Everyone’s job search story is different, but each individual story can inspire and empower others who are on their own unique path. We love to hear how our readers have found rewarding careers in Portland and beyond, and we want to share these stories with you to inspire you in your job search and to help us all better understand the local job market!

Name:  Doug Wells

Occupation: Director, Organizational Development

What do you do for a career? Who do you work for?

About half of my career has been in nonprofits and half in the private sector. Most often, I’ve been an executive in finance, operations, and development, and have also served on and chaired a number of statewide, regional, and national boards.  I currently work for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America as Director, Organizational Development. I work with a variety of clubs (independent, 501c3 nonprofits that are chartered by the national organization) to help them be more successful in carrying out their mission.

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Being a baby boomer in the workplace is not easy. Whether you’re trying to age-proof your resume, compete with millennials for an interview, or get up to speed with new technologies on the job, older people face age discrimination in the hiring process. Yet more seniors than ever are working longer, seeking new jobs after retirement, and managing great careers.

Research has busted the myths about the older worker, and while stereotypes still exist, many resources exist for finding progressive companies that welcome and seek age diversity in their operations. I’ve pulled together some of the best resources, and a few tactics to understand companies’ hiring practices.  

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As a job seeker, you need both a resume and a LinkedIn profile. Sync LinkedIn with your resume, but don’t duplicate content word for word. Each piece has its own particular purpose and, together, they function as a complementary review of your work history.

Your LinkedIn profile is a broad overview of what your professional value proposition is. Your resume should be customized around a particular job opportunity. It’s important to use keywords from the job posting in your resume so when the hiring manager knows you are familiar with the language and the culture of the opportunity.

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