Mature Students
Marketing Your Individuality

- First of all the good news. From October 2006 it will be illegal for employers to discriminate on the grounds of age in either recruitment or employment. This legislation has been on the agenda for a while and has already led to a change of attitude in many employers’ minds. Now you’ll be able to sue if you see any of those irritating or disheartening adverts for ‘bright young graduates’!

- So make the most of this new mood - market yourself as effectively as you can and the rewards should follow. Every experience you have had in your life has a positive benefit - even if it wasn’t a particularly positive experience in itself. Getting that message across to potential employers can be tricky but is key for the success of your job applications.

- Take a long, hard look at your past and present. What have you been involved with (in any setting - work, education, family, social)? What skills did you develop as a result? There will be many - time management, problem solving, creativity, communication, organisational ability, teamwork, flexibility, decision making - to name but a few. Develop a CV that is concise and targeted - a skills focus rather than a chronological focus can work well at highlighting your unique selling points.

- Take an equally long, hard look at the jobs being advertised.
What are the skills being sought? Address these carefully - give strong evidence, using specific examples, that you have the skills
required and there will be more likelihood of being selected for interview. You’re aiming for the ‘can’t argue with that’ approach here.

- Be prepared for the stereotyping, counter-arguments at the ready.

- Never be apologetic about your age. Use positive language at all times. Erase ‘I was just….’ or ‘I only did…’ from your vocabulary. You have so much to offer - don’t undervalue anything you did before.

- Use your contacts. Over the years you have made an enormous number of contacts in a variety of different situations - friends, acquaintances, family, colleagues. This is your own personal network - nurture it and use it to support you now.

- And last but not least, remember that mature graduates are far more likely, statistically, to stay with the same employer for longer, turn up for work more regularly and be more loyal.

Finally - a thought to bear in mind:
“Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.” (Mark Twain)