My friend Virginia, 51, is a very highly regarded Silicon Valley executive with stints at  well regarded tech firms.. But, like a lot of ‘older’ workers who suddenly find themselves out of a job, she is coping with more than the loss of her job. Here, exclusively at WWDS, is her report on how she is progressing.

by Virginia, for WWDS

Layoffs happen. With the economy in constant transition, no matter how skilled, experienced, or valuable you are, one day your number could be up. It recently happened to me, for the first time in my career, at age 51. Interestingly, when I discussed my employment situation with many people—friends, family, even the outplacement firm my company provided—one of the first issues they brought up was the presumed negative of my age. No one congratulated me on being highly experienced or offered reassurances that my career track record positioned me to find a better job quickly.
Ironically it was my supposed “support system,” those I turned to to bolster my confidence and lift my spirits, who were most guilty of ageism. It’s been about six weeks and while I haven’t found a job, I’m getting lots of calls and some offers to consult until the right full-time position comes along. In any case, the whole experience started me thinking about us older employees in the workplace. What can we do to counteract discrimination, stay relevant, and maintain—even grow—our market value? Here are some strategies I’ve tried that are likely to yield a high “career ROI” at almost any age:
• A big concern about older workers is that our skills might be out of date. To address this, make sure they aren’t. I earned an MBA at 44, and about half my classmates were my age or older. It’s never too late to learn. Check out postings for jobs you’d like to have and identify the most desired skills…then take classes or get other training to master them. Having valuable skills is guaranteed to get your resume noticed.
• Acquire or polish other skills that improve performance or add value. This may even be fun! Last year I really enjoyed taking a speech class at a local acting school. Excellent communication skills are always important. If you’re insecure about your writing ability, for example, study creative writing. Another skill where there’s always room for growth is negotiation. Practice what you learn by negotiating a great compensation package for your next job. Inventory your opportunities for personal improvement. Don’t be defensive or dismissive about things you don’t do well; tackle them head-on and gain conviction. Put your years to work for you by demonstrating that you’ve used the time to develop an exceptionally well-rounded toolkit of abilities.
• Consider an image consultant. I just did that this week. Looking a bit out of date or down-at-the heels will age you much faster than another birthday on the calendar; conversely, a modern, stylish, and confident appearance is youth-making at any age. A quick internet search for “image consultant” and your city will probably turn up several names. Find one who provides career-oriented advice, not just shopping help. The initial consultation will help prioritize your personal to-do list, including issues of wardrobe, grooming, lifestyle, and presentation. Don’t just ask your friends, turn to a trained, objective professional for image advice.
• Be sure to freshen up your resume. Instead of just piling on new positions and responsibilities as your experience grows, rewrite the whole thing from scratch every year or so, as both your experience and the marketplace change. Make sure you hit on today’s buzzwords and call out the things you’ve done that especially position you to be competitive in the current job market. Rephrase or avoid entirely any mention of outdated technologies and strategies. For example, 10 years ago I was involved in CD-ROM initiative that was a high priority for my company. Now I’ve changed references to the passe CD-ROM medium to the more contemporary-sounding “digital content.” A stale resume is a red flag about a potential stale employee.


• Another sure-fire way to avoid depreciating in the job market like last year’s Cadillac is to work for either the leading company in your field or an acknowledged innovator. There are always other businesses looking to hire people who can cross-pollinate some of the best practices and “secret sauce” of successful competition. Within your own company, try to find opportunities to affiliate with exciting, forward-looking projects that add depth to your resume. Resist the complacent allure of staying within your comfort zone. If you’re willing to stretch yourself and take a few risks you’ll definitely see a payoff in the job market.
• Finally, respect yourself and the business experience you bring to the table, and insist that others do as well. Don’t try to rest on old laurels, but actively work to keep your career skills and personal presentation current, relevant, and aligned to companies’ needs. Once you’ve done that, present your qualifications with confidence and make a strong case for how you add value. Not every employer will respond as you’d like, but odds are in your favor that at least one will.