You’ve got more than a decade (maybe two or three, gulp) of work experience under your belt. You’ve developed a valuable skill set, a deep network of VIP contacts, and a solid track record that others in your field would envy. So why are you so afraid of finding a job after 40?

1. Reality
You might be older and wiser than you once were, but chances
are these common misconceptions are holding you back from
advancing your career.
You’ve got more than a decade (maybe two or three, gulp) of
work experience under your belt. You’ve developed a valuable
skill set, a deep network of VIP contacts, and a solid track
record that others in your field would envy. So why are you so
afraid of finding a job after 40?
Maybe you think employers will consider you too old or too
expensive, or you’re worried the grass will be browner
elsewhere.
But unless you’ve got retirement in your five-year plan—and
hey, even if you do—you deserve to be fulfilled in your work life
until then. And that means overcoming those pesky little voices
inside your head that tell you it’s better not to bother looking
for something new. But don’t take our word for it; Monster
asked some expert career coaches to debunk common myths
about finding a job after 40.
Myth
Myth: “I’m too old to be hired anywhere”
“When clients are over 40, fear is what gets them. Focus on your
strengths, not what you're lacking. Do you have the
qualifications? Can you bring value to this position? If you’re a
subject-matter expert or have specific skills, play that up in
your resume, cover letter, or communications with a recruiter.
It's easy to focus on why you can't get the job, but the trick is to
not let that psych you out.” —Joshua Miller, executive coach in
the San Francisco area
Job Searching after 40
Myths and Realities

2. Myth: “Networking is the only way to get a job”
"I regularly see three strategies successfully land people jobs:
networking, answering ads, and working with recruiters. But
these methods are only worthwhile if they are used effectively
and proactively. Yes, networking is a significant part of the job
search—and particularly for older workers—but don’t rely on only
one method to help with your job search. Actively and
effectively working on all three of these strategies is the optimal
way to ensure your chances of landing a job." —Paul Bernard,
executive coach and career management consultant in the New
York City area
Myth: “I’ll be pegged as less productive than younger
candidates”
“The Society for Human Resource Management notes that there
is no correlation between advancing age and declining work
productivity. Be innovative and demonstrate your ability to lead,
to get things done, to enhance productivity with process or
system improvements, and to save or make the company
money.” —Robin Ryan, career counselor and author of Over 40 &
You're Hired, based in the Seattle area
Myth: “I won't be happy in a role with less responsibility”
“This is wrong on two counts. Many of us start down a track when
we are very young that takes us to a place we never anticipated
being. Some of us want to hit the reset button and have the
financial resources from our first career to do just that. Second,
as our personal circumstances change, due to aging parents or
health scares, many over-40 job seekers relish a job with less
responsibility—as long as they can still add value.” —Kim Seeling
Smith, founder and CEO of Ignite Global, based in Sydney and
Austin.
Myth: “Employers will balk at my salary requirements”
"‘Too much’ is contextual to how experienced you are, the
market demand for your skills and how good you are at your job.
If you want to command high compensation, make sure the
employer feels they will get a good deal in return. Explain how
you could take on additional responsibility, drive improved
results and further justify the increased spending on their side.”
—Ben Brooks, business and executive coach in the New York City
area
Myth: “It’s too late to make a radical career change”.
There is still time to make a lateral move to gain new skills or to
learn an industry you have not been in yet. You are experienced
enough to know how to create a good business case for your
ability to move your skill set to something else. The key is to
remain nimble and not get complacent. Keep growing. Keep
taking risks. Keep demonstrating your willingness to learn