Job-Hunting Older Lawyers Should Lose the Comb-Over, Update the Wardrobe
Older lawyers getting ready for job interviews may want to prepare by hitting the health club.
First impressions are important, legal search consultants Valerie Fontaine and Roberta Kass write in a column for the National Law Journal. They advise older lawyers who need to get in shape to improve their diet and fitness and to avoid dated styles.
“Update your style to be the best version of yourself,” they write. “Strive to look contemporary but age-appropriate and not ‘trying too hard to be hip.’ Stick to what you are comfortable with; just focus on a modern cut and flawless fit.”
Other advice: Don’t groan or sigh when you sit down or get up. Carry a portfolio instead of a briefcase. Leave the newspaper at home since the “techno-savvy” read their news on the Internet. Consider “touching up your hair color, or getting rid of the comb-over or obvious toupee.” Avoid outdated expressions, such as referring to a woman as a “gal,” and avoid statements that reminisce such as “in my day” or “when I started out.” Watch the attitude; don’t appear cocky or arrogant.
“The interview is your opportunity to put any concerns to rest and let the prospective employer know that, as an older but wiser candidate, you have more to offer than the requisite expertise,” the article says. “Give examples of your teamwork, flexibility, innovation and creativity, capacity to learn new things and work in different and changing environments, ability to work long hours and knack for getting along with a variety of people. Use recent examples so as not to date yourself.”
