Overqualified How To Talk About It.

Overqualified How To Talk About It.Overqualified How To Talk About It.The harsh reality of age discrimination is that it isnt just for those in their 40s, 50s, and 60s anymore. Age discrimination is starting at younger and younger levels. PBS recently reported that jobseekers are feeling the pushback starting at age 35.You can consider yourself fortunate if you hear, Youre overqualified. Thats because if someone says these words directly to you, theyre giving you the opportunity to counter that perception. This is a better scenario than being perceived as overqualified, but only hearing radio silence in response to your resume.Being overqualified is often code for, We dont really want to pay you what we anticipate youll be asking for, based on all the experience youre bringing to the table. The interviewer may express overqualification in any number of ways, for example, framing it under the guise of the organization has so much new technology (that mature workers arent expected t kn ow how to use. The interviewer may ask say, We have state-of-the-art systems here. Would you be able to jump right in? Or the interviewer may attempt make you think hes giving you a compliment, by saying, Well, we think youd be a big fish in a small pond with us. That still means you bring a lot of experience to the table and they dont really want to pay you. Lets talk about what to say in these scenariosExpress your enthusiasm for the job and pride in your qualifications. There may be a tendency to want to downplay your experience in order to fit into what that particular organization needs avoid that. What comes off as more authentic is when you explain what makes you interested in this position at this point in your career. Whats important here is articulating a true reason why why that company, why right now, and why you.The interviewer wants to hear whats in it for the organization first. Therefore, start with why youre interested in that particular company at this moment in time. Use Google News to learn the latest things theyre working on, and talk about why thats of interest to you. Then explain how 1 or 2 elements of your expertise strongly apply to the organization at this moment.Overcome the myth of a digital divide. Its important to fight the perception that your skills and knowledge might not be on the cutting edge. Theres no excuse today to not having technology skills. If you have recent successes, Give examples of projects youve done which required computer skills and familiarity with electronic media.Additionally, update your skills by spending productive time on the Internet. Stay up to date with technological trends. Learn what you need to know for your next role by tapping into Youtube, Udemy, or Coursera, where you will learn, almost literally, anything and everything under the sun. Then emphasize this training youve taken to keep your skills up to date. This way, your answer to the technology question will be a resounding, yes you are a daptable and tech-savvy.Be a team player. Youll almost never hear me recommend that you emphasize your team skills. Thats because 99% of the time, saying youre a team player is nothing but filler and it rarely communicates anything valuable. However, for a mature worker who faces dealing with teams of professional peers who are younger, its important to discuss recent work experiences in which age diversity has been an asset.Explain that you believe your age and experience would be beneficial, you are eager to learn, and it doesnt matter who helps you. Make aya the interviewer walks away with the feeling that you are at ease working with people of all ages.Age discrimination is rampant, but it need not be the final nail in the coffin. Make sure to exude confidence in what you bring to the table, and make sure to balance that out so it doesnt seem arrogant. There are employers who value age and experience and will pay you accordingly and when you present yourself using these strate gies, its a win-win for everyone

