If Youre Over Age 40, You Need Not Apply

If Youre Over Age 40, You Need Not Apply If Youre Over Age 40, You Need Not Apply Facebook just got sued. The social network, along with Amazon, T-Mobile, and Cox Communications, is facing a federal lawsuit regarding ads that exclusively target candidates under age 40. If you’re over that age range, you don’t see the ads â€" period. But even though the ads are hidden from more mature candidates, that doesn’t mean quality opportunities are hidden as well. Let’s walk through the steps you can take without relying on ads to get into the companies you really want. 1. Let’s See That Great Face Of Yours Go to your industry conference. What’s normal is to go to job fairs. But what really works is to go to trade shows and conventions. Think a little differently about this: your ideal employers are there, and not everyone in attendance is looking for a job. This is, literally, about showing up in the world. You go to a conference for the same reason the employers go â€" they want to showcase their brand, prove to the industry that they’re growing, and demonstrate that they have their finger on the pulse. Get in front of those employers to showcase your brand, prove that you’re interested in where the industry is headed, and show that you have expertise that can contribute to that advancement. 2. Network Like A Normal Person Bad networking comes in many forms: the mass email, the shotgun blasting of your resume at a networking event, or the phone call out of the blue from someone looking for a favor, even though you’ve seen neither hide nor hair of that person for 8 years. Don’t be that person, please! I am always networking. Do I get up in the morning and think, “Well, gee, how will I network today?” No. That’s geeky and robotic. But when I go places, especially if I’m invited to social events, I make sure people know what I do, the unique value I offer, and the ideal candidate I serve. All of this comes up in normal conversation â€" certainly not an elevator pitch. The key here is to be specific. The average candidate will say, “I’m in sales, so if you know of anyone who’s hiring, please let me know.” That requires the other person to think too much, which I guarantee they’re not going to do. What really works is to say, “For the last 10 years I’ve been in high-tech solution sales, so my next ideal role would be head of a practice area for a firm like Booz Allen Hamilton, Deloitte, or Ernst & Young. Do you have any thoughts on who I should connect with?” Remember, this is part of a larger conversation. Don’t just drop the person, walk away, and move on to the next. You wouldn’t do that in a regular social situation. 3. Let Your Fingers Do The Walking Candidates commonly dedicate the bulk of their job search activities to online searches. Do that, but elevate from just looking at ads to looking at companies. Inc. Magazine is a fantastic place to start. They hand us a list every year of the 500 fastest-growing private companies, along with in-depth coverage of select companies on the list. That coverage offers you names of decision makers in those organizations. The Fortune 500 is the flip side of that coin â€" it’s for public companies. Fortune also profiles executive leadership and key decision makers. Not only are the lists free and available to you within all of .2 seconds online, it’s virtually guaranteed all these people are on social media. Use that to your advantage. If you feel ever-so-slightly stalker-ish by sending a LinkedIn invitation to connect, simply follow the person on LinkedIn. Remember to follow them on Twitter as well. Being shut out of the employment ads on social media isn’t necessarily a roadblock. It’s a catalyst for you to not just do the same old same old. If you really want to thrust yourself forward, there are more techniques that smart candidates are learning and doing from our free online program, “3 Simple Steps To Cut Your Job Search Time In HALF!” You’ll find out what to do to just bypass HR, and how to immediately connect with the right recruiters who are hiring today. Make sure to register here.