Older professionals

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Social media, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and many more technological advancements are rapidly changing the world as we know it, and how we interact with it.

While change is good, too much change can feel overwhelming, especially if technology isn't your strong suit.

Not being the most technologically aware person can put a major damper on your job search or cause you to fall behind in your career, especially if your company is always innovating and changing software. But if you're still rocking a flip phone, haven't gotten the hang of social media, or struggling to incorporate technology into your everyday workflow, all is not lost.

Here are a few simple ways you can become tech savvy in your career:

See The Value In Digital (ASAP)

Professional woman uses tablet to read work email in an attempt to become more tech savvy

If you find yourself constantly in fear of or rejecting new platforms and software, it might be worth it to change your perspective. Some people aren't that tech savvy simply because they aren't open to change or doing things a different way. While it's okay to get into a routine, being stubborn in this area can cause you to isolate yourself from the rest of the world, and could set you apart from other candidates (or co-workers) in a bad way.

That's why it's important that you try to see the positive side of technology. While there are downsides to technology, without it, you might not know what the weather would be like in a week, be able to reconnect with a friend, or do your job efficiently. There are two sides to every coin, but it's all in how you perceive it.

Get Into The Habit Of Learning And Exploring

Older man on laptop tries to become tech savvy

Another reason you might find yourself in the technologically disadvantaged group is because you're not testing the waters or exploring what's out there. Getting online or adding a bit of technology to your life is simple; it just depends on how you'd like technology to benefit your life or career.

Let's say you'd like to be able to control or monitor various aspects of your home. You might look into purchasing a Google Home or an Amazon Echo. If you want to become a social media guru, you might start by creating your own social profiles or taking a small online course on social media or digital marketing.

Just because you're not that tech savvy now doesn't mean you can't become tech savvy. So, get into the habit of exploring and discovering all the possibilities available to you in the world.

Ask Questions

Older professional asking a question about new office technology

Some people have an innate ability to pick up any skill or use the latest device without much difficulty, but for others, this could prove a challenge. While you're working on changing your perspective and exploring new technologies, it's important to remember to ask questions, no matter how silly they seem. Whether it's through an online forum or at work, you should always be asking questions and seeking to gain a better understanding of how things work, especially those that impact your life and career directly.

The more willing you are to learn about new technology, the more you'll benefit in both your personal and professional life. It's important to remember that new technology is always going to be incorporated into the workplace and failure to keep up could have a negative impact on your career.

So, stay a step ahead, embrace the challenge, and become a tech-savvy worker.

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This article was originally published at an earlier date.

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How To Become Tech Savvy In Your …

If you are over 40, have a big skill set, and are struggling to get hired, you've come to the right place. I work with thousands of people who have big skill sets and can't get hired. What's going on? What can you do to stand out in the hiring process and land a job?

When you're networking and interviewing as a seasoned professional, you're probably giving employers the wrong impression because you're sitting there telling them all your skills, all the things you can do for them, and making it sound like you're a Jack or Jill of all trades. And while you think that's what they want to hear because you're thinking, "I'm the best bang for the buck," that's not what they're hearing. What they're hearing is that you're narcissistic. You're a know-it-all. You're going to be difficult to work with, and you're probably going to leave for more money anyway.

Employers don't want that headache.

Now, here's how you fix that...

Best Tips For Job Seekers Over 40

@j.t.odonnell Replying to @luvmy2goldens over 40 job search tips! #over40 #over50 #careeradvice #jobsearch #interviewtips â¬ original sound - J.T. O'Donnell

1. Ask, don't tell.

You want to listen twice as much as you talk in your interviews. The way you do that is by asking great questions.

Examples:

How does this job support your work?
What about your work is keeping you up at night?
What would I need to do in this job to make your life easier?

You really want to get at their pain point and how the job supports them. But you're also sending a message, and that message is, "I get it. I'm the service provider. You're the customer, You're the leader. And I'm going to make sure that you're happy." That's the mindset they need to hear.

2. Make it clear that it's an equitable partnership.

By "equitable partnership" I mean you need to point out all the things they have to offer that you really want because you don't want them worrying that you might leave. You need to talk about the skills you'll be able to develop there, the knowledge you'll gain, and the opportunities you'll have that you won't have anywhere else. You need to hype them up and say, "You have so much to offer me here. This is the place I want to be. You are at top of my bucket list. This is the place I want to spend years at." And you've got to make them see that as well.