6 Alternatives to Coffee Dates at Work- The Muse

6 Alternatives to Coffee Dates at Work- The Muse6 Alternatives to Coffee Dates at Work- The MuseSure, youre friendly at work. You say a quick hello as you pass colleagues desks and smile during meetings. And- thats pretty much it.You binnensee your co-workers every day, but how well do you actually know them? Spoiler Not really at all. Does it matter? Actually, it does. Because building relationships at works increases happiness and productivity.You first idea for fixing this may be grabbing coffee together, but in all honesty, you really dont want to. At best, you find a table and mostly hear the other person while you sip a $5 latte. At worst, you wait in line, stand in a corner, shout, and if youre on a budget or dont really like coffee, feel like youre wasting time and money. Listen, if your main goal is to step outside the office and grab a latte- dont let me stop you. By all means, go for it and while youre at it, invite a colleague to come along. But if youre goal is to actual ly get to know the other person, choose one of these less predictable options.1. Ask Him or Her a Random QuestionThink fast What are three things you discuss with your colleagues? If you answered work, the weather, and lunch, you need some fresh topics.A quick internet search can yield some quirky and random questions, like, What TV host would you want to interview you? Or, If you could have a picnic on any mountaintop in the world, where would you go? Personally, I like this list of questions. Try using these as ice breakers. Itll get you out of your shells and help you connect.2. Get Some Fresh AirStarbucks isnt the only destination outside of your office walls. So, skip the coffee, and schedule your next meeting outside the office. Better yet, invite a colleague to join you on your next walk. Just a small change of scenery can bring with it a welcome change of perspective. Its a double win to see the local neighborhood, especially if you dont live close to your office. And hey, e ven if your walk just involves the parking lot, its still a different meeting view than usual.3. Celebrate BirthdaysThis is a way to bond with all of your colleagues- after all, everyone has a birthday Its easy just take five minutes to approach someone on her special day and wish her well. If you work together closely, bring a small token like a balloon or cupcake and strike up a conversation about how she celebrates. Even a card goes a long way. 4. Find Shared HobbiesLove The Bachelor, like me? Odds are some of your colleagues do, too. If you find out who, youll have an instant conversation departureer and find yourselves in the break room- or on Slack- every Tuesday morning rehashing the most ridiculous moment of last nights episode. From there, it wont seem so out of blue to send the other person a message, and youll start to really open the lines of communication. Seriously, sharing your hobbies- no matter how quirky you may think they are- can help you learn a lot about each o ther5. Mix Up Your CommunicationDo you always communicate with your colleagues the exact same way? Is your go-to email, or meeting in person, or chatting on the phone? Whatever it is, this week, plan to mix it up.For example, do you have a co-worker who is pop culture obsessed? Respond to his next great idea with a positive GIF. For the person whos always on Twitter, tweet some praise. Obviously, you shouldnt respond to your boss with a series of emojis- but feel free to get creative when its appropriate.6. Start an Article ClubI love going to bookstores and seeing the newest it novel sitting pristinely on the shelf, or reading book reviews online. But taking the next step and actually reading is a different story, which is why I rarely join book clubs. An easier commitment for me was an article club, where people agree on a quick read on a common interest topic and then discuss it over lunch. Its fun, easy to plan, and wont leave you staying up late at night when youre in desperate need of some shuteye. All of these options cost less than five dollars, take less than 30 minutes, and are mora exciting than a traditional coffee date. So, give them a shot and watch your relationships with your co-workers blossom.Photo of happy co-workers courtesy of Shutterstock.

Build a Long Master Resume, Then Cut, Cut, Cut

Build a Long Master Resume, Then Cut, Cut, Cut Build a Long Master Resume, Then Cut, Cut, Cut Build a Long Master Resume, Then Cut, Cut, Cut You have years of work experience many years, in fact. You've racked up plenty of accomplishments with several employers, and even won a few awards. But when you put all of that into a resume, you're left with a document that's well over the strongly suggested 1-to-2 page length. Should you keep it all or cut some? The answer (surprise!): Keep it all! Whuh?!? you say. What gives? I thought employers only wanted to see one- or two-page resumes! Even you guys at say so! That's right, we do. But you can keep that three- or four-page document as a master resume, so you have a record of every little and not-so-little skill or accomplishment that might look good to a prospective employer. You never send a master resume to an employer; rather, you use it as the starting point for creating the resumes you will send. So, when you see a job posting you like, take your most relevant skills from your master resume and put them together for a 1- to 2-page resume that targets the skills and qualifications the employer is seeking for that job. Here's a practical example. Let's say you're a Technology Specialist and accomplished the following in your most recent position: Migrated 100 desktop PCs from Windows 98 to Windows XP two weeks ahead of schedule. Devised and implemented a ticketing system to triage technology support requests, producing a 25% increase in end-user satisfaction. Researched user requirements and wrote 12 requests for proposal (RFPs) for hardware and software purchases. Managed 10-person technology support and development staff. Implemented and executed a rigorous software testing regimen to ensure compatibility with information architecture. Organized and delivered seven best practices presentations to other IT professionals within the corporation. Initiated division-wide Green IT program to reduce utility expenses and properly dispose of unneeded technology assets. Organized and led regular meetings with groups of end users to discuss technology issues. You have eight bulleted items on your master resume. Now, let's say you find a posting for an IT Manager that emphasizes the following skills and qualifications: Solid and proven communication skills, especially with end users. Strong project management skills, specifically in software testing and implementation. Experience in Microsoft Windows environments. Of those eight accomplishments in your master resume, which would you include in the resume for this position? Here's what I would pick, in order of importance: Managed 10-person technology support and development staff. Reason:They want a manager, first and foremost. This says management experience right at the top. Organized and led regular meetings with groups of end users to discuss technology issues. Reason: This addresses the requirement for communications skills with end users. Migrated 100 desktop PCs from Windows 98 to Windows XP two weeks ahead of schedule. Reason:This indicates both project management skills and experience in Windows environments. A twofer! Implemented and executed a rigorous software testing regimen to ensure compatibility with information architecture. Reason: Project management, again. Initiated division-wide Green IT program to reduce utility expenses and properly dispose of unneeded technology assets. Reason: This may be an extra, but if they want a manager, they want someone who can handle assets and save money. Having a social conscience can't hurt either. The three I omitted also have some importance, but that's the stuff you can save for the interview. Once you've selected the points to include, go back and tweak your wording to match their terminology, so it's clear that your accomplishments fit their specific needs.