9 Job Interview Mistakes to Avoid in Your 50s

4. Not reviewing your résumé and LinkedIn profile

Be sure to brush up on the finer points of your résumé before you sit down with the interviewer, says Damian Birkel, founder of Professionals in Transition, a nonprofit that helps people find jobs, and author of The Job Search Checklist: Everything You Need to Know to Get Back to Work After a Layoff. If someone asks you a question about your résumé, you should be prepared to answer it off the top of your head. That may be hard to do if you haven't reviewed the document for a while or if you've been customizing your résumé for each job you apply for — a practice that generally is considered good to do.

While you're reviewing your résumé, make sure it matches your LinkedIn profile, Birkel says. Interviewers and recruiters may see discrepancies as red flags.

5. Winging it

"A lot of times, people think they understand the job or understand the company because they have ‘done it before,’" Gallo says. “And they don't do enough homework on that role in the company they're interviewing for.”

It's important for older applicants to show they are able to help the employer achieve the goals it has set for its future. Look at how the role for which you are applying may have changed and how it might change in the next few years. What new technology is affecting how it gets done? What other teams will you work with? How will your role affect other departments and how can you bring value?

If you walk in with preconceived notions and without having done your homework, you could be at a disadvantage, she says.

6. Being uncomfortable with a younger recruiter

It may feel odd to sit down with a decision maker who may be decades your junior, but this is an opportunity to “show interviewers that you can work well with young coworkers or a boss who's younger than you,” says job search and interviewing coach Thea Kelley, who writes the “Great Job Sooner” blog and is author of Get that Job! The Quick and Complete Guide to a Winning Interview. Listen more than you talk and avoid sounding condescending. “Let's share our expertise concisely and respectfully, and at the right time and place,” she says.

7. Sharing old stories

You may have some great work stories from 15 or 20 years ago, but be aware that those tales may make you seem dated, Gallo says. When you think about the anecdotes you may share to illustrate strengths like problem-solving, communication or conflict resolution, think about recent examples you can offer.

"People are looking for specifics that parallel what they're looking for [now],” Gallo says.

8. Forgetting that your skills are more than your jobs

If you're interviewing for a job that might require new skills, stop and take an inventory of all the things you actually do, Birkel says. For example, you might not manage a budget in the job you have now, but if you've helped run a nonprofit or served on a school board, you have experience making decisions about where money goes.

Think about your community service and volunteer work and other responsibilities you have. What skills do you use on a regular basis? Could those be important skills in the job for which you're interviewing? Your experience includes all of the things you do, so during the interview highlight any transferable skills you might have, he says.

9. Counting yourself out

One of the most important mistakes to avoid is counting yourself out or worrying too much about ageism. “Many job seekers overestimate the effect of ageism on their job search. Many hiring managers value the maturity, stability and good judgment of older employees,” she says. And with the tight labor market leaving many jobs unfilled, according to the BLS, your knowledge and experience are valuable commodities, Kelley adds.

She advises job seekers to be aware of the specific stereotypes some interviewers may hold, and proactively take steps to debunk them. “To overcome the stereotype that older people are out of touch with new trends or tools, get up to speed through online reading, taking a course, attending conferences and expos, making coffee dates with knowledgeable people, and so on. Refer to these activities in interviews as appropriate, as well as in your résumé and on LinkedIn and/or other social media,” she advises.

Interviews may have changed somewhat, but some elements are still universal. Do your homework before the interview, be prepared to showcase your skills during the meeting, and follow up with a note or email thanking the interviewer and expressing interest in the job, Gallo says. Those good practices will never go out of style.