Mid-Career candidates wonder why they follow all the “rules” around job-searching but get no traction. A big part of the problem is that employers have no idea what to do with experience anymore.
Companies are focused on immediate skills and short-term gaps, and they miss the bigger picture of what someone who’s been through multiple cycles can actually deliver.
On the HR Empowerment Podcast, Wendy Sellers and I discuss some of the ways mid-career professionals can talk about their experience without making themselves sound out-of-date. First, stop telling your story like it’s history.
Don’t recite your litany of past achievements like it’s canon and they’re supposed to know why it’s important. No disrespect to the (likely) younger people who are going to be reviewing your profile and interviewing you, but if you only have 5-10 years of experience in your field, you’re not going to understand what it means to have 20 years of experience.
No matter what they ask you about your past, quickly bring them into the present. One suggestion about how to steer the conversation: “One thing I’ve learned about [this business] is that to [get this result/solve this problem], you have to [apply this strategy/shift this mindset].
Get them talking about the position they’re looking to fill, and interview them about their needs, goals, and challenges. That’s how you find the openings to impress them with a solutions-oriented rundown of the skills you’ll use to fulfill their objectives.
Check out the conversation for more useful career and job search tips.
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