Dressing for success baby-boomer style

Source: Exec Digital Canada

Date :8/16/2007 9:19:47 AM

50 plus job-seekers need to keep their appearance as up-to-date as their skills, according to RetiredWorker.ca.

Older job-seekers looking to re-enter the workforce know they often have to work harder to convince potential employers that their skills are up-to-date, and the first step is taking a good look in the mirror.

"If your appearance is outdated, it sends a message to potential employers that maybe your skills are outdated, too," says Sarah Welstead, 37, co-founder and Managing Partner of RetiredWorker.ca, the largest employment website in Canada designed specifically for post-retirement job-seekers. "When 50-plus job-seekers confound 'senior citizen' stereotypes, it's easier for employers to focus on their knowledge and experience rather than their age."

Welstead also says older job-seekers don't have to look like fashion plates or spend a lot of money. They just need to follow some simple guidelines:

1. Remember that dress codes have changed a lot in the past 20 years: In most offices 'casual Fridays' have taken over the whole week. Wearing a 3-piece suit in a 'smart casual' environment will just make you look old-fashioned.

2. Dress appropriately for the position you want: If what you'd really like is to work part-time in a garden center, wearing neatly-pressed khakis and a cotton shirt tells the interviewer that you understand the job.

3. If you bought it more than 5 years ago, don't wear it to the interview: That 'interview suit' you bought in 1989 is now out of style. A pair of khakis and a shirt costs less than $100 at the Gap, and demonstrates that you understand the modern workplace.

4. Visit the hairdresser or barber: If you can't remember the last time you changed your hairstyle, it's time to visit the salon. If your appearance says "I'm too old to care about what I look like any more..." potential employers wonder if that's the same attitude you'll have to your job.

5. Visit the dentist: Your teeth play a crucial role in your overall appearance. Stained, chipped, cracked or missing front teeth can add 10+ years to your age - a $25 home teeth-whitening kit is a worthwhile investment.

6. Make your cellphone or PDA (unobtrusively obvious): Letting a potential employer see your cellphone or Blackberry is a subtle way to let them know that you are comfortable with 'high tech'. (But don't take calls during interviews!)

"A polished, well-groomed and appropriate appearance is important for everyone, but doubly so for older job-seekers," comments Welstead. "An up-to-date appearance is a great way to show potential employers that your skills are up-to-date as well."