Finding right role
How to land a job when you're over 50
Ageism and the structure of the job market can make finding a job later in your career more challenging. Here, we go through some tips for how to boost your chances.
We have created a special section for the over 50’s because there are some methods which are especially important for our age cohort. Ageism is real and there is not much we can do about it. But don’t worry. There is hope for you.
During my front-line recruitment days, it was rare for us to be instructed to find a head of department - Finance Directors, in our case. So, from the 80’s and 90’s onwards, not much has changed. The fact is that there are fewer vacancies at the top than there are beneath that. Every company has one head of department, but many more at middle and junior management level. Simple maths.
If you are reading this, the chances are that you are, or have been, the head of a department, or very close to it. The good news is that everyone I ever came across at your level eventually found a new position. The fact is it takes time. Sometime well over a year.
This is quite probably an extremely frustrating time for you. You might be thinking “all that hard work and now no one will give me a job”. That’s a hard pill to swallow.
This article aims to give you some pointers on how to tap into the market effectively. After all, around 40% of vacancies never make it onto the open market. They are never advertised. They get filled in some other way.
So, what should you be doing?
Do not apply for everything. Read job descriptions and person specs very carefully. The chances are that if the vacancy is in a sector who have not worked in, you won’t get an interview. Relevant sector experience is crucial, just to get through the door.
Your CV should be no more than two/three pages long with lots of detail about your achievements over the past FIVE years. Slightly less detail about the preceding five years. Then just a line or two about what happened before that.
Read our other articles for advice on these and other aspects of the job hunting process.
This biggest thing that you can do, though, is to start tapping into the 40% of job vacancies which are not going to get advertised. To do that, you’re going to need to build and take advantage of your network.
Building your network
It’s not what you know. It’s not who you know. It’s who knows you.
With a bit of effort, you will be amazed at just how large your network is. Make the most of it. LinkedIn is a useful resource. It certainly helped me build my training business by tapping into a huge network I didn’t realise I had.
Connect with all past colleagues.
Connect with all past customers.
Connect with all past suppliers or service providers.
If you are out of work, get yourself some professional looking business cards printed. Take them to local business networking events and hand them out. Join business clubs and the Chamber of Commerce. Attend as many events as you can. Someone always knows someone who is hiring.
Getting ahead of the job market
The real magic comes when you start finding out about vacancies before they have been got advertised. That comes from making the most of your network. It takes a bit of work, but can be very powerful.
Identify all employers within your sector and commuting distance. Concentrate on SME’s. These smaller businesses are far more likely to go external if they have a senior vacancy. They are also far less likely to be bothered about your age and far more likely to view it as an advantage. Make a list and write to them, ideally by post. Ask them to keep your details on file for when a position comes up. Many cannot afford to use recruitment agencies. Make sure your cover letter explains what you can offer and the relevant sector problem solving experience you can bring. Keep looking at their websites for vacancy updates. Sign up for their newsletter.
If you are an accountant, contact a partner at any accountancy firms who know. They are often the first to learn if an FD is leaving one of their clients, or any other head of department for that matter. Contact the accountancy firms you don’t know as well. Concentrate on the local/regional firms as they will have a clint base primarily consisting of SME’s.
Contact and build a relationship with local commercial real estate agents. They are often the first to know if a business is opening or relocating to where you live.
Again, if you are out of work, contact all the recruitment firms who cover your discipline and ensure they know you are available for contract assignments. Employers looking for contractors want someone who can hit the ground running. They will be less particular about your age and sector experience. Many contractors are offered permanent positions.
Staying resilient
The worst thing you can do is allow yourself to become despondent. It won’t help. Treat this as just another challenge to be overcome. No doubt you have overcome many challenges before. If you are out of work through redundancy or some other reason, it is only normal to feel as if you have been kicked in the teeth.
But remember, you will find a way through this. Don’t just sit at your computer screen firing off hopeless applications. Be more selective. Get out into the market and meet people. It might even be fun.
You could also consider working for yourself as a consultant, as a stop gap or a permanent solution.
Use the time to take up a new hobby. Get out into the fresh air. Make the most of family time.
You should also take a look at our Interview and Career Field Guide. It is packed with tips and strategies nobody else will tell you about. For a more personal discussion you can arrange a meeting with me, Dean, or a CV/LinkedIn profile review.
Best of luck. The best times are yet to come.
