Changing lanes - job hunting in your 30s and 40s

Your 30s and 40s are usually a time when other commitments start to have an impact on work. You might be raising a family, looking after older parents, or changing careers for your own health or mental well-being. 

That means that as well as looking at the role itself and whether it interests you, when you are job hunting, you'll need to more carefully consider the practical parts like hours, pay rate, and leave allocations.

It also means you might have to persuade employers that you can do the job despite them thinking you are over-qualified, lacking commitment, not able to mix with younger colleagues, or all of the above.

We've put together some tips to help you navigate job hunting in your middle years.

Tips for job hunting in your 30s and 40s

Consider whether you want to return to your current career or make a change: A break from work can be a good time to reassess your priorities and desires. However, starting a new career could mean the need to do paid study or take a lower-paid entry-level job. These might not be options if you have family or other commitments that come with life in your 30s and 40s.

Be clear about your working requirements: If you are looking for work that fits around your family or other commitments, then be upfront about this. Start by refining your job search by filtering listings with fully remote or hybrid options, or look for flexible work hours or job share options. If you've found your dream job and you know you could ace it, but the hours or working conditions don't quite meet your needs, then be bold and have a conversation with the recruiter upfront. You never know how willing they might be to be flexible.

Have a plan for non-work commitments before you start searching: Although your ideal would be to find a job that fits perfectly around your other commitments, that might not be possible. Getting a plan in place for things like childcare or other commitments allows you to search for a job with clear parameters and know how flexible you can be. It's also helpful to be clear on your finances so you can go into your job search knowing your salary expectations.

Be able to explain jobs in your career history: If you've taken time off for a travel break or to raise a family, then there will likely be gaps in your CV. That's not necessarily a bad thing. But you should be prepared to talk about those gaps. Look at them positively. If you've been raising a family, for example, you've probably gained a host of transferable skills like time management and schedule planning!

Prepare for your interview: If you've had a break from work, or even if you are moving after being in the same job for a while, you might not have been interviewed recently. So take some time to prepare. Think about those curveball questions you might get, not only about the gaps in your CV but also about being committed to your job and how you might deal with working with or being managed by younger colleagues.

Don't be afraid to go for roles where you don't tick all the boxes: If you don't quite meet all the role requirements but you think you could do the job, then put yourself out there anyway. Just like with any gaps in your CV, positively address the missing skills and show what else you can bring or how you could easily upskill.

Tap into your network: At this stage in your career, your job hunt might also be as much about who you know as it is about what you know. Tap into your network to look for opportunities. People worth getting in touch with include:

• Former colleagues or bosses with whom you had a good relationship.

• Your personal network, such as other parents or people in your local community.

• Local recruitment agencies that can help you narrow your search.

You might even hear about jobs before they are advertised or find you can create a role for yourself in an organisation. We’ve got some tips for networking successfully, even if it’s not your favourite thing.