HUNTING FOR a job has changed dramatically from even a few years ago.

Gen X job seekers aren’t just dealing with typical ageism or a generally tough job market. They have to contend with AI screening agents designed to thin the herd of applicants before a résumé ever reaches human hands. And they must decide whether using AI to tailor their online presence will help—or harm—their efforts to stand out to potential employers.

“You’re going through a lot more before you speak to real people,” says Alan Russell, a 50-something accountant in Chicago, who found himself out of work after his former company was sold and his position eliminated.

Take, for instance, trying to ensure your profile doesn’t get lost amid the deluge of AI slop—low-quality content created by artificial intelligence—that’s clogging up feeds on job search platforms.

It can be smart to use AI tools as a starting point to help mold your LinkedIn profile or résumé, but if you rely too heavily on the technology, it could backfire, experts say. AI often uses a lot of adjectives and sales-y phrasing to try to make job seekers sound more impressive, but that can be less effective, notes Madeline Mann, a human resources and recruiting professional. “There’s this subtle distrust when a profile clearly doesn’t sound like what a person would actually write themselves,” Mann says.

As of July, nearly 1.2 million people 55 and older were unemployed and actively looking for work. And unemployed job seekers 55 and older were on the market for 33 weeks or more, on average—the longest average period of unemployment among all age groups.

Older job searchers must be intentional about how they present themselves to prospective companies, says Matt Berndt, a senior career strategist at Indeed, a job site that collaborates with AARP. They need to build their own “personal brand” that carries through their résumé, cover letter, LinkedIn profile and the job interview.

Whether you’re unemployed or just looking for a change, these tips from career experts can help you boost your chances of success.

→ Focus on metrics. Your goal is not to prove longevity but to demonstrate relevance through tangible, measurable results, says Mann, author of Reverse the Search: How to Turn Job Seeking Into Job Shopping. Identify the strengths that have made you successful and how they can carry over into other roles.

If you’re currently employed, make note of your wins and impact as they happen and cross-train on adjacent skills to expand your options, says Kate Bond, a career and leadership coach in the Denver area.

→ Make yourself findable. LinkedIn is the main platform companies are using to identify candidates, Mann says. (Other job search platforms are Indeed, Glassdoor and ZipRecruiter.) Yet less than 2 percent of LinkedIn’s audience is 55 and older. When building a LinkedIn profile, research and incorporate keywords so recruiters can discover your online résumé, Mann says.

In the headline, use keywords specifying your relevant skills and the role you’re aiming for—not just your current job title. Also use keywords in the About, Experience and Skills sections, weaving in common phrases and responsibilities linked to the type of job you want. You can find relevant keywords by searching job descriptions for the type of role you’re interested in and looking at the profiles of people who already have that role or leaders in the industry. You can also use AI to help identify industry-specific keywords and phrases.

→ Deploy AI strategically. Russell says he uses AI assistants to comb through job descriptions and identify common themes to help tailor cover letters. Experts advise being as specific as possible with AI prompts for a more customized result. AI is a starting point, but if you want to stand out from others, editing in your own words is key, says Diana Stephens, founder of Mindful Job Alignment.

→ Lean into your humanity. Some things never go out of style: “Networking is still the fastest way to land a job,” Mann notes. Attending job fairs and volunteering in a field you’re interested in can be good ways to network, Bond says.