Are you too old to find a new job when you are over 60 (or 50)?
A nice positive story has hit the media today (Monday 21/10). The newspaper Danmark describes an article with the headline “Do not fear a firing; Seniors find jobs in a big way ”, that there is hope ahead for the senior unemployed.
However, for a long time, and often rightly so, there has been a great deal of pessimism among seniors who were in a situation where they had to find new work.
Recently, Line Baun Danielsen on her blog expressed that people from 50 years and up had problems finding new work.
This suggests that many seniors stand with a disillusioned feeling, even though the statistics say otherwise.
With a basic belief that you can do a lot to change your situation, I have occasionally had a bit of a hard time sharing the pessimism that has been brought to light.
The optimism must be seen, among other things, in the light of the fact that the unemployment rate among those over 60 is only 4%. Ie. 96% are in work. In addition, staff turnover among seniors is higher now than just 4-5 years ago. This means that of course there will be unemployed, but many more will be employed.
Statistics, newspaper articles, and blog post – as well as my own optimism – unfortunate doesn’t mean a thing if you are so unlucky to have ended up among the 4% who are unemployed.
So what do you do?
- The very first thing you need to do is activate your network. Several studies indicate that over 75% of all jobs are filled through networks. Write or call everyone you know privately, as well as business acquaintance. Take the opportunity to expand your network. In your age group, you are probably not very active on LinkedIn. Here’s my advice: BECOME ACTIVE!
- Find your strengths and key competencies. I often sit with people in the 50+ age group who do not think they know anything, and moreover, they have a belief that all the young people are much more skilled than they are.
After we have made a competency clarification, they get a completely different view of themselves and what they have to offer the labor market. In fact, it is often quite overwhelming what I notice of competencies in seniors who do not think they can do anything. - View your age and experience as a strength. you have something important to offer the companies; namely, experience. As a consulting engineer, I have often been preferred over colleagues with greater theoretical knowledge. There is a demand for experience.
When you are meet by age prejudice, answer yes – “I am over 60 (or 50), but in return I can do something that young people cannot. I can bring both years of human and professional experience into play.” - Work seriously with your resume and your LinkedIn profile. In the job search situation, it is important that you are noticed positively. Despite my claim in pkt. 3, you probably should not write your application and CV on an old Olympia typewriter.
- Play an active role in your job search. Research which companies you would like to work for. Do not be afraid of new startup companies. They are often the ones who need the most experience. Unfortunately, they do not always know it themselves, but you can try to convince them of that.
Once you’ve found the companies, it’s about getting to work. The personal attendance still works. Young people do not always know that;-)
Remember that a firing often turns out to be a disguised blessing. Suddenly you look at the world with different eyes. The roles you once felt you had to fill is no longer there, so look instead at the possibility of creating the roles that suits you.
It happens regularly that my clients over the age of 50 have to go through that realization. On the other hand, it is overwhelming hos a disillusioned mental state can be transformed into new, fresh courage at working life and a sense of being ready to take on the world.
If the above does not convince you of the opportunities that exist to move you career forward, please contact me by email or phone and find out if I can offer a solution that can help you in exactly situation you are in.