Experts share 7 midlife job search mistakes

“I’ve had job candidates make this mistake, and then they follow up with ‘I don’t know to use LinkedIn,’” Hastings adds. Not being proficient on LinkedIn makes you look out of touch and

unwilling or unable to learn new skills, he notes, all of which can be “the kiss of death for some careers,” especially those in sales and marketing. The remedy? “Get familiar with LinkedIn.

Test out the inbox and send a few InMails to friends for practice. Don’t wait to test it out on job leads.” Also, be aware that many companies now find and contact potential job candidates

through LinkedIn rather than going through recruiting firms, says Jenny Hargrave, founder of U.K.-based InterviewFit, which provides interview preparation services. So if your LinkedIn

profile is half-baked, or nonexistent, you’re potentially losing out. 4. YOUR RÉSUMÉ, EMAIL ADDRESS AND TERMINOLOGY ARE OUTDATED Résumé formats have changed with the rise of the applicant

tracking system (ATS)—software that quickly sorts electronically submitted job applications and résumés by looking for relevant keywords. But job seekers in their 50s, especially those

who’ve not looked for a job in a while, may submit résumés that aren’t ATS-compatible, which don’t emphasize keywords or mention the skills and requirements of the position being applied

for, says Goodall. “Job candidates often unknowingly show potential employers that they’re older and a bit out of touch by how they format their résumés, present information and use outdated

language,” says Lela Reynolds, senior career consultant for Resume Strategists Inc. “Take a hard look at your résumé and eliminate common language giveaways such as ‘references available

upon request,’” she recommends. Other tips: Don’t insert two spaces after a period, as “only one space has been preferred since the death of the typewriter,” Reynolds says. Don’t include

“http://www” before a website name or write “internet” instead of “web” or “digital,” as all of this makes you look like you’re stuck in 1996. Also avoid using outdated terminology for your

industry, either in your LinkedIn profile or on your résumé, adds Joanne Meehl, owner of Joanne Meehl Career Services. “A client of mine whose old field was once called telecom changed the

terminology to digital communications and included that phrase in the summary and skills areas of his résumé and on his LinkedIn profile,” she says. “It de-aged him and it worked, as he was

found on LinkedIn and then hired.” Even your email address can hurt your image, Reynolds adds. “Don’t use revealing numbers like your birth year in your email address, and avoid an AOL,

Hotmail or Yahoo email address on your résumé.” Those services are considered outdated, Reynolds says. “To look more current, create a Gmail address with your first and last name,” she

advises. “If your name is common and you need to use a distinguishing number, don’t choose one that reflects your age or birth year.” 5. YOU’RE INFLEXIBLE ON SALARY If you’ve been in your

profession for decades, no doubt you’ve reached a high-income bracket. Consequently, you may expect a fatter salary than a perfectly qualified, younger competitor—which can be a mistake.

“I’ve seen how some recruiters avoid candidates in their 40s and up, not because they’re not experienced or capable, but because their salary expectations might be too high,” says Alexander

Grosu, project manager of TestUP, which offers pre-employment tests for companies. If you suspect salary might limit your chances at being considered for a job you really want, address this

upfront, advises Grosu. In your cover letter, mention what motivates you about the job beyond the salary, such as the opportunity to learn new skills, be part of a new initiative the company

is undertaking or collaborate on a specific team. While it’s important to show flexibility regarding salary (if indeed you can be flexible), don’t get into specifics early on, as you could

leave money on the table. Once you’ve emphasized your expertise in efficiently handling the situations you’d likely face in the job, you’ll have more bargaining power, which can translate

into a more desirable salary, adds Michele Mavi, director of Internal Recruiting and Content Development, Atrium Staffing.