Quit looking for a job, and start looking for a problem to solve. The job market isn’t about you, it’s about them. It’s not about helping you get a job because you need one, it’s about helping someone solve a problem. That might be a little harsh for some people, but that’s the way it is, like it or not.
If you’re trying to get back into the job market at an advanced age, it’s even worse. Even though it’s illegal, companies find ways to avoid hiring you because you’re too old. You might not like that, but that’s just the reality of our culture, and we need to learn how to outsmart time and culture.
You’re not going to eradicate the ageism that exists in our culture, but we can eradicate it in our own mind. Here are 4 ways to outsmart time and culture:
- Do an inventory of your strengths. You have a wealth of knowledge and experience that could help people.
- If you’re an older person, don’t try to compete with what’s called fluid intelligence. That’s what the younger generation has. It’s the ability to think fast, solve problems, and move easily from one thing to the other. You have crystallized intelligence which they don’t have. It’s called wisdom. You can see patterns, connect dots, and see the big picture. Your library is bigger than theirs. Choose the right arena in which to compete.
- You are more emotionally intelligent than some of the younger people who are driven by their egos and clawing their way to the top. Show leadership by demonstrating your ability to stay calm in stressful situations and ask the right questions.
- Your wisdom and emotional intelligence make you a great coach or mentor. Companies need that in today’s world. Consider making this proposal to a prospective employer.
You’re a solution looking for a problem, not a problem looking for a solution.
Be a solution in the world.
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