Between asking great questions so you're not overselling yourself and also making employers realize that they're exactly what you want, that's how you're going to get the results that you're looking for. Those are my best tips for job seekers over 40. Give them a try.

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Over 40 & Struggling To Get Hired? …

Are you concerned about age discrimination? While most job seekers fear discrimination by hiring managers, the truth is that youâre more likely to be discriminated against by a computer.

Most 50-something or older job seekers donât realize that the technology they leverage to apply for jobs may be screening them out of consideration. Sadly, this is one of the most common reasons that job seekers donât get the interviews they want and deserve.

Hereâs the key thing you need to know. The databases, or applicant tracking systems (ATS), that employers, recruiters, and job boards use to parse, store, and analyze incoming resumes are capable of estimating how much experience you possess. When recruiters or hiring executives search these databases for candidates with a certain amount of experienceâletâs say 12-15 yearsâthe ATS will screen out candidates who possess anything other than 12, 13, 14, or 15 years. As a result, your resume or LinkedIn profile will not be listed in the resulting candidate search. This eliminates your candidacy before a human even sees your resume or LinkedIn profile.

Please note that while job boards, companies, and recruiters are not intending to discriminate, the technology they are using to organize the flood of resumes they receive is doing so inadvertently. This means that every time your resume is entered into a job board system, company website, or recruiter website, the experience filtering described above may occur. It also means that your LinkedIn profile could be subjected to this same filtering process any time a company or recruiter searches for candidates like you with a specific amount of experience in mind.

If youâre currently in or plan to launch a part-time or full-time search for a new role, take time to age-proof your resume and LinkedIn profile. Three simple changes will boost your candidacy, help you attract more opportunities, and win you more job interviews:

1. Revamp Your LinkedIn Profile Picture

While we strongly recommend a professional headshot for your LinkedIn profile picture (you can get one in most markets for $100-$200), an amateur photographer might work if you know one who takes good portrait shots. The key is an attractive pose that makes the most of your facial characteristics and personality while minimizing any age-related deficits.

If you have silver hair, for example, consider using a dark background or black & white photo to reduce the risk of a washed-out appearance. Select a pose that conveys energy and vitality and hints at the wisdom youth simply canât replicate. Use a full-face smile to project energy with the photo and make sure you dress in interview-ready attire. You want to seem professional yet approachable.

2. Eliminate Dates From Your Education Listings On Your Resume And LinkedIn Profile

Itâs standard these days for most folks over 30 to omit education dates from resumes and their LinkedIn profile. This is easy enough to do on your resume where you can also omit dates of training, certifications, licensure, or affiliations.

In short, omit any date prior to 2000, since most recruiters only want to see the last 10-15 years of your experience on your resume or LinkedIn profile. To achieve this on LinkedIn, go to your profile and then edit your "Education" section. Select the âââoption in the drop-down box for your start and finish dates. Eliminate dates from other sections as well.

3. Remove Pre-2000 Dates From Your Work History Sections On Your Resume And LinkedIn Profile

This is a little more complex but well worth doing. On your resume, list your post-2000 work experience in your "Work History" section and separate your pre-2000 experience into an "Additional Experience" section. For your pre-2000 jobs, omit your dates of employment and list the amounts instead. For example, if you worked at GE from 1992-2000, report that as â8 years.â

LinkedIn doesnât allow members to omit dates from employment so your only choice is to eliminate pre-2000 jobs altogether. Try embedding a short version of older jobs in your first post-2000 listing or briefly noting relevant older roles in your LinkedIn summary. Either tactic will help you win more LinkedIn profile views.

While we donât recommend using online job boards as a key component in an effective job search at almost any age (there are other more powerful and faster ways to create and pursue career opportunities for yourself), the truth is that these systems inadvertently âdiscriminateâ against candidates with more than 15 years of work experience. Unfortunately, this same potential exists on LinkedIn and company/recruiter websites anytime a hiring manager or recruiter conducts a candidate search based on the amount of experience job seekers possess.

The good news is that a few simple tricks can protect your resume and LinkedIn profile from age discrimination and give you greater access to the career opportunities you want and deserve.

Need more help age-proofing your resume and LinkedIn profile?

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This article was originally published at an earlier date.

Acquiring Job Advance Your Career Career Changing Careers and Employment Education Internship