Fight Age Discrimination in Your Job Hunt - Manage Your Digital Footprint -

Fight Age Discrimination in Your Job Hunt - Manage Your Digital Footprint - You thought social media was for the kids? Blogging, Twitter, FacebookYou dont have time to engage online with a bunch of people youre busy with your job hunt! Think again! Yesterday, I posted about the value of social networking for the job seeker. Then, as I usually do, I went through my blogroll to see whats out there in the career space. Coincidentally, Marci Albohers blog for the New York Times, Shifting Careers, reminded readers of another great benefit of getting involved with social media such as blogging, Twitter, Facebook, linkedin, etc. It can help keep you looking young in a job market with a tendency to discriminate against older workers. If you havent looked for a job in a while and/or arent tuned in to managing your digital footprint what comes up when someone Googles your name its time for a quick lesson in social media. The long and the short of it is this: an online presence is key to how people will perceive you. Especially if you are in a young industry that discriminates against workers over 40, appearing connected to new ways of presenting yourself (your brand, as it were), may help you open doors that seemed closed. Take a look at Marcis blogIt tells the story of a 49-year old entertainment reporter who remade her image by freshening up her appearance and wardrobe and creating a hip online presence that made her seem younger than would belie her 20 years of industry experience. She hired people to help her, which is a great idea, but Marci points out that asking fashion conscious friends and teenagers (your children or others) for advice and information about trends and technology is another option. The key factor is, no matter how much experience you have, it is important to keep up with what is going on in todays job market. Video resumes, Wikis, video conferencing, Second Life, podcastsJob seekers should be aware of these technologies and willing to use them! Be resourceful and aware you may be surprised to learn that Web 2.0tools can be a lot of fun and helpful beyond networking and job seeking. (Be sure to let me know when you start using a Wiki to plan your next potluck!) Facing discrimination in your job hunt? We can write your resume to make you look younger. Need help navigating social media and online networking? Keppie Careers is here for you! If you want to receive free up-to-date tips to help with your job hunt, Click here to subscribe to receive future blogs sent directly to you! photo by Sarah Camp