And while the overall numbers aren't staggering (still only a fraction of all of the new roles that were added during the pandemic) many of these roles have been with senior people who've not been in the job market for a while.

Learn to persevere.  Rise from falls you’re bound to have in life.  

Work gaps happen. Whether you left a job, were laid-off or Covid happened, these gaps are a reality, and they may need to be addressed on your resume. 

 Keep your resume to one page.  If you have worked 15+ years and can keep your resume to one page, you are definitely not selling yourself properly. Your resume needs to be concise and shouldn't be multiple pages in length but two pages is very common. Remember, you can use addendum pages for awards, achievements etc.1-myth

If you are over 50 and job hunting, don't let stereotypes get you down.  You just need to prove that your skills are current and relevant in today's market. Here are some tips to help your search:

Resumes should be customized to each opportunity. They must also be clear and concise. To accomplish this start by removing any information that should not have been on a resume anyway.  These items should be removed immediately:

Dreaming of joining a startup?  They look exciting, come with flashy benefits and offer the chance to do something different.  While there are very good reasons to accept a job with one, there are also reasons not to do it. 

Resumes and cover letters need to be updated to remain relevant. Keeping them tweaked will help in your job search. You want to adjust them to best meet the requested requirements.

Remote or Hybrid?  In a remote work environment, you will be outside the physical office space while working in a hybrid environment you will be switching between your remote office and the company's physical office.

What to emphasize in an interview? There are so many points we want to get across. Regardless of the skills needed, you want to show an interviewer that you have those intangible traits to make you a successful in the position and the company.  What are those qualities?

Interview stress is very normal and it can actually help you.  However, being over stressed will definitely cause you difficulties.  You want to be in control and manage your stress.  Here are some steps to get your anxiety in check:

Rescheduling a job interview can be tricky but, at times, it's necessary.  It should not be done unless absolutely necessary as it can move you to the back or even out of a search.

Job descriptions can give you great information.  They can also point out 'red flags' about a job.

Resume writing is a hard job. Deciding what to include, what buzzwords to use, what length it should be can be intimidating at times.

I recently came across an article on Ivyexec.com that I found very interesting. The article points out why you shouldn't use the Easy Apply option on LinkedIn when you answer a job posting.

Even with online and telephone interviews, a written thank you note is still needed and expected. Writing a thank you note can be easy if you jot down a notes during the interview so you can remember some specific details about the opportunity.  Most important, make sure you get everyone's name.

Looking for a job when you don't need one is extremely important. You want to be prepared if that 'perfect' job that you've always wanted turns up or, due to unforeseen events, your current job ends.

A sponsor or a mentor?  They are very different but both are very important to your career. Basically, mentors are there to give you advice while a sponsor actively acts on your behalf. Think of a sponsor as your personal cheerleader and a mentor as a shoulder to lean on.

Networking shouldn't stop just because we are now working virtual. Meeting or having coffee with someone may be out but that doesn't mean that your networking activities must stop. Here are some tips to help:

Your resume gives an impression of you. It's a quick, first-glance impression that a hiring manager makes while scanning your resume.