Finding right role
How to land a job when you're over 50
Ageism and the structure of the job market can make finding a job later in your career more challenging. Here, we go through some tips for how to boost your chances.
We have created a special section for the over 50’s because there are some methods which are especially important for our age cohort. Ageism is real and there is not much we can do about it. But don’t worry. There is hope for you.
During my front-line recruitment days, it was rare for us to be instructed to find a head of department - Finance Directors, in our case. So, from the 80’s and 90’s onwards, not much has changed. The fact is that there are fewer vacancies at the top than there are beneath that. Every company has one head of department, but many more at middle and junior management level. Simple maths.
If you are reading this, the chances are that you are, or have been, the head of a department, or very close to it. The good news is that everyone I ever came across at your level eventually found a new position. The fact is it takes time. Sometime well over a year.
This is quite probably an extremely frustrating time for you. You might be thinking “all that hard work and now no one will give me a job”. That’s a hard pill to swallow.
This article aims to give you some pointers on how to tap into the market effectively. After all, around 40% of vacancies never make it onto the open market. They are never advertised. They get filled in some other way.
So, what should you be doing?
Do not apply for everything. Read job descriptions and person specs very carefully. The chances are that if the vacancy is in a sector who have not worked in, you won’t get an interview. Relevant sector experience is crucial, just to get through the door.
Your CV should be no more than two/three pages long with lots of detail about your achievements over the past FIVE years. Slightly less detail about the preceding five years. Then just a line or two about what happened before that.
Read our other articles for advice on these and other aspects of the job hunting process.
This biggest thing that you can do, though, is to start tapping into the 40% of job vacancies which are not going to get advertised. To do that, you’re going to need to build and take advantage of your network.
Building your network
It’s not what you know. It’s not who you know. It’s who knows you.
With a bit of effort, you will be amazed at just how large your network is. Make the most of it. LinkedIn is a useful resource. It certainly helped me build my training business by tapping into a huge network I didn’t realise I had.
Connect with all past colleagues.
Connect with all past customers.
Connect with all past suppliers or service providers.
If you are out of work, get yourself some professional looking business cards printed. Take them to local business networking events and hand them out. Join business clubs and the Chamber of Commerce. Attend as many events as you can. Someone always knows someone who is hiring.
Getting ahead of the job market
The real magic comes when you start finding out about vacancies before they have been got advertised. That comes from making the most of your network. It takes a bit of work, but can be very powerful.
Identify all employers within your sector and commuting distance. Concentrate on SME’s. These smaller businesses are far more likely to go external if they have a senior vacancy. They are also far less likely to be bothered about your age and far more likely to view it as an advantage. Make a list and write to them, ideally by post. Ask them to keep your details on file for when a position comes up. Many cannot afford to use recruitment agencies. Make sure your cover letter explains what you can offer and the relevant sector problem solving experience you can bring. Keep looking at their websites for vacancy updates. Sign up for their newsletter.
If you are an accountant, contact a partner at any accountancy firms who know. They are often the first to learn if an FD is leaving one of their clients, or any other head of department for that matter. Contact the accountancy firms you don’t know as well. Concentrate on the local/regional firms as they will have a clint base primarily consisting of SME’s.
Contact and build a relationship with local commercial real estate agents. They are often the first to know if a business is opening or relocating to where you live.
Again, if you are out of work, contact all the recruitment firms who cover your discipline and ensure they know you are available for contract assignments. Employers looking for contractors want someone who can hit the ground running. They will be less particular about your age and sector experience. Many contractors are offered permanent positions.
Staying resilient
The worst thing you can do is allow yourself to become despondent. It won’t help. Treat this as just another challenge to be overcome. No doubt you have overcome many challenges before. If you are out of work through redundancy or some other reason, it is only normal to feel as if you have been kicked in the teeth.
But remember, you will find a way through this. Don’t just sit at your computer screen firing off hopeless applications. Be more selective. Get out into the market and meet people. It might even be fun.
You could also consider working for yourself as a consultant, as a stop gap or a permanent solution.
Use the time to take up a new hobby. Get out into the fresh air. Make the most of family time.
You should also take a look at our Interview and Career Field Guide. It is packed with tips and strategies nobody else will tell you about. For a more personal discussion you can arrange a meeting with me, Dean, or a CV/LinkedIn profile review.
Best of luck. The best times are yet to come.
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