How Job Search Has Changed From 20 Years Ago

By AARP   Published July 24, 2008

If you haven't job searched in a while, then you might be surprised to discover that the process is quite different from what it used to be. Newspaper ads for openings have been replaced

with online listings, and a computer is more likely to conduct the initial scan of your résumé than a human being. Here is a roundup of how job hunting has changed over the last two decades.

Members only THENNewspaper ads were the main source of job listingsRésumés were presented on paper and delivered by mail or in personAn actual human being read your résuméIf you applied for

a job, you generally received a responseOne résumé was all you needed, listing all of your past jobsYou had more control over your personal informationRecruiters were around your age or

olderA lack of technology skills may not have been a drawbackThe job interview was fairly predictableThere were limited sources of advice for job seekersFinding a job was more about what you

knew and less about whom you knew

Members only NOWMillions of job postings show up online every dayElectronic applications — emailing résumés or submitting forms online — have become the normYour résumé may get scanned

electronically for keywords. Including the right keywords helps your résumé get noticedDue to the large volume of job applications, many employers won't acknowledge receiving your résumé.

Don't take it personally. Keep networking to expand your contacts and job leadsDevelop multiple résumés based on different positions you're pursuing. List only the past 10 to 15 years of

work experience. Focus on key skills and achievementsProtecting your privacy is essential when applying for jobs online. Use only trusted sites with a clearly stated privacy policyMany

recruiters will be younger than you. Know how to answer questions about working with younger colleagues and bosses. Show you're in step with current industry terminologyComputer skills are

important to most jobs and change quickly. Highlight your tech skills; get more training if you need itCount on getting not-too-subtle questions related to your age. Be prepared to give

examples of achievements that demonstrate your ability to do the job for which you are applyingThe internet is chock-full of information for job seekers. But try not to let yourself get

weighed down by information overloadA successful job search includes networking. Sign up for a LinkedIn account and reconnect with former colleagues and friends. You'll be surprised how

far-reaching your network can become. Also take advantage of network building through Facebook, Twitter and AARP's Life Reimagined