Job Hunt 50+ Blog

Episode 2: Losing your job

Author: Justin Paul

Welcome to the Job Hunt 50+ blog. Over the next few months I intend to publish a series of articles about the pitfalls and challenges of job hunting for the over 50s, using my own experiences in the 2024 job market to illustrate how to navigate this difficult market.

I lost my job at the end of 2023 and now face the challenge of finding a new role in a turbulent economic market while experiencing the overt and covert challenges of the over 50 job seeker.

My intention is to stop the blog if and when I find a new full-time role, so I'm hoping that this will be a short series....

I've also set up the Job Hunt 50+ LinkedIn Group. Please feel free to join and post interesting material to other job hunters here.

However, the reality is that it could easily take me six months to a year to find the right role.

Not the worse thing that can happen to you, but close...

Losing your job can be one of the worst things, not related to health, that can happen to you. Losing your job can be incredibly stressful, even if you are treated fairly and with respect, but as you'll see later this isn't always the case.

Losing your job can have a huge impact on your mental wellbeing. In Western culture a huge amount of emphasis is placed on what you do for a living. Its shorthand for your social status, wealth, education and how you perceive yourself. Losing your job can feel like losing a part of yourself.

If you have never been through this process before (and you're a 50+ Job Hunter) well done. You've beaten the odds already. Very few people get to 50 without experiencing the pain of losing your job. Hopefully this blog will help you.

If this is not your first rodeo, I'm hoping that some of the advice here will help you recover quickly from the shock and move quickly to where you become an effective job hunter.

Losing your job is bad, it is painful but you also have to learn to put it in context. It is something that you will get through. I was moaning about losing my job to a friend and former-colleague, who, when I paused for breath told me that he had just been diagnosed with motor-neurone disease. You can't imagine how bad I felt, but it also put my situation in context.

"I've lost my job, but I will find another one..."

Losing your job is a temporary setback which you will get through. Hopefully, you will find a better role, better salary, better colleagues and better work-life balance, but even if you don't you will find something suitable.

Grief - understanding the impact of unemployment

Losing your job can be a huge shock. The financial implications of unemployment such as inability to pay the mortgage, inability to pay school fees, delays to retirement plans etc. are huge.

One time this happened to me, I remember being in complete shock. To this day I have no recollection of how I managed the two-hour drive home. I can't have been concentrating on driving and the situation was probably dangerous to me and other road users.

When you lose your job you go through a very similar grief cycle to people who lose a close friend or relative.

The challenge for the 50+ Job Hunter is to move through that cycle as quickly as possible to accept the situation...and if you succeed please tell me how you did it.

1. Denial

Denial, the first stage is very common. We've all heard stories of people who have lost their jobs and continued to get up and leaving the house dressed for work weeks or months later.

While that reaction is extreme, I've been put on notice of redundancy, and my first reaction has been, "... but I need to complete this piece of work today".

2. Anger

Not long after denial comes anger. This phase can last for a long time, particularly if you're treated unreasonably, unfairly or even illegally during the process.

In my career, such as it is, I can give examples of all three:

Unreasonable - Being given notice 10 days before Christmas. Nothing unfair or illegal but it was just a "sucky" time to let someone go. The counter argument is that telling someone just before Christmas prevents the from spending money or making financial commitments they won't be able to meet. However, I would argue that by 14 December you've probably bought all the presents, ordered the food and made travel plans. Its not saving you any financial pain, but it is crossing something off the HR "to do list" before Christmas. Its just an unreasonable thing to do.

Unfair - I have seen some pretty tenuous reasons for people losing their jobs. I've seen companies organise redundancy programmes to minimize consulting periods. I've seen companies run European wide programmes but avoid countries like Germany and France because they have much more robust labour laws.

"We're making the majority of redundancies in the UK and Ireland [...because we won't get away with it in France and Germany]"

Illegal - I have to be very careful what I say here. I have experienced racial discrimination and been "let go" because of the colour of my skin. I had it confirmed by a headhunter who told me several years later that he's had job offers rescinded or been asked to deselect candidates because they came from a BAME background with that company. What I didn't have was any hard evidence that I could use in an employment tribunal. I was in the my few months of the role, and in the UK an employee has very few rights until they have been in role for two years, and I was simply told, "We don't think you fit in..."

The reason I mention illegality is because age is one of nine protected characteristics in the UK, and people shouldn't experience discrimination because of age.

