Own it
Today I write from a different perspective, as I am fortunate to be attending the Modern Elder Academy in beautiful Baja Mexico. It is an extraordinary thing – gathering in a different country with people from all walks of life and all parts of the globe whom you’ve never met to navigate the challenges of “elderhood” together. And while this blog may feel it is written only for the Boomer generation it most certainly is not, and I’ll tell you why.
We all face challenges in the job market and with a Boomer population close to 70 million who will be over sixty-five in the next ten years, it is safe to say that understanding how the job market is impacted by the Boomer generation, as well as the “Gen Exers”, the Millennials, and the “Gen Z’s or Post Millennials is going to be top of mind in business.
One thing I’ve noticed in the past five years is the out-dated mentality that you should only show the past twenty years of your career or only show applicable experience for the job you are applying, on a resume. I can’t tell you how many times I’m in an interview and we are reviewing someone’s career history when the candidate mentions something in passing about an experience and it is not on their resume. We ask about it and it opens the door to experiences and positions held that are not listed on their resume. But why? Because someone told them to keep a resume to two pages, or never to go back further than twenty years, or only to show what is pertinent to the position for which you are applying. To that notion, I say “nonsense”.
First of all, I’ve got news for you, if you are trying to hide you age, or that you worked in a completely different sector, chances are, people can figure it out. The internet has eliminated anonymity, so if someone wants to know how old you are, or that you started your career in a different field, they can. Second, those early and unique positions and even jobs in college tell an important part of your story. Did you go off to the Peace Corps before you started earning money? Did you take time to travel the world? Did you have to take years during your education to take care of family members? Did you have a job telemarketing in college? These experiences speak to your character, your drive, your motivation and tell the story of who you are! We at Cook Silverman Search believe all these experiences are important as we help tell your story!!
Just as it is frustrating right out of college when you don’t have enough experience to get that first job but you need the job to get experience, all skills and wisdom enhance your value, not diminish from it. We all can bring different gifts to the table. We need to embrace our differences and realize that we can learn from each other, no matter the age. Be respectful of each other, open our hearts and minds – drink it in! Be proud of what you know and admit to what you don’t know!
“Own it!”