21st Century Job Searching for Third Age Job Seekers

Are you a third age job seeker in the market for a new position or looking to re-enter the workforce after a period of retirement? Maybe you have faced redundancy before retirement and now you’re assessing your options. Whether it’s a new career, a move to self-employment, a decrease in hours or maybe you just want to slow down before retirement. Third age job seekers have plenty of valuable expertise, they bring business skills and knowledge that make them a highly valuable asset to most employers. However, the world of job searching is constantly changing and it’s important you adapt and modernise your approach to give you the best opportunity and success.

New Job Searching vs Old Job Searching

As a result of globalisation, the job market has changed dramatically. There is a lot more competition and certain jobs and industries have somewhat disappeared due to technical advancements. You may see some changes in employment contracts, this is due to a shift from the offerings of permanent employment contracts to either temporary or zero hour contracts.

Recruitment practices have changed significantly and unlike traditional practices such as job searching in local newspapers and job boards in supermarkets, job searching has shifted online into the digital age and many applications are made through social media or through company websites and online job boards. The sourcing strategies that recruiters and employers use have also advanced. The traditional method of reviewing and evaluating CVs still exists, however, companies have now shifted to more sophisticated methods through advanced software. 90% of Fortune 500 companies now pre filter candidates through Applicant Tracking Software.

The internet has changed the way job seekers find work and the ways in which businesses source candidates. Opportunities now come from a mix of various job searching techniques. One of the key ways of being successful in finding work is adopting modern techniques, setting aside the traditional way of job searching and being open minded about alternative job searching methods. Individuals willing to try new job searching techniques are the workers who will be most in demand.

Using your age to your advantage and overcoming ageism

The Equality Act protects job seekers from discrimination, unfortunately, it may still exist. However, there are different ways to change your perception/approach by considering your contribution and understanding your value to employers. Focus on your skills and accomplishments, talk about examples of times when you've successfully delivered results. You can put a positive spin on your age without mentioning it directly by briefly discussing the good qualities that come with age, such as maturity, your wealth of experience, reliability and resilience. More experienced employees display significantly higher levels of commitment and loyalty, they are more flexible to the business needs not to mention the wealth of expertise they can bring to organisations especially in offering solutions to business problems.

Building your CV

Make sure you bring your CV up to date. It may be more beneficial if you consider starting the CV again with a focus on the most recent ten years of your career. Anything beyond ten will be considered outdated and will have little relevance now. You can fill most of the first page of your CV with your most recent ten-year career history, and on page two include a short summary of your earlier career including employer names, job title and dates. Employers want to know what you can do for them now – the skills and knowledge that you are currently using that may be relevant for their organisation.

Some other CV tips include;

Always tailor the CV in line with the job requirements, use the job description to guide you and help you to decide what you need to include.

Omit information about your date of birth on any application forms or CVs as there are laws in place to reduce the risk of discrimination.

Keep your CV on 2 A4 pages and make sure it is pitched at the right level.

Be flexible

Don't dismiss temporary or voluntary opportunities whilst you are looking for a permanent position. Many people find permanent positions by starting off working for a company as a temp or volunteer. It gives a company the chance to get to know you and you can demonstrate all the advantages your experience can bring to them. Many mature job seekers find this as a great route in as it allows you to try new industries and sectors especially if you are looking to do something different.

Social Media

It’s important you build an online presence so you are considered for more opportunities. In 2018 computer skills and the ability to use the internet to get a job is essential. It's pivotal to your job search for you to take advantage of social media websites, such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. These social media platforms show that regardless of your age, your knowledge of the latest technology must be up to date. This will help you convince interviewers that you demonstrate the initiative to adapt and excel in today's constantly-changing workplace.

Renovo is one of the UK’s leading providers of outplacement and career transition support. We work with both organisations and individuals to support all their career transition requirements. If you would like to understand how Renovo can help you please call 0800 612 2011 or email info@renovo.co.uk