Search
Advice » Job Hunt Strategy » Getting Started » Dealing with the Mid-Career ...
Dealing with the Mid-Career Predicament

Dealing with the Mid-Career Predicament

How to Mix It Up and Build on Your Experience

By Robert DiGiacomo, for Yahoo! HotJobs

If you have at least 10 years of experience in a particular field, job hunting in the current market presents a special challenge.

You're beyond entry level in terms of experience -- and salary expectations -- yet you're not quite ready for the executive suite, either.

In this tough job market, you could fall between the cracks of employers seeking low-cost, green trainees and more proven managers to right their corporate ships.

Here are ways to negotiate this in-between status and take a positive, next career step.

Don't Erase Your Dates

Instead of taking the dates off your resume to seem younger, embrace your experience, by preparing an "accomplishment-based resume," says Rachelle J. Canter, president of RJC Associates and author of Make the Right Career Move.

"Show that the extra years provide critical achievements and seasoning that a younger competitor cannot hope to attain," says Canter.

Right Resume for the Right Job

At the same time, it's perfectly acceptable to develop different versions of your resume tailored to different positions, according to career coach Rebecca Kiki Weingarten.

"For each job, you don't need to list all of your skills," Weingarten says. "Just include what's relevant to whatever they're looking for. You don't want to overwhelm employers. When you go for an interview, you can mention extra skills and experience."

Honesty Really Is the Best Policy

If you're applying for a position for which you may be overqualified, address the issue head-on in a cover letter, recommends life and career coach Shawn Driscoll.

"Don't leave it to the resume screener to jump to conclusions," Driscoll says. "Maybe you are looking to diversify your career experience, and so you're willing to take a step back or a pay cut. Say so. Then, sell your experience and your results."

The Storytelling Advantage

When you land an interview, come armed with compelling anecdotes of real-world problems -- and how you solved them.

"Younger job seekers won't have stories -- they'll just have theories," Driscoll says. "Give real situations, the action you took and the results you achieved."

Calling Style 911

Your resume may not be the only thing that needs updating. Your favorite power suit may look tired, or your hairstyle or glasses could be trapped in the '90s. Image consultant David A. McKnight of DAMstyle recommends perusing fashion magazines and catalogs to assess current trends, and tossing items from three to five years ago that seem out of date.

At the same time, not every hot trend will flatter you, so ask a fashion-savvy friend for advice, or consult a professional to help you figure out your personal look.

"Just because a particular style is popular, it doesn't mean you should be wearing it," McKnight says.

Reinvent Yourself

Finally, you may not have planned to be looking for a new position, but if your job wasn't really your intended career, it could be a good time to forge a new path.

"Having been in a profession for a period of time, use this time to look at your future in another way," Weingarten says. "Instead of saying, I thought I was going to accomplish, X, Y or Z, you can ask yourself, 'What do I want to do from here on in?"

Rate this article:
Average rating:
Email to a friend
Share This
Share This

Latest Jobs

Zywave, Inc.
Posted: 2/23/2012
Randstad Finance and Accounting
Posted: 2/23/2012
Mutual Of Omaha
Posted: 2/23/2012

Want more personalized results?  Update Your Profile

Email to a friend
Share This
Rate this article:
Average rating:
Get Certified Now

Looking for Certifications?

eLearning by Monster offers online training courses to help you get certified.

View courses
Join the Discussion

Monster Communities

Teaching Community
Where teachers meet and learn.
ArtBistro
Create and connect.
Excelle
Networking for the career-minded woman.
Nursing Link
Where nurses call the shots.
More Monster Communities

Monster Partners

Scholarships
Scholarships, financial aid and more ways to pay for school.
Education.org
Find top campus and online degree programs.
Military.com
Military portal for the US Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard.
Financial Aid
Scholarships & financial aid.
Staffing for Government Jobs
Staffing and hiring solutions for federal government agency jobs.
More Monster Partners

Job Hunt Strategy

Map Your Way to Your First Job
If you're about to graduate and aren't sure which way to turn, use the articles in this special report as your personal career compass to finding your first job.

Resumes & Cover Letters

Refresh Your Retro Resume in Six Steps
If it's been years since you last updated your resume, follow these six steps to turn your retro resume into a high-powered personal marketing tool.

Interviewing

Six Interview Mistakes
The last thing you want to do is make a gaffe in a job interview because you don't know any better. Here are six common interview mistakes to avoid.

Salary & Benefits

Five Best Cities for Wage Growth
Recession-driven salary freezes are starting to thaw, with workers in these five metro areas seeing the biggest year-over-year gains in their pay.

Employee Sourcing

Alt text
November Monster Employment Index Grows 13% Year-Over-Year, Tenth Consecutive Month of Positive Annual Growth.

For Seekers

Campus and Online Degrees
Advance your career and earn more with an online degree.
Compare Your Salary
See how your pay stacks up to others in your field
Free Salary Wizard
What are you worth? Find out and negotiate a better salary.
Research Careers
Get information on jobs and career paths to help guide your choices
Questions & Answers
Find answers to all your career related questions - powered by Yahoo! Answers
eLearning by Monster
Search our catalog of online courses and learn new skills.
Resume Distribution Service
Our distribution service puts your resume right in the hands of recruiters.
Resume Writing Services
Our experts will craft a keyword-rich resume that stands out in the crowd.
Other Services

For Employers

Career Ad Network
Target your job posting to more candidates on thousands of websites.
Hire Right Background Checks
Explore our background check packages to improve the quality of your hires.
Hiring Home Page
Find the best candidates for your business with Monster hiring solutions.
Job Postings
Find the right solution for your hiring needs. Starting at $99.
Power Resume Search
Monster's new search technology precisely matches people with your jobs.
Resource Center
Find staffing insights, labor trends, HR best practices and more.
Target Post
Connect with skilled, hourly and administrative candidates for only $99.

Social Media

Jobs on Twitter
Find jobs in your area and industry.
Monster Careers
Tune into our career advice and discussions tackling a wide range of topics and industries.
Monster Corporate & PR
Stay up-to-date on the latest news. Get the 'Who', 'What', 'When', and 'Why' on all things Monster related.
Monster Customer Service
Got a Monster question? We've got the answer. Whether you're a job seeker or employer, we can help you find the answers you need.
Monster for Employers
Find advice on hiring.
Follow Us
Check out our many pages and stay connected with the latest industry news, events, career advice and job openings.

Other Links

Advice Forums
Tap into Monster's online career forums and share advice with experts.
Monster Company Profiles
Explore companies and get information to guide your career decisions.
Compare Salaries
See how your pay stacks up to others in your field.
iPhone Application
Download the Monster app for iPhone and iPod touch.
Monster Job Seeker Blog
The Monster Job Seeker Blog.
Monster Thinking Blog
Monster's Recruitment Trends Blog.
Share Your Success--and Win Prizes
Monster's latest post on the Monster Blog.
Jobs & Career Resources
Search Jobs:
About Monster | Work for Monster | Advertise with Us | Ad Choices | Partner with Us | Investor Relations | Social Media
Terms of Use | Privacy Center | Help | Security | Contact Us | Sitemap
©2011 Monster - All Rights Reserved U.S. Patents No. 5,832,497; 7,599,930 B1; 7,827,125 and 7,836,060 MWW - Looking for Monster Cable? - V: 2012.1.0.28-101
eTrustLogo

|Chat With An Employer

Want to Chat With an Employer?

One or more employers would like to chat with you.
or Close