Over 45 and looking for a job? Here are one researcher's tips for succeeding

What should you do if you find yourself in a situation where you, voluntarily or involuntarily, have to enter the Job market at a ripe old age of 45 or older?

Anne Grethe Solberg, a researcher at the Work Research Institute at Oslo Metropolitan University (OsloMet) has looked at this exact question.

Her study is based on in-depth interviews with 37 people between the ages of 40 and 71. All had relatively high levels of education and a long professional career behind them.

A lot of hard work

There’s a lot of hard work involved in changing jobs at a mature age, Solberg has found.

Finding a new job was particularly tough for people who had been downsized.

“Some people probably overestimated how easy it would be to get a new job,” Solberg said.

All jobs are currently available online. Almost everyone she interviewed was up-to-date on technological solutions. They knew how to look for a new job. They were on LinkedIn and Facebook and were conscious of their digital footprint.

However, not everyone was equally good at writing their CV.

“When you have had a long career, you have a lot to show for it. But the digital space only allows you to include a little of your experience on your CV. Many people consequently struggled to write a good CV,” Solberg said.

Your attitude matters

Many of the people she interviewed got new jobs.

Some had encountered employers who completely disregarded age.

Others felt that their age was decisive in their failure to get an interview or employment.

People’s attitudes towards looking for a job played a big role in how the search went, Solberg said.

She presented her findings at a seminar organized by the Centre for Senior Policy in February. The centre also commissioned the study.

Don't think about age

Several studies have shown that there can be age discrimination in the workplace. International research shows that age has become the most widespread basis for discrimination in the workplace,?sciencenorway.no wrote ?in 2022.

Solberg said in an interview with sciencenorway.no that mature job seekers should not be concerned about age discrimination.

“The moment you start to think that you are subject to discrimination, you have lost. You become discouraged. Rather, you should show your potential employer that you are the right person for this job,” she said.

Solberg has been a gender researcher for many years and has met many women who want to apply for top management jobs.

She says the same situation can apply to these women.

“You won't get a top management job if you go around talking about the glass ceiling, meaning the invisible barriers that make it difficult for women to reach the top,” she said.

Is age an issue?

When you have to show a potential new employer the resources you offer, you have to take the right steps.

“You have to crack codes and understand how the employer thinks. That's what gets you the job,” Solberg said.

She saw clear differences between those she interviewed: Some focused on the fact that there was age discrimination in the workplace.

For others, age was not an issue.

Many were headhunted

Many of the 37 jobseekers she interviewed were headhunted into a new job, despite their advanced age.

There were some patterns that crystallized among these candidates, she says.

“These jobseekers typically had a focus on the responsibilities and tasks at work. They also prepared thoroughly before the job interview. They googled the people who were going to interview them and they read annual reports,” she said.

They were also very aware of how they should present their own expertise, she said.

1. Aim for jobs that are in high demand

Certain industries are so desperate for warm bodies they’ll take anyone. Sure, it’s not the most glamorous job, but when you need a paycheck quickly, you may need to accept a short-term gig while you search for better options.

Check

5 most in-demand skills in India, according to LinkedIn

2. Keep your skills sharp with online courses and certifications

Nowadays, there are all sorts of free resources you can use to learn online. YouTube is a great place to start. TikTok is most famous for its dances, but you can find all sorts of skilled professionals sharing their advice in short video clips.

For a more robust education, check out edX. It offers high-level lessons from America’s top university professors.?Tap or click here to sign up for free edX classes today. ?

Certifications are another great way to impress interviewers. Microsoft has you covered on that. Good news: Microsoft offers free digital skills training.?Tap or click here to bolster your resume .

3. Use your well-developed network

Over the years, you have developed a network of past coworkers. If you went on business dinners, you have partners and friends. Take advantage of the friendships you have built over the years and put out some feelers.

It might feel awkward at first, especially if you haven’t spoken to them in a while. But it’s not like you’re asking for a kidney. Most people will be happy to let you know if they’re aware of any job openings. Then you will have an in!

4. Use your age as an asset

Attitude is key. If an interviewer calls attention to your age, treat it like a badge of honor. Age brings wisdom, maturity and experience younger job seekers might not have. You add diversity and a unique perspective to the workplace.

5. Embrace change

Who says you have to get a job in your field? If you’ve spent 30 years as a salesman and have always wanted to do something else, make the switch. A?study by PayScale ?says 82% of folks over the age of 45 had success when they switched careers.

It’s never too late to pursue your dream goals. There’s nothing to lose by trying, so narrow down a job you’ve always wanted to try and stop standing in your own way.

6. Update your resume

Brush off old experience that isn’t relevant. For example, if you worked with tech that is now outdated, that won’t impress an interviewer. Focus on the skills you have that benefit the modern workplace, like computer skills or even the timeless classics like good communication and flexibility.

7. Don’t overthink job descriptions

You might be overwhelmed when you see a posting with a long list of job duties and required skillsets. Often, these are just wishlists employers write. Don’t let a job description deter you.

Plus, many job listings are sloppily put together, with little concern for clarity. For example, I once applied for a job with a few job duties I didn’t fully understand. When the interviewer used some terminology I wasn’t familiar with, I asked him to explain how it works.

“Although I may not know the technical term, I may have some experience that aligns with it,” I said. He nodded at the explanation and told me what he meant. As it turns out, I was right: I had the proper skills but hadn’t known the technical jargon he used.

Bottom line: If you see a job you like and think it matches your skills, apply for it. Don’t let yourself fall victim to self-doubt!

The best place to hire

Small businesses / Startups / MSMEs have unique needs, and it’s more important than ever to have the right people on your team.

Like a date

A job interview is like being on a date.

The person you are with should think that you are the most wonderful worker they can hire. But you must also show that this is your dream job.

The people who got jobs understood that they had to present the best version of themselves during the interview, says the researcher.

“They showed a conscious humility and held back a little rather than bragging about their expertise. They showed that they were learning oriented. And they willingly positioned themselves below those who interviewed them, who were often 20 years younger,” she said.

Others were not willing to present themselves like this. “They thought: ‘They have my CV, so they must know what I can do’,” Solberg said.

We must be prepared to lose our jobs

Everyone must be prepared to lose their job at some point in their lives.

That means our CVs must demonstrate that we are up-to-date.

If you lose your job involuntarily, you have to have a contingency plan. If you don’t, it will be difficult to enter a job market that requires you to be ‘fresh’, she said.

“You have to be well prepared. The person who succeeds is the person who has done their homework"

Book a one -on-one consultation today