UK Protected Characteristics: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.

However, there may be a number of reasons given for people being targeted for redundancy that equate to age discrimination or that could be considered "sailing close to the wind" including:

"You're at the top of the salary bracket"

"We are applying a first in, first out redundancy policy"

"We feel you're too experienced for the role"

The sad thing is that age discrimination is commonplace, and sometimes (often) its very hard to prove definitively.

If you feel that the reasons for losing your job are: Unreasonable, unfair or even illegal you probably have a right to be angry.

However, its really important that you are able to get through this phase as quickly as possible. Being angry doesn't change your situation, it just makes your home life more unpleasant for everyone around you. The companies that have "let you go" don't care if you're angry or not, they've already made a decision that you are disposable and have written you off. Finally, the companies you want to hire you don't want someone who is angry or bitter. Being angry decreases your chances of being hired.

So it's really important that you find a way to get over your anger. Talking to friends and family can help. Counselling may also be helpful and if that fails always remember that:

Karma is a bitch!

The people that have treated you in that way will eventually get their comeuppance.

3. Bargaining.

The next phase of grief is bargaining. This is the phase where you seek to come to terms with what has happened to you. This can be very hard, particularly if you've been treated badly.

From a job hunting point of view this is where you get to define your own narrative and put your own version of the events leading to you losing your job. What's important is to tell a positive story, and reflect on the undoubted successes you have achieved rather than focusing on the unpleasantness of your final few weeks.

Learn how to tell your story with your head held high.

4. Depression

Losing your job is undoubtedly depressing, and it may even be clinically depressing. I know of a lot of people, particularly over 50, who have really struggled with losing their job.

I know personally that I've had trouble sleeping, I've been irritable, and on some days I just want to stay in bed.

I also know people who have experienced marriage breakdowns, long bouts of clinical depression and even contemplated suicide. I'm not always sure that a young HR professional understand that mental impact of losing your job, when you have financial and family commitments; and unfortunately I also know HR "professionals" and know but simply don't care.

If you are in this position do, please, seek professional help. When you're in this phase it is really difficult to see a way out but it's really important to reflect that

"Its only a job".

You will find another one. It may be better or worse that the job you lose but you are not defined simply by your job.

This is so much easier said than done. For my part there are a few things that help me get through this phase:

• Exercise - Regular exercise is vital, even if it's just going for a walk with the dog, or without a dog, or borrowing someone else's dog. If you have gym membership, get "ripped". Sitting at home all day looking at a computer screen is not healthy. Be active.
• Talk - You undoubtedly have a support network of friends, family, former colleagues who will be happy to help you. All you have to do is ask for help. I found that talking to friends, and in particular an old school friend who is a coach, psychologist and Cranfield lecturer, has really helped me put things in context.
• Find a hobby - I know that everyone tells you that finding a job is a full time task, and it is, but its very easy to get into a downward spiral. The harsh reality is that it may take me 6-12 months to find a new job. You have to view this process as a marathon not a sprint. Set time aside to do things that aren't job hunt related. Give yourself targets for each week, e.g. Apply for 10 jobs online each week; talk to 5 headhunters; have a minimum of 2 meetings a week with your contacts. Do you have DIY tasks that need doing in the house? Set aside a day per week to do home admin and DIY tasks. Do you have old hobbies that you've given up? Why not take them up again even if its just for a couple of hours per week. I love writing, and so I'm writing blogs, writing articles on Medium.com and I've started the Job Hunt 50+ blog.

• Volunteer - Offer your services as a volunteer or even consider taking on a part time job. I love cinema and have my eye on any vacancies at our local Everyman Cinema. Being front of house pays minimum wage, but I'll get to see films and work in a cool environment. See if there are local innovation hubs, or careers advice organizations where you could use your knowledge and expertise. In Bristol, we have the Engine Shed, an innovation hub based in Isambard Kingdom Brunel's original engineering works at Bristol Temple Meads Station. I volunteer on their Business Review Panel (BRP) programme, getting to meet and review the business plans of exciting start-ups and spin-outs. Its a great way of building up your contacts, and for me it gives me the opportunity to leverage my expertise in technology marketing, and finally, to satisfy my inner geek I also get to see some very cool early stage innovations.

