role. Stressing the transferability of your skills is particularly important if you have been in the same job or industry for some time.Dont forget about all the skills you have acquired in your personal life too, such as time management and forward planning, if they can be applied to the job.Stress your points of differentiation what actually sets you apart from others in the marketplace? What makes you unique and what can you offer that no one else can? How can you add value to the company? Back these claims up with examples from your past. Remember, you can use your added experience to your advantage by emphasising the depth and breadth of your experience, and your ability to adapt to different environments especially if you are up against younger and less experienced candidates.Dont be afraid to mention qualities that may not be part of the job description it could be the added extras that you bring that set you apart and nab you the job.Also use specific examples from the past to demonstrate how you would handle a situation or task in the future if selected for the job.Emphasise your willingness to learn and take on new responsibilities, as well as your open-mindedness and flexibility.Think about questions that you want to ask the interviewer. Remember, its not all about them you, too, have to decide if this is the right company for you.Even though interviewers arent supposed to ask questions about your age, be ready to field questions which may be indirectly (or inappropriately) age-related you may have to politely and diplomatically decline answering or turn such questions to your advantage by explaining how your extra experience is an asset.Follow upAl ways follow up after interviews, thanking your interviewer for taking the time to see you. Even if you dont get the job, try to get feedback and constructive criticism that will help you for future interviews. And you just never know even if this wasnt the right role for you, the company may keep you in mind for other positions down the track if you leave them with a good impression. ResourcesMy first resumeCover letter for my first jobCareer Insider StoriesShelley Lask - Body Positive Health even change the world.Steve Jobs had Bill Campbell as a mentor Bill Gates had Warren Buffett and Mark Zuckerberg had Steve Jobs.WORKFORCE TRENDSStudy to get ahead during the GFCThere are two ways of looking at the current recession as a problem, or as an opportunity.