Executive job hunters have improved their job situations even when they have been forced to retire at age 70. However, it would be misleading to say that age is not a factor in job hunting. It is. But many other factors- experience, background, and accomplishments-are far more important than age. In your job campaign you should accentuate positive factors to such a degree-stressing how your experience and accomplishments are suited to a specific job-that they far outweigh any negative factors. To sum up, there is more than hope. You can get a superior job!
I look young for my age and my level of management. Should I try to look older during a job campaign?
If you feel youth is going to be a problem, there is no reason not to use cosmetic tricks to make yourself look older so you can get a superior job. There are many ways to do this. Wear glasses. Grow a mustache. Concentrate on presenting a dignified appearance, dressing conservatively, and speaking slowly and with confidence.
If you feel you look too old, you can use various techniques to appear younger. Dye your hair. Wear contact lenses. Wear a hairpiece. All such changes are perfectly acceptable when you are on a job campaign.
Remember, job hunting is a competitive situation. Vanity has nothing to do with it. If something can help you beat the competition, do it.
I've been out of work for some time and have done a few of the things you suggest. How should I proceed?
Part of the trick in finding a superior job is organizing your campaign carefully and integrating the various phases. If you are unemployed and have been looking for a while, forget what you've done before. Adopt a positive attitude, lay your plans according to this book, and have at it.
I am confined to a wheelchair. I seem to be able to get interviews, but the shock of seeing me in a wheelchair seems to kill my chances of getting a job offer. How should I handle this?
If you have a conspicuous handicap, you should hint about it in a pre-interview contact with the PE so he will not be shocked when he sees you. Naturally, a physical handicap has nothing to do with your job performance and your ability to make money for your company. These are the primary considerations to any PE.
Now let's talk about what form your pre-interview hint might take. In a sales letter you could turn your handicap into an advantage by using an opening/attention getter that mentioned your disability: "Being in a wheelchair didn't prevent me from making over $1 million for my company last year."
After the interview has been set up by phone, if you've got the right personality for this type of remark, use it: "I'm going to show up in a wheelchair, so I'll need a little help if you're on the second floor. But don't let that turn you off; I'm one hell of an engineer."
The object is to alert the PE so that when he sees you for the first time, he will be focusing his attention on your accomplishments and what you can do for his company.
Many executives have written to me about less conspicuous handicaps, such as having been in prison. The key here is not to lie, but not to volunteer information until you've made a sale. If your PE thinks you are going to make money for him, you are going to get hired, regardless of your background.
What is the primary factor in getting a superior job?
The primary factor in getting a superior job is the ability to convince people that you can do a superior job for them.
