Are you a salesperson? Even if that wasn't your former job position, when you're unemployed you DO have a job, it's selling yourself and finding a new job. You are selling you. This is the time when the phrase 'know your product' is critical in your job search. And you ARE the product. The good news is after 50 plus years you should 'know your product' very well. But if you're from the boomer generation or older you need to create a need for a 'gently used' or 'vintage' product.
If the terms 'gently used' and 'vintage' make you think 'shopping at Goodwill' it may NOT be what you're used to. So if those terms don't scare you, nothing will.
How can you sell what's the equivalent of used or vintage products? Think about what makes these things valuable. If you're selling a vintage dress, what makes it valuable? It's appeal to nostalgia, it's rarity? Maybe it's the appeal of the knowledge an older worker brings or the quality of their workmanship. Pride in workmanship is frequently a hard thing for employers to find in younger employees, but older workers tend to have been brought up with a different work ethic.
Evaluate your strengths and sell them during your interview. Be sure to ask the potential employer what they are looking for in an employee and then tailor your answers to fit
Remember: whether you're at home, working for someone else or running you own business, you are a sales person. Make sure you know what you're selling, give to other people because "what goes around, comes around" and you never know if the next person you meet through someone in your network won't be you next big client or your partner in business or in life. Paying it forward never hurts. Good luck with your job quest--follow your star and be one. And it doesn't hurt if you have the ability to sell a bridge to someone who doesn't need one!
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