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LinkedIn best practices • Resume strategy • Job search trends • Ageism

Career coach Colleen Paulson told MarketWatch that in an informal survey she posted on LinkedIn, just 33% of respondents said they were happy with their job. But “they’re afraid of leaving, because you don’t know what else is out there,” she said. “The economy looks on the surface like it’s doing OK, but if you really talk to people, that’s where the struggle is.”

Colleen Paulson, the founder of Ageless Careers and a career coach who mainly works with Gen X and boomers, said that experienced workers are used to a dynamic where they would hear back in a timely manner, even if they didn't get the job.

“People have to make tough decisions about what it best for their family,” said Colleen Paulson, a Pittsburgh-based career coach.

Some employers might look skeptically at people who have been at a job for many years, but it's possible to recast long tenures as a plus, said Colleen Paulson, a career coach who mainly works with Gen X and boomers.

Colleen Paulson, founder of Ageless Careers, says when it comes to unretirement, “I’ve seen it all. Some people lean into their professional experience and start consulting companies where they can share their subject matter expertise in a full-time or fractional role.

According to career coach Colleen Paulson, the beginning of fall is “just naturally an easier time to start thinking about goals and objectives.”

In the past two decades, the number of U.S. workers over the age of 50 has grown by 47%, while the number of those under 50 increased by only 3%. As the workforce ages, both HR leaders and managers need to be aware of any preconceived notions or unconscious biases they may have about older workers.

In this alumni webinar, moderator Otis Greene leads an expert panel including Colleen Paulson, Tim Dean, Michael Herskovitz, and John Tarnoff in a candid discussion on career transitions, job search strategies, networking, and staying relevant in a rapidly evolving job market.

From tackling ageism and leveraging LinkedIn to embracing AI and building resilience, the panel shares actionable insights, personal stories, and proven tactics to help professionals at every stage chart their next chapter with confidence.

Colleen Paulson, founder of Ageless Careers, says there are things people can do to reduce the effects of ageism during the job search. Most importantly, she told LinkedIn News Editor Andrew Seaman on the latest episode of his weekly Get Hired podcast that it's key to find employers that value a person's experience.

LinkedIn Expert Colleen Paulson: "I run my business completely through LinkedIn and referrals with no advertising or cold pitches, with 20+ potential clients reaching out to me on a weekly basis. People feel like they know me – and they do – because I’ve built trust with them through my daily posts."

This is a challenging and crowded job market and it can be hard to know how to position yourself. In this webinar, Colleen will discuss tips and techniques to help you stand out. This webinar will be useful for job seekers of any age, but particularly helpful for those in their 40s, 50s, 60s and beyond who may be encountering ageism in looking for new opportunities.

Colleen Paulson, the founder and executive career consultant at Ageless Careers, has spent the last 18 years helping individuals 50+ find fulfilling work while engaging with over 68,000 followers on LinkedIn. She broke down the top 25 jobs for people who are over 50 in 2025.

Enthusiasm is defined as a “feeling of intense interest, enjoyment, or approval for something.”

I definitely don’t think you need to get to that level for your job. In fact, in some cases, that’s not even going to be healthy for some people.

“If you graduated college in 1985, the recruiter looking at your résumé was probably not born in 1985. If you have great experience or a big company name early in your career, talk about that experience in the summary section of your résumé and name drop in a way that doesn’t age you with dates,” Paulson said.

For me, remaining curious is the best thing that any leader can do.

Colleen Paulson, a Pittsburgh-based career consultant, understands why Hunt's post is resonating and getting shared so much by older unemployed adults.

"A lot of Gen Xers and baby boomers feel like they're being overlooked," she said. "And it's very frustrating because you feel like you've worked so hard for all these years only to be laid off and told that you are overqualified."

In our interview with Colleen Paulson, founder of Ageless Careers, she discusses the unique challenges faced by Gen X and Baby Boomer professionals during career transitions. Paulson addresses ageism and offers tips for effective resume writing and LinkedIn strategies.

Career consultant Colleen Paulson says the average job search is more like five months, and even longer at the executive level.

And it can take even more time if you want a specific position that has a lot of applicants.

Job searching can be hard—and lonely.

But these 28 career coaches make the process less stressful, more effective, and much faster.

Swipe through for our top career coaches to follow on LinkedIn in 2023 for advice, inspiration, and job search best practices

“With all of the talk about AI in hiring and in work in general, I think both workers and job seekers can succeed through bringing a human touch to their work."

So how should one react or handle a job offer being rescinded? Colleen Paulson, a career development consultant and certified professional resume writer, shared this advice and these tips on LinkedIn:

An executive bio is a one-page document that outlines your unique value proposition. It’s typically written as a third-person story about your work experience and highlights key results, board contributions, and educational background.

Paulson was inspired to coordinate a mini-reunion for her 2002 MBA classmates at the 2022 Homecoming football game on Oct. 8. She had connected with some on LinkedIn and other social media but knew there were others.

Join Carnegie Mellon College of Engineering alumnus and career consultant Colleen (Dillon) Paulson for a virtual discussion about how to best optimize your LinkedIn profile and usage. Whether you are actively searching for a job or just looking to stay relevant, we will discuss easy tips and best practices for using LinkedIn.

“If you are interested in working for a certain company, reach out to peers who work at that company to see if they’ve heard about any open roles,” advises career coach and certified professional resume writer Colleen Paulson.

Resumes and investing are more alike that you might think.

Why should young people stay in Pittsburgh if they can make more money elsewhere?