Extending your journey - job hunting in your 50s+

Today, more older people are either delaying retirement or retiring from an existing career but then finding a new job due to financial constraints or just because they want to continue being active and contributing to something with the added bonus of extra income.

But job hunting in your 50s and over, whether you want to move to another similar role, downsize to a smaller, less stressful job or return to work after a break, can be more difficult than you think. Despite older candidates having years of experience, there are often hurdles like unconscious bias on behalf of hirers, inflexibility of workplaces and the attitudes of older job hunters themselves. 

We've put together some tips to help you overcome some of those hurdles.

Tips for job hunting as a mature candidate

Think about the type of job you want or organisation you’d like to be part of - and be prepared to explain why: As a mature jobseeker, you might have spent the last few years working at a managerial or executive level, but that might not be what you are looking for now. You might want a job with fewer responsibilities so you can work fewer hours or have less stress, or you might have chosen an organisation specifically because you like their work or their values. In that case, you need to be able to explain that clearly to combat thoughts that you are over-qualified or won't be interested.

Emphasise more recent experience and transferable skills in your CV and cover letter: If you have a long career history, you might be tempted to show it. But it's better to emphasise your recent experience. Usually, a history of around 10-15 years will be sufficient. If you do want to emphasise your experience, then do it in summary in a cover letter.

Show you have up-to-date skills: There's no getting away from the fact that most jobs these days need some computer skills. You'll probably need some skills for your job hunt, too, even if it's just knowing how to work email. It's often assumed that older applicants might not have those skills, or at least not be as good, so if you are tech-savvy, make sure your potential employer knows it. If your tech skills are rusty (or non-existent), then think about signing up for a course to fix that.

Practice for the interview beforehand: If you've been in the same role for a while, or you are coming out of retirement, it's probably been a minute since you did an interview. So it won't hurt to practice beforehand. Ask someone to run through potential questions with you and prepare some responses, so you have some answers on hand. Make a list of questions you’d like to ask too - an interview can be as much about you interviewing the employer as them interviewing you. It’s a chance to ask questions to ensure the organisation is the right fit for you.

Be relevant but authentic: At your new job, you'll probably be working with people of all ages. In fact, your new team leader, manager or boss might be younger than you. So it's important to be relevant in your new situation and ensure that you can communicate well with people of different ages. Check your language and your attitude to make sure it's not too old-fashioned, and find a few common trends that you are comfortable talking about. But don't try too hard! You still need to be you; otherwise, you'll just come across as a bit fake.

Starting a new job later in life can bring you a new perspective, so make the most of new challenges that come your way. Another avenue to consider if you are looking for work to keep active rather than for financial reasons is to volunteer. Many charities and community groups love to have the volunteer experience that someone who has had a long career in areas like HR, finance or communications can bring. At Do Good Jobs, we always have volunteer roles available - you can view our volunteer listings here.