Career Kuel Thought Leader: Gayle Petrillo
If you’re looking for career advice for women over 50, one of the most powerful lessons is to embrace every opportunity that comes your way—whether in life or in the job search.
When was the last time you said yes—fully, without hesitation? Last summer, on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Alaska, I learned what it meant to embrace every opportunity that crossed my path. Encouraged by a friend who knew the fleeting nature of life, I pushed past my usual doubts and fears to experience everything, full out. That same mindset, I realized, applies beyond travel. In the job search, too, every resume sent, every interview taken—even those that feel like long shots—are experiences worth showing up for. Each is a chance to learn, grow, and showcase your value.
I was reminded of this first hand during my trip to Alaska, and the thoughts and feelings are still with me. My travel partner knew all about living life for the experience. Her husband of 15 years passed away unexpectedly three years ago. She was devastated – who wouldn’t be?
That said, every time she has dinner with friends, goes to a museum, walks through the desert, etc. she sees it not through a half-glass of water like many of us might be tempted to do, but all through a full cup. She has seen first-hand how quickly our life light can be extinguished.
“No, savor isn’t the word I use when talking about the job hunt experience.”
From Travel To Transformation:
As we traveled through Vancouver for three days and nights before boarding our ship, through every port for seven days and then through every one of our 10 land days, she encouraged me to let go of my concerns for the added costs, my fears of trying new things, and to savor every moment of each experience.
I now coach my clients in the same way. No, savor isn’t the word I use when talking about the job hunt experience. However, I do encourage my clients to review their past accomplishments when revising their resume.
Since the resume and cover letter are the first impressions we leave with a prospective employer, it’s vitally important that we share our successes in these documents to highlight the value we will bring to that employer. As Confucius referred to the past as an indicator of the present and future, employers see it too.
Career Advice for Women Over 50: Why Every Interview Is a Valuable Experience:
When my friends and clients have an opportunity to interview, I advise them to take advantage of the interview, even if it doesn’t meet their criteria for title, salary, hours, etc. My reasoning is that every opportunity to showcase our talents is an experience, and one we can use to learn from. Whether we are offered the position or not, the experience helps put the hunt into perspective.
“We therefore, need to be adept at conveying our strengths at every opportunity that we get to practice.”
I recently saw a post on LinkedIn that stated there are about 200 applicants for most job postings. We therefore, need to be adept at conveying our strengths at every opportunity. The job hunt process is one of the few times we actually get to sing our own praises. This doesn’t come naturally or easily to most of us, which is why I advise taking advantage of every experience presented. It is great practice and will be worth it when we land our next position.
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About the Author:
Gayle Petrillo is President of First Impressions, Image Consulting. Gayle is an image consultant working with both businesses and individuals. Her services include: customer service training; team building skills; secret shopper services; gossip avoidance techniques; closet analysis; wardrobe transformations, personal shopping; employment coaching; and presentation skills.
