Current Situation: What transpires at present?
In the modern job market, older workers (age 55+) can effectively navigate career changes and overcome age discrimination by adopting strategic approaches.
Employers value older employees who demonstrate flexibility in their careers, as it signals their ability to adapt to something new. This adaptability is particularly valuable during periods of restructuring, offering balance and calm to younger colleagues.
To secure new opportunities, older workers should age-proof their resumes by focusing on relevant, recent achievements and omitting older dates. Utilising established networks can help uncover hidden job opportunities, while taking online courses or earning certificates demonstrates adaptability and up-to-date expertise.
During interviews, framing experience as a problem-solving asset and showing eagerness to learn can help counter age stereotypes. Employees should also be prepared to address potential age biases directly and explain why their skills fit the role today.
Seeking roles that capitalise on experience, such as mentoring younger professionals, consulting, or part-time jobs like blogging or coaching, can highlight both tech-savviness and leadership skills. Organisations such as AARP provide resources, coaching programs, and advocacy to support older workers facing age discrimination, helping them sell their experience as a strength and offering tools to successfully re-enter the workforce.
In some industries, like hospitality, employers are increasingly valuing older workers for their stability and loyalty amid younger workers’ higher turnover, indicating shifting hiring strategies that benefit mature professionals.
Before considering a job change, it's important to research the company and have a clear and realistic idea of the role one wants to take on. Career coach Volker Klärchen advises employees not to give up their plans too quickly, emphasising the importance of a good impression on social media, well-structured application documents, and a convincing cover letter.
Georg Scheiber, a partner and managing consultant at management consulting firm von Rundstedt, states that the chances of a successful job change at 55+ depend on the individual case, with those showing initiative and regular professional development having good chances.
It's advisable for employees to explore whether it's actually due to age or whether other factors might be playing a role. Many companies have reservations about hiring older employees, with a significant number of HR professionals expressing concerns about candidates over 55 being too old for their company. However, the market value of an older employee is high when decades of experience are combined with solid, up-to-date expertise.
A 2023 survey by Bilendi, on behalf of the Koenigsteiner Group, found that around 40% of employees aged 50 to 65 can imagine changing jobs within the next two years. This statistic underscores the potential for older workers to reinvent themselves in the job market, provided they approach career changes with strategy and determination.
In conclusion, combatting age discrimination effectively involves a combination of updating skillsets, presenting experience as relevant value, leveraging networks, utilising support resources, and preparing to demonstrate adaptability and problem-solving ability.
- Older workers can enhance their employability by familiarizing themselves with the community policy on age discrimination, particularly the employment policy, to understand their rights and protect themselves from potential bias.
- In their pursuit of career development, older workers may find personal-finance and education-and-self-development resources beneficial, as they can help manage finances during transitions and aid in self-improvement, thereby improving their chances in the modern job market.
