No matter what your age is, you still have every right in the world to look for a job just like everyone else. Perhaps your reason for leaving the workforce is to raise a family, or to get medical treatment, or perhaps you moved to another country for a few years and have now finally decided to go back home. Nobody can judge you for your reasons because you are very much welcome to look for a job in order to sustain your daily needs.

However, considering the fact that you have reached middle age, there just might be some difficulties in competing with younger fellow job applicants that are so much confident living in a world ruled by technology. Don’t worry because whether you are a first timer job applicant or just re-entering the workforce, there are several steps that you can follow in order to get a job and get back on track. Here are the basic steps:

1. Create an effective and winning resume – your resume should clearly state your goals and objectives, as well as your previous work history, achievements, trainings, and the necessary skills that you can put into good use in the company you are applying to and the position you are applying for.

2. Write a winning cover letter – your cover letter should state all the reasons why the organization should hire you. Focus on what you can bring to the company and how you can contribute to its progress.

3. Be realistic – if you are looking for a different job than the one you used to have, chances are, you might need a lot of time to get yourself ready by enrolling in short courses or attending trainings to develop new skills before you can be qualified. Be realistic because this means that you need to have enough money to do all these. If you go back to doing what you were originally great at, you need to enhance your skills to meet the company’s expectations.

4. Nail it during the interview –remember that you were a great asset in your company back then; therefore, you can still be an asset today. Your expertise is relevant to the job you are applying for and no matter how many young applicants they interview today, they’d still choose you. Just position yourself in a way that they will clearly see your worth.

Doing a career search in your forties can be very challenging but given the right skills and training, you will find yourself busy doing the job that you have always loved to do. Just make sure to follow these basic steps because they will guide you through the entire process.