Over 50 and Job Hunting – Some Top Tips

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After 5 years of living in recession, employment is finally starting to rise. On the whole, this is great news, but for those people now over 50 and unemployed, looking for a new job can be nothing short of terrifying.  Although age discrimination is illegal, older job seekers are being pipped at the post by younger candidates who appear to have current technological experience and demonstrate a strong cultural fit. This can be off putting, but if you follow these 6 key steps, older job seekers can get back in the recruitment race and secure rewarding employment.

  1. Age-proof your CV – employers are only concerned with your experience over the last 10 – 15 years, only include roles that date back this far and highlight skills and experience on the first page along with significant achievements. Delete your date of birth for a start and get rid of dates of qualifications, they’re unnecessary.
  2. Write a confident cover letter – all applications should be accompanied by a cover letter and all cover letters should promote the strengths and opportunities you will bring to the company. Do not highlight your age and use phrases such as “seasoned professional” as it gives an impression that you may be out of touch. Be confident in your style and ensure you highlight how your experience and skills matches the requirements of the job.
  3. Change your mind set & get technically up to date – being able to use current computer software programmes is essential, there are a number of low cost online courses that can be accessed as well as local courses run by job centres.
  4. Get up to date with job hunting –  the techniques have drastically changed over recent years. A huge emphasis is now placed on social media and having an online profile. If nothing else, get yourself registered on Linked in and use it to promote your experience and connect with your network.
  5. Network extensively –  it is most definitely about who you know, not what you know. Take your time to connect with people you have worked and socialised with and use them to help put you in contact with opportunities. Remember 70% of jobs are never advertised and secured through this “hidden job market”.
  6. Attitude is everything – Don’t be ashamed of your age! You bring a great deal of knowledge and experience with you but be open to the new and dynamic approach of business today – change is constant and you’ll need to demonstrate that you can keep up.

Best of luck with your job search, if you need some help please get in touch penny@pennystrutton.co.uk