If you’re older than 50 and looking for advice to approach your job search, there are plenty of resources online to get your mental wheels in motion. After reviewing a variety of readings, I found Kerry Hannon’s article, “The 11 Biggest Mistakes Older Job Hunters Make” as having some particular thoughts I think deserve some extra attention. Click here for her full article, but I wanted to list a few of the standouts from it:

The answer isn’t necessarily on the computer. In addition to individual networking, Hannon urges you “get out of the door” during your pursuit. Hannon directs job seekers to attend professional meetings and conferences in specific areas of interest as well as to take the initiative to join an association. Both pursuits might just open the door to volunteer opportunities or, at a minimum, be a platform for gaining further industry insight.

Keep an open mind open when reading the position description. Most job descriptions simply do not look great on paper. And, to one who has been in the workforce for a couple of decades, they might even seem beneath you in terms of duties, salary or both. So, make a concerted effort to see the job for more than just what is written. Identify the essential duties, then identify your related skills. From there, you will see what it is you, uniquely, can bring to the table to help the job grow it beyond its description. When you bring to the job what is advertised plus additional skills that bolster the quality and scope of the position, you add value to your candidacy.

Make certain you are in sync with the company’s values and culture. Your experience as an older candidate should be an asset here. Because of your experiences, it’s likely you can quickly trust your instincts as to whether or not you will be a good fit within a company’s environment. Younger workers often need time to trust their gut, but you likely already know your personal red flags. In addition to how the environment feels, it’s important to make certain your values match those of the company. You don’t want to work for a company where these aspects don’t line up, and they really don’t want you. Rely on your experience through your side of the vetting process.

Don’t just look for the same-old, same-old. We tend to get stuck in an assumption that when something goes away, we must replace exactly what is gone. But, that is simply not always true including with regard to a job. Especially when you’re more experienced, you have an advantage of, first, stepping back and taking stock of your entire skill set. From there, figure out how to transfer any of those skills to something new. This should allow you to identify many more opportunities than simply trying to find your old job in a different location.

Keep learning. If you’re looking to be hired at a position you’ve not before held, or if you’re applying for a job that requires duties you’ve never performed, demonstrating you not only have the capacity to learn but also have the desire to do so works to your advantage. Of course, it is helpful if you pursue educational opportunities directly applicable to a position. But, for those educational endeavors that aren’t, don’t overlook transferrable skills or applications. Dedication to continued education of any kind shows a commitment and desire to learn. Also keep in mind that online classes add to the evidence of your technological savvy.

Other sound advice more commonly found includes:

Make sure your resume is up to date but relevant. It is common advice for it to reflect just the past 10-15 years of experience which will also help shorten it.

Network. And, then, network some more. Don’t fear looking needy as personal contacts are highly effective. Be sure to understand your purpose with each individual contact.

Give focused time to your interview preparation. Don’t assume you’re old enough to instinctively know what you’re doing. Interviews are not organic, so you have to prepare. And, most definitely do not approach a younger-than-you interviewer as though, well, they’re younger than you. Prepare in such a way that you take the focus off of any age concern, and put it on how you are going to be a part of the solution to any given problem. And, of course, practice your interview skills with friends and/or by recording yourself.

Reassure your interviewer with evidence. A younger manager needs to know you’re going to be a team player. Your age can be seen as positive when you communicate the experience you bring, examples of what you have accomplished and the enthusiasm to be a part of the team with age never being any part of the discussion.

Use technology to its fullest. From utilizing LinkedIn to demonstrating you have, indeed, kept up with the latest in technology, this area is vitally important for your search as well as is considered required for most employment.

No matter how well you prepare, there will be some obstacles for those over 50 seeking employment. But, by following much of this advice, many of those obstacles can be lessened or even eliminated. While you cannot control all of the factors, you can most definitely control the contribution you make to your own candidacy by positively focusing on your abilities and attitude, not by fearing your age.

Hannon, Kerry. “The 11 Biggest Mistakes Older Job Hunters Make.” Forbes.com. Forbes Media LLC. 2016. Web. (12 Feb. 2016)

Nancy Stoker is a Senior Client Services Representative and Research Associate with ExecSearches.com. ExecSearches provides various recruitment and executive search services for nonprofits including its nonprofit job board.