Kerry E. Hannon

Once you get that job you are seeking after 50, you need to negotiate the terms. Negotiations are best when both parties work toward an arrangement that’s mutually beneficial. Don’t approach negotiations with a hiring manager as an adversarial relationship. Follow these suggestions instead: Wait. Let the hiring manager offer you an amount, and then take a day or two to consider.

Finding a job when you’re over 50 is a lot like finding a job when you’re under 50. You need to tailor your resume and cover letter to the organization and the position, network to gather information and spot any inside tracks to the jobs you want, look and feel your best during job interviews and other meet-and-greets, and hone your negotiating skills so you get more of what you want.

Copyright © 2015 AARP. All rights reserved. Even people over 50 wonder what they want to do when they grow up. You’re probably qualified to do a wide variety of jobs, but you want to do something you love, something that makes you look forward to waking up each morning. Perhaps you even want to do something that makes the world a better place or helps other people get through the day.

Copyright © 2015 AARP. All rights reserved. To get the job you want after 50, you need to be fully prepared for the interview. When asked about salary in an interview, the best response is to say that although the position is not precisely the same as your last job, you would need to understand your duties and responsibilities in order to establish a fair salary for the job.

Copyright © 2015 AARP. All rights reserved. As a 50-plus job seeker, expect at least a few questions about your age, even if they don’t directly reference your age. While potential employers are concerned about your age and how it may affect your job performance, they probably won’t come right out and say it because they fear an age-discrimination lawsuit.

Copyright © 2015 AARP. All rights reserved. Applications can be tricky and picky, particularly if you’re someone who is over 50 and you’re big selling points are your integrity and charisma and you’re required to submit the application online. Applications provide little, if any, opportunity to showcase such strengths.

Copyright © 2015 AARP. All rights reserved. If you are seeking a job after 50, you need to show you are adaptable, especially in the interview. Virtual interviews are rapidly becoming more commonplace, according to a survey by OfficeTeam, a temporary staffing services firm. Six in ten of the 500 human resource managers interviewed said their company often conducts employment interviews via video, up from 14 percent in 2011.

Copyright © 2015 AARP. All rights reserved. If you want to be the happiest you can be in your job, you will need good negotiating skills and strategies at your disposal. Although the parties engaged in negotiation often assume adversarial relationships, the best approach for both parties is to work together to meet one another’s needs.

Copyright © 2015 AARP. All rights reserved. Recognizing your soft skills can be useful in a job search after 50. In many ways, these softer skills, which include your outlook and attitude, are gauges of how well you’ll fit in. Employers want to be sure that you’ll work easily and efficiently with your coworkers, your supervisor, and perhaps the organization’s customers or clients.