Co-author of "The Good Girl's Guide to Negotiating"

I never thought having 25 years of experience would be a liability, but that seems to be the case when you are looking for a new job. Is there any way to turn the negative perceptions about "older workers," true or not, to my advantage?

Dear Readers,

Even if you have false teeth and use a walker, there are ways to compete in the job market and sail past younger competitors. Most likely you have collected a lengthy list of accomplishments, navigated a rough patch or two, and developed perspective that only age can bring. All you have to do now is convince a prospective employer that, in addition to your unmatched experience, you have tremendous energy and enthusiasm.

Charles Hays, vice president at Right Management Consultants, Inc., gives a monthly seminar for job hunters over 50. He offers the following tips to boost your chances of success:

Attitude Matters: "If you think you're old, you are," says Hays. Maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle pays off when you interview. Work in some mention of your life outside of work "so interviewers get to know the whole person."

Appearance Counts: Some older workers show up at interviews wearing ill-fitting clothes commenting that, "they just want to feel comfortable," Hays says. If interviewers are looking for a reason not to proceed with the hiring process, those applicants just handed it to them. Stick to tailored clothes and an up-to-date look for a good first impression. Also important is upright posture, a lively gait (if possible), and lots of eye contact.

Animation Helps: What gets a higher rating from interviewers - experience, communication, enthusiasm, or personality? Answer: enthusiasm. Research shows that it "wins by quite a bit," Hays says. Upgrade your mildly positive, I-can-do-that-in-my-sleep approach to true enthusiasm for the position.

Emphasize Your Work Ethic: The view that older workers have a stronger work ethic than the younger generation "is the biggest thing older workers have going for them," says Hays. Mention the times you have gone the extra mile, worked after hours and held a stellar attendance record.

Stretch Often: To counter the perception that people age 50 and older are inflexible, demonstrate involvement with new managers, different product lines, and expanded responsibilities. Keep current with technology and management styles. Managers who came up through the ranks and have trouble adapting when their organization takes a flatter, more inclusive approach often lose their jobs, Hays says.

10 is Better Than 35: "Everybody wants to tell you their life story," says Hays, but it's far better to focus on your accomplishments of the last 10 years. Keep your resume to two pages. Indicate your accomplishments in both growth and consolidation environments.

Short Answers: Keep your answers short and to the point. Start with "what" not "how," Hays advises Prepare a few sentences about your most impressive accomplishments and stop there. If your interviewer wants to know more - the details of how you did it - she will ask. "Pay attention to the eyes," Hays says. If they start wandering, you've lost her and should stop talking so she can redirect the conversation.

Reassure the Youth: A younger boss might feel threatened by your experience. Stress your generosity. Ask: Which needs do you think I can fill? How can I help you grow?

Overqualified? To head off the question of whether you will move on if you find a more challenging position, pare down your resume. "We tell people not to fluff up their resume, but nothing says you can't dumb it down," says Hays. When one of his clients applied to a company that was smaller than the department he had previously run, the client omitted numbers from his resume that made the contrast too apparent. He landed the job, loves is and has no plans to move on.

E-mail Leslie@ctwfeatures.com and join the conversation at her Web site, www.lesliewhitaker.com.