Welcome back to the third in a series of blog posts designed to help older job seekers get hired! So far, we’ve talked about how having a positive attitude makes all the difference in a job search, and given you some specific action steps to get you off on the right step towards a new job. By this point, you should have an idea of what you want to do and are ready for your new career.

As an older job seeker, there are some final steps you can take to get that perfect job you’re looking for.

Your Resume

1. Don’t hide your age, but don’t go out of your way to emphasize it. Leave off dates of school graduations and training classes. Don’t say you have “25 years of experience”.
2. Use a functional or a chrono-functional resume rather than a strictly chronological one. List your experience in order of relevance to the job you’re applying for and not by date.
3. Make sure your resume is forward-looking. Tell the reader what you can do for his or her company, not just what you’ve done in the past.
4. Don’t list out-of-date skills. You want to present yourself as familiar with the latest technology and jargon.
5. Keep up to date with resume technology. No one sends resumes via snail mail now—electronic delivery is the norm, so make sure your resume is in a format that can be sent that way.
6. Include language in your cover letter about flexibility, adaptability, and willingness to learn. Emphasize that you are a proven commodity, used to making decisions, reliable, stable and great at problem-solving.

Your Interview

1. If you are interviewed by a younger manager, make a point of talking about situations where you worked well with younger people, especially if you had a younger boss. Make it clear that you embrace change. An attitude that says “I’ve been doing it this way for 20 years and it’s never been a problem” won’t help you.
2. Emphasize your experience; it’s a good thing. One huge advantage you have over younger workers is your knowledge and expertise, so focus on what you know about your industry.
3. Businesses are all about making money, so identify what you can do for a company in monetary terms.  If you identify a concrete benefit you provided to former employers and can describe ways you will do the same for this organization, you’ll put yourself at the head of the pack.
4. Don’t give in to stereotypes. You’re probably very aware of the preconceived ideas some people have about older workers. Use your interview time to disprove these myths and show that you are a valuable asset to the organization.
5. Be prepared for questions that are borderline unlawful, inappropriate, or even outright illegal—although it is not against the law for an interviewer to ask how old you are. If an interviewer asks questions that suggest he or she is concerned about your age, the AARP recommends responding with a question such as: “How do you see my age affecting my ability to do the job?” Don’t be confrontational or pushy, and use the response to frame your expertise as an asset to the company.

Final Tips

1. Be proud of who you are and what you’ve accomplished. You’ve worked hard to get where you are; reflect on that while being enthusiastic about what you still want to accomplish.
2. Find companies that seek out and value older workers. Here’s a list, compiled by AARP. More senior-friendly companies: Home Depot, Borders, CVS, Verizon, Cingular Wireless, GE, IBM, Lockheed Martin and Staples.
3. Don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for help. Many communities have job search help for older workers; SCORE is a great resource if you’re starting your own business. If you need help revising an out-of-date resume, hire a professional. If you can’t figure out what you want to do, or you feel overwhelmed by your situation, consider a career coach.
4. These resources can be invaluable in helping with your job search: Senior Job Bank , Workforce50, Seniors4Hire, Jobs4Point0, SimplyHired, AARP.

I know the unrelenting bad news about the economy is depressing, but don’t let it affect your attitude. Yes, jobs are hard to come by, but thousands of older workers conduct successful job searches and get hired. You can do this! For many of you, this involves a new way of thinking and acting and the steps I’ve laid out may seem daunting. There’s plenty for you to do here, and all of it will help move you from where you are to where you want to be.

I’d love to hear your thoughts, recommendations and job search stories—good and bad. Hit the comment button and share!