Looking for a job? Older workers should sell the advantage of experience and downplay age. Here are other hints:

• Confidence is key. You need to look healthy and energetic.
• Age has advantages. Indicate the benefits that come only with experience, using words such as “coach” and “mentor.”
• Avoid phrases such as "we did that 20 years ago, and it didn't work," even if true. Instead, offer reasoned pros and cons that illustrate an important selling point for older workers: the value of experience.
• Pay attention to grooming. If a graying beard makes you look older, consider shaving.
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As a career consultant/coach, I am often asked: "Is it time for me to make a career change?" My response invariably is: "To do what?" And, more importantly, "Why?"

I am reminded of the exchange between Alice-in-Wonderland and the Cheshire Cat. To paraphrase, Alice asks: "How do I get out of here?" The Cat responds: "Where do you want to go?" Alice says: "It really doesn't matter." The Cat replies: "Then any road will take you there."

CAREER SEMINAR

Wharton Alumni Career Management Presentation September 28. By Mitch Wienick, Kelleher Associates, Inc.

Good morning. It's a pleasure to be here with you in the new Huntsman Building on the Wharton Campus on a crisp, but sunny Fall day. Being here reminds me that if I had not been dating my wife to be in New York City 32 years ago I, too, would have been a Wharton Graduate. But alas, for love rather than money, I instead attended and graduated from New York University with my MBA. It's funny how situations like that change and affect your life.

Dear Friends,

The team at Kelleher Associates, Inc. is proud to share a number of exciting recent developments:

• The addition of Mitch Wienick to the team as a Partner. Mitch brings both extensive experience and outstanding personal qualities to Kelleher Associates. He is responsible for business development, as well as counseling executives in transition, and executive coaching and leadership team development. Mitch was the President and CEO of CDI Corporation (NYSE: CDI), a multi-national provider of customized staffing, search and outsourcing services.
• Lee Curry joins Kelleher Associates, Inc. with more than 18 years experience in the career transition field having worked for the Hay Group, Executive Assets, Millard Consulting Services and Manchester Inc. His expertise is coaching and counseling senior executives through transition. Prior to his work in the outplacement field, Lee was a career Naval aviation officer, graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy.
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Forbes Magazine July 22, 2002

Unemployed execs are still turning to questionable career counselors to find jobs. The Internet makes it all that easier to pick them clean. Complaints about unscrupulous career counselors have been around for years. They charge the unemployed thousands of dollars up front with the implied promise of landing them a job. It's a mystery why experienced white-collar workers still fall for these often fruitless services. And now the counselors are employing a new twist: They use the Internet to search for and entice job seekers and even, apparently, to pluck plausible job listings from subscriber-only Web sites, using these leads to create a show of doing real work for the client.