Are You Too Old To Be Hired?

Many of us dream of retirement but when we get there, (whether by choice or whether it's been forced upon us due to Covid, organisational change, health or some other reason), it’s not all it’s cracked up to be.

If you are a mature-age professional and looking for a job, I reflect on the challenges you may face, and provide some useful tips on getting back into the workforce.

[I include many useful links to additional resources to support you in this article, so read through it all first, then click through to what you'd like to delve into a little deeper.]

Many of us dream of retirement when we’re getting up at the crack of dawn, battling with other commuters to work, dealing with office politics, working long hours and carrying a heavy workload. When the time for retirement comes, it’s a welcome break after years of working, saving and planning for the future.

However, for some of us retirement isn’t as enjoyable as it’s supposed to be. Perhaps we’re bored and miss the regularity and camaraderie of being in the workforce and the thrill of a challenge. Perhaps we miss the status of having a job title or the opportunity to mentor younger team members. Or perhaps our financial situation has changed and due to economic necessity we have to go back to work.

Change can be pretty scary. It can leave us feeling confused, anxious, fearful and stressed. We find ourselves on an emotional roller coaster and it’s erodes our self-confidence, we feel dizzy and confused about what to do next.

Unfortunately, finding a new job can be a challenge when we are older with more degree-qualified youngsters entering the job market, other baby boomers taking longer and longer to retire and so many jobs being outsourced offshore and companies downsizing (or closing down as in the case in 2020 due to Covid), resulting in many redundancies and fewer opportunities.

Coupled with a lack of confidence and clarity about what to do next, the situation can become very stressful.

Nothing endures but change. Change is the only constant - Greek philosopher Heraclitus

You are not the first to cope with change - people have been coping with change for thousands of years but still, it doesn't make it any easier when it happens to us.

So what can we do? As a career management coach who has coached over 8,000 clients through their career and life transitions, I’ve found that many feel the same anxiety. Here’s what two of my clients have felt when going through career change:

“Suddenly I had no clear plan or identity, my networks outside {of my industry} were weak and I had no real idea of what I wanted to do next. I went at speed from being an ‘important person’ to an ‘unemployed person.’ I lost the things that I thought defined me – the status, the car, the income – and, like many people, I was wandering in ‘the mist’ a bit.”

“Going through redundancy after 35 years in a stable government job and facing the incredible unknown for which I was ill prepared left me at a complete loss. The fact that I was unemployed at the age of 52, I felt like an ‘old woman’ in the eyes of younger employees. I felt panic.”

The most important thing if you're returning to the workforce after a period in retirement is to be clear about what you can and want to do.

Here are 7 steps to follow before re-entering the job market:

1 Build your confidence by sharing your concerns with trusted friends or family who are well connected in your areas of interest or by gaining an honest, informed perspective from a career coach.

2 Identify what you can do and the skills you have that are transferrable into a new role. Think about what you’d like to do next and find out what skills you need to upgrade. Get up to speed with new technology required for the roles you want to target so you won’t be perceived as a ‘dinosaur.’

3 Update your resumé with tangible accomplishments to prove that you're a professional who will add value to any organisation. Learn how to get past the Applicant Tracking System when making online applications.

4 The way you present yourself matters, and unfortunately, some people will pass judgment on whether your age will affect your ability to do a good job.

Update your ‘look’ (in person and on your LinkedIn profile) and be aware that in person and in video interviews, your posture is the key to making you look younger (or older). Keep physically fit so you have a spring in your step! Exercise is good for your mental health while job seeking too.

And, your Personal Brand matters - online AND offline.

5 Understand the latest job search strategies. According to a 2020 JobVite Survey, social media channels most used for recruiting are LinkedIn (72%), Facebook (60%), Twitter (38%), Instagram (37%), Glassdoor (36%), and YouTube (27%).

As LinkedIn is the place where most recruiters hang out to find you, ensure that your LinkedIn profile reflects the competent, professional and up-to-date you - the YOU who is the solution to your potential employer's problems. 

If your profile demonstrates the value that you bring, it is more likely to attract the audience you desire.  

6 Practice your interview technique to answer confidently when asked, “Why should we hire you?” and prepare specific examples to demonstrate your capabilities.

Due to the changes to recruitment because of Covid, it’s time to prime your video interviewing skills if you haven’t already. 

In the pandemic job market, 67% of recruiters are interviewing using video, and 40% of recruiters believe virtual interviews will be the default moving forward. 

The transition from in-person interviewing includes trip-ups to avoid in practice. The biggest video interview mistakes recruiters see from candidates are poor internet connectivity (37%), inappropriate attire (25%), and poor eye contact (23%).  

Practice your virtual interview technique before going 'live' in any job interview - if you need help, visit The Careers Academy where there are many resources to support you. 

[Watch this series of job interview preparation videos and subscribe to my YouTube channel for my career management advice and tips].

7 Be flexible and realistic with your salary expectations. Check current salary surveys such as this Michael Page Salary Survey to research the market rate for any role you target.

If you have the financial resources to tide you through the early business-building days, you could consider self-employment. Do you have skills that would make you a valued consultant or business owner?

Self-employment could mean setting up a consultancy, buying a franchise, buying an existing business or setting up your own business. To be successful in self-employment, conduct a reality check, plan in advance and do your research before launching into anything new.

An excellent website for ‘solo-preneurs’ is www.flyingsolo.com.au where you’ll find a wealth of useful information on how to set up and grow a business. 

Join my [free] Build Your Business Masterclass to find out if you are cut out for self-employment or entrepreneurship.

There are many options for those thinking about going back into the workforce after retirement. It takes courage, a positive attitude and a willingness to learn.

What will you do? Share your experiences, challenges and success stories in the comments - I'd love to put together a podcast episode about this to inspire all who are feeling a little stuck on YOUR CAREER Podcast.

I will be co-hosting a webinar for mature professionals with Executive Coach, Amanda Blesing, called: Executive Women Over 50 - "One The Outside Looking In" on 29th January at 12pm.

We will be discussing how to overcome age bias in recruitment (so this webinar is not only for women, men are welcome too!)

Click here for all the details and register on Eventbrite to join us.