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How You Can Prepare Yourself for the New Job Market
Follow these tips to help you face the new reality of work
Getty Images Once the pandemic ends, a large number of older workers will need to find a new job — or even a new career. And the available jobs will be moving more to telecommunicating and digital work than ever before. Here's what you can do now to prepare for the new reality of work.
Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. 1 Learn new digital communication platforms
You'll likely need to get used to video interviews or meetings, since communicating via video chats and file sharing will be more popular. Remote-work digital training is available on sites such as LinkedIn Learning, Coursera, YouTube and Udemy. First, try free online tutorials provided by the app developers themselves: Microsoft Teams, Slack, Zoom and Google. Then move to collaboration apps for team projects, such as , and . Most are intuitive and easy to learn. 2 Polish your LinkedIn profile
When the scramble for jobs starts, this will be your personal billboard to present yourself well to prospective employers. Add any recent awards or promotions, and detail any work-related skills learned in recent weeks that will make you more attractive for telecommuting jobs. Do a LinkedIn search to find contacts you might connect with at a company where you might want to work. Follow ones that intrigue you. Look at profiles of others in your field to get ideas of how you might tweak your own. Restaurants 15% off dine-in and pickup orders See more Restaurants offers > 3 Police your digital identity
Now that you might have some time, remove anything posted on social media that you wouldn't want employers or recruiters to see. Search your name and click on the top 10 links. You're looking at what a potential boss can see. And, yes, these days potential employers are looking at you in every digital channel. Some of this footprint is of your own creation; at a minimum, you should have polished pages on LinkedIn and Facebook. But also check out Facebook posts you're tagged in but didn't originate. Untag yourself from anything unprofessional. AARP Membership — $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. , , , and . These sites screen for legitimate employers. 5 Update your résumé
It's important to have a current version on hand that will allow you the flexibility to respond to sudden openings. Keep it short (no more than two pages). Weave your narrative with your CAR (challenge, action, result) stories. Think advertisement, not obituary. offers a free expert review. 6 Network virtually
Contacts are critical in what may be a highly competitive post-coronavirus job market. Methodically extend your circle. Join online professional groups for networking on LinkedIn and Facebook. Touch base with former colleagues or classmates. AARP Membership — $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. or enroll in a course for certification. Tap into free webinars and podcasts in subjects that interest you. 8 Plan to work longer
If, like most Americans, your retirement accounts have taken a hit as stock markets fell during the pandemic, this may mean you'll need to work beyond your official retirement age. Factor that into your plans as you strategize for a post-coronavirus world. More on work AARP Membership — $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. AARP VALUE & MEMBER BENEFITS See more Home & Real Estate offers > See more Restaurants offers > See more Work & Jobs offers > See more Groceries offers > SAVE MONEY WITH THESE LIMITED-TIME OFFERS