• Learn - You can teach an old dog new tricks. A common concern among the over 50 job hunters is that their skills and knowledge become out of date. Its certainly one of the reasons that potential employers may give for not hiring an older candidate. You have an opportunity to change your narrative. There is no shortage of free or cheap learning material. LinkedIn Learning offer some excellent courses. Organisations like Udemy offer some great accreditations and courses for a very modest sum. Lots of companies such as Hubspot, Cisco and ServiceNow offer free training around their products and portfolios. If all else fails you can read new articles and follow some of the excellent blogs and podcasts out there. I've recently been listening to a huge number of BBC Sounds Science and Technology Podcasts on the topic of artificial intelligence (AI) from some of the leading thinkers and thought leaders in the industry. Finally, to the aggravation of my family I've also taken up learning a language on Duo Lingo. I try and do 15 minutes language learning every day.

Being active, physically and mentally is critical for moving through the depression phase. Importantly, this will also help you when you're asked that question:

"What have you been doing since you left XXX..."

5. Acceptance

The final stage of the process is acceptance. This is when you've finally processed what has happened to you and come to terms with it.

I know many people, myself included, who've been worn down in some companies for various reasons: toxic environment; long commute; poor leadership; lack of opportunities; lack of recognition etc. etc.

Losing your job can be a genuine opportunity.

I spoke to one head-hunter who stated when people get to 55 (ish) they are often looking for a final role, where they want to make an impact, or they are looking to do something that will create a legacy.

I know that in the future I want to set up a not-for-profit organization to help improve science-technology-engineering-art-maths (STEAM) education for children, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Two months after leaving my last company I can honestly say I accept my situation. I feel confident, I'm physically well, I'm learning new skills and I'm giving something back. I've set up a small consulting business and have already started delivering projects. In fact I feel better now than I have for many years. Lack of income is a concern but I know that I will find a new role, and when I do it will be the right role for me.

Leave the b*stards behind

The final things to consider, in terms of job opportunities, is that you have been given a golden opportunity for a career change. The reality is that if you're in your 50s you probably have between 10-20 years of employment ahead of you. While that can be a sobering thought, it is also a golden opportunity.

Despite a suggestion from a friend that I consider a career in Medicine, I do think that by the time I've completed 7 years of training to become a junior doctor, I really will be too old to start that career, there are a lot of other opportunities open to me in new sectors.

Other options include starting your own business. I've certainly dipped a toe in the water with the founding of Ultra Blue Marketing, and I'm available for marketing projects and contract work.

A school friend, Richard Maun, following up from his (should have been a best-seller), "My boss is a b*rstard" wrote a book about setting up your own business called, "Leave the b*rstard's behind".

It may not be for everyone but remember, you have friends, family and colleagues who will help you.

Remember - you bring experience, credibility and gravitas to the team and any employer would be lucky to have you.

The scores on the doors: Job Search Metrics

I want to share with you the metrics of my job search since I started in December. I'm also analysing where I spend my time and effort during my job search.

W/C 12 Feb 2024 - 11 weeks job hunting (including Christmas)

• Jobs applied for - 52
• Interviews (A single interview or a series of interviews for a particular job counts as 1) - 17
• Rejections - 9
• Offers - 0

I'm noticing that a lot of hiring opportunities are being delayed with roles being put on hold due to political turmoil, including the uncertainty about the UK election. I also feel that confidence is improving in the UK job market.

You'll notice that there is a big discrepancy between the number of jobs applied for and the number of rejections. This doesn't, unfortunately, mean that I have 43 active opportunities. Sadly, particularly for roles applied for on LinkedIn, you just never get a response. My feedback to LinkedIn would be that if people advertise for roles on the platform they must a) acknowledge receipt within 48 hours b) inform you if you've not been selected. Lots of companies put caveats that its not possible to provide feedback, so if you don't hear anything accept that you aren't right for the role, but this just seems lazy to me. I'm not expecting a detailed explanation as to why I wasn't shortlisted or long listed, although that should be easy to do using generative AI, but I would like a notification to say "thanks, but no thanks". This can easily be set up as an automated workflow.

11 weeks into job hunting I am starting to get despondent. I'm fortunate that I'm (still) getting interviews for some very cool companies, but it does feel like things are taking much longer than I hoped.

I hope that you've enjoyed the second edition of Job Hunt 50+.

Any feedback or comments will be gratefully received.

Please join the Job Hunt 50+ LinkedIn Group here.