Mary Eileen Williams

If you are one of the throngs of post 50 job-seekers who's turned to the Internet to land your next position, you're probably reaping some rather lackluster results. Although the biggest challenge mature applicants likely face is the perception they're technically challenged, technology is not always the answer -- especially...

If you're a job-seeker over age 50, no doubt you grew up following the adventures of Clark Kent and his famous alter ego. Every kid who watched TV in the '50s and '60s recognized the foibles of this mild-mannered reporter: pleasant enough to be around, but a bit self-effacing and...

If you're a job-seeker on the far side of 50, you've undoubtedly been bombarded with messages telling you your age is a major deterrent to your chances of finding work. Job search gurus love repeating their mantra that it's critical for you to play down the fact you've passed the...

Job-seekers spend the majority of their time and focus on three aspects of their search: their resume, networking and preparing for interviews. It goes without saying that each of these elements is critical to job search success, however the most elemental piece of the process is often overlooked. In order...

Have a job interview coming up? How would you like to make a great first impression, connect with the interviewer and convey your points with confidence and clarity? If so, it's time to borrow a page from the self-help gurus and act "as if."

Oprah Winfrey is the undisputed master...

Technical innovations, the globalization of the marketplace, increased competition and demands from consumers have all contributed to making today's workplace a volatile one. Terms like "change management," "life-long learning," "multitasking," and "cross-functional skill sets" echo the demands now made upon managers, employees, entrepreneurs and job-seekers.

With all of this constant...

In today's job market, employers know what they want and can afford to be picky. This doesn't necessarily mean they will overlook a seasoned applicant in favor of a younger job-seeker. But it does mean that older candidates need to clearly demonstrate their fit for the position, the ways their...

Technology has altered the hiring process significantly, especially when it comes to resumes. Due to the overwhelming volume of responses to posted positions, most mid- to large-sized companies are now using applicant-tracking systems to perform a first-level screening of incoming resumes.

Although the software has been around for a while,...

Today's constantly changing workplace challenges us to continually update our skills, keep abreast of trends on a global scale, and reinvent ourselves to remain successful. Like many other aspects of life, there is a good news/bad news scenario to this current state of affairs.

The bad news is that...

The initial days of 2012 are beginning to shine a long awaited light on these dark economic times. Although massive job growth doesn't appear to be on the horizon any time soon, there are pockets of bright spots. Health care, retail, professional services, and other areas in the marketplace seem...

As a mature job-seeker contemplating the start of the new year, you're likely asking yourself how you can maximize your efforts to begin seeing real results in 2012. How can you eliminate some of the more frustrating roadblocks in today's difficult job market? How can you present your skills and...

This is the time of year for making New Year's resolutions. And if you're a savvy job-seeker, it's also the time for landing a new position. In the same manner we'll be marking the onset of 2012 with our personal to-do lists, organizations will be starting new projects, putting annual...

In my last post, "'Tis the Season... So Get Out There!" I discussed four reasons why December is actually the very best month of the year to look for work. Here is reason number five -- and it's a biggie!

Bar none, the holidays are the best time...

Age gifts us with perspective. Job-seekers over 50 are savvy to the ways of the world, but this might come as a surprise: believe it or not, the holidays are the absolutely best time of year to look for work!

At first glance the above statement might seem unrealistic... if...

Job-seekers over 50 encounter some special challenges. Although age gifts seasoned applicants with a wealth of experience, well-honed skill sets, a mature work ethic, and numerous additional pluses, there are a number of unflattering stereotypes younger employers may be holding against you. And, making things even more difficult, most of...

In today's competitive job market there's no way around it, you've got to promote your unique value and stand out from the crowd. Distinguishing yourself, your credentials, and your worth as the ideal candidate are critical to getting the call for that all-important interview. But despite the fact that tooting...

In my last post, I introduced the idea of marketing you the product through "Power Branding Your Post-50 Job Search." Please take a moment to review the article so you'll gain an understanding of the concepts behind building a unique and powerful presence (your one-of-a-kind brand) in the...

Far too many job-seekers over 50 are feeling the weight of all the bad news regarding their chances for finding work. If you're one of these disheartened applicants, please check out my last post, "Ageism in the Job Market: Truth or Hype?" Of course, I'm not suggesting you...

Are you over 50 and feeling overlooked? If so, you're not alone. There's no doubt about it, looking for work is tough and it's even more difficult for mature jobseekers. Or is it?

Those of us over 50 are constantly fed distressing news. We've been told over and over that...

Any job-seeker over 50 knows that ageism in the workplace can be a real factor to the success of your search. Regardless of the challenges grey hair brings, there are certain key strategies you can use that will highlight your skills, stress your professional strengths, and make you attractive to...