Looking for a Job?

[sasvermont]

Right now I am in the throws of finding a new job. I have worked in law firms for so long that it is hard/difficult to shake the history.

I interviewed for a job I would like, and of course, ran into the "over qualified" comment again. I don't want a job like I had before. I want to be able to leave the place each day, with nothing to bring home.

I will know by the end of the week if I did get the position. I surely hope I will, but gee, I know they see "old fart" when they see someone with my years of experience AND hair that has streaks of gray! They seemed bright enough to know how much I can bring to the table. If I get the job, I will let you know, for sure.

There is so much that goes into hiring and working.....and much of it has to do with timing and luck.

Sas

[Edwina's Secretary]

Ashley - I would send another email -- to share some research you find about something related to the company or organization. It is a chance to keep your name in front of them. Again say how excited you are about the opportunity and why you are specially qualified for the job.

Sas...I've think I've mentioned this but...a year ago my husband faced the same thing. He was turned down as too qualified. He went back and asked to speak again. Explained why he wanted a job for which he was "over-qualifed" and why they should hire him. And they did.

If they told you that....send an email...Over-qualified vs under-qualifed - which is better? Light-hearted but pointed -- better work ethic, able to handle emergency. Maybe list the reasons people fear over qualified - want too much money, going to quit as soon as something better comes along, will want my job - and give a response to each one.

[Vio&Juni]

I have been interviewed quite a few times and I interviewed a few also. Selecting a few out of a hundred was a pretty difficult task. But I think the most difficult was to listen why they wanted the job - so many of them had no idea what the job was about.

It is important to be dressed properly, to have the proper make-up, and so on, and I try to stick to these rules when I am being interviewed, but I have to say that the most un-professional and the worst colleage I've ever had (who I was against hiring) had everything a good candidate should have: proper outfit, proper hair colour, good looking CV, she even had a Master's degree, but boy she was stupid! And lazy! And apparently very impolite. So, keeping this in mind, I will try to give people a chance to open their mouth. The one she was hired over was dressed a little too "pretty" (she was another employee we had at a lower paid job), and anyway she kept doing a big part of the job of the "proper" one. How's that for a lesson how to dress for an interview?

[Barbara]

So here are my five cent:
The question why you want to be hired by especially that company is important to answer: of course you may apply by different companies that appear fairly similar - e.g. two different publishing houses tat both publish travel guides. In any case you should have an answer in front of company A why you chose it. (And a different one for company B).
And : if you sent printed materials (and not e-mails): make sure it is good clean white paper ( a little heavier maybe than your average printer paper), there are no typos, there is not too much design (unless you are in advertising or something artsy) and you sign it properly. It is what first gets the attention.

[smokey the elder]

When I relaunched my career into pharma from nearly 15 years of polymer analytical, I went the temp route first. Ironically, I was hired because of my polymer background, was able to train up in all the stuff needed to work in a regulated industry, and became full time after 2 years. This was all after turning 45, fwiw.

What kind of resume are you using? If you want to change paths or careers, it's better to use a "functional" (skills oriented) resume rather than the traditional chronological model. Also, the functional resume has the potential to hide one's age.

Good luck!

[Edwina's Secretary]

When I relaunched my career into pharma from nearly 15 years of polymer analytical, I went the temp route first. Ironically, I was hired because of my polymer background, was able to train up in all the stuff needed to work in a regulated industry, and became full time after 2 years. This was all after turning 45, fwiw.

What kind of resume are you using? If you want to change paths or careers, it's better to use a "functional" (skills oriented) resume rather than the traditional chronological model. Also, the functional resume has the potential to hide one's age.

Good luck!

Smokey...I totally agree with you on the temp to hire route! It is a great way to break into to some different.

I have a different take on functional resumes. As the screener...I know you are trying to hide something so I look for it. Also, functional resume take too long for me to read. Sounds silly I suppose but when you are looking at a couple hundred resumes...

[slick]

So Sara:
I've been with my employer for 23 years. If I apply for other jobs, who in the heck to I use for a reference?

I know you said that experience speaks volumes but gee....who would hire a 56 year old diabetic cancer patient?