What advice do you have for finding employment opportunities?

Whether you are returning to work, changing careers or seeking new opportunities, having a clear strategy can make all the difference. Below are tips to help guide your job search.

Update Your Resume: You should tailor your resume to the job you are applying for. If you are considering exploring multiple career fields, it may be a good idea to create more than one version of your resume, each one highlighting your experience and skills most relevant to that particular field. Be sure to leave out any positions from more than 10 to 15 years ago or omit graduation years as that may lead to age-related assumptions. Also, use a professional email address, ideally something simple that includes your name. If you do not already have one, you can easily create one for free. For drafting a resume, you can find plenty of free templates and resume generators available online to get you started.

Professional Online Profiles: In addition to a resume, a professional online profile can increase your visibility in the job market. You can use a reputable professional networking platform to highlight your experience, skills, achievements and career interests in a more interactive way than the traditional resume. Employers often already have online profiles that allow them to look you up online before reaching out, so ensure your profile photo, headline and job history are up to date. An online professional presence will also allow for more networking opportunities since it connects you with other professionals in real time.

Prepare for Interviews: While each interview may vary, there can be some common interview questions that can be reviewed ahead of time to make your responses more polished and unique. Spend time thinking through what your personalized answers would be to these typical questions and consider practicing with a friend. Also, prepare some questions to ask the employer. These questions could be about the job’s day-to-day activities and responsibilities which will show interest and give you helpful insight on your desired role.

Local Resources: Check with your local senior community centers or libraries to see if they have job boards or host workshops. State and county assistance programs may also have employment resources, some specifically for seniors.

Online Resources: There are plenty of general job search websites that offer flexible search options. Many online job boards allow you to search by job title, keyword, company or location. These platforms can also filter results for full-time, part-time, remote work and compensation. In some platforms, you can also set up alerts to be notified of new openings based on your previous searches.

For retired job seekers, there are websites specifically designed to focus on relevant opportunities. These websites can also provide additional resources for training, help with resumes and interview preparation to assist with your search.

Stay Positive: Job hunting can be challenging and emotionally draining when job opportunities do not come as soon as expected. Consider setting feasible goals every week and do not forget to celebrate the small accomplishments. Stay persistent and remind yourself that you are a valuable worker.

Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization’s official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.