1. Be clear about what you want from work. Is it money, status, creative self-fulfilment, a social network, new skills…? Make a similar list of the things you don’t want or are not prepared to sacrifice - it will make job searching so much easier
2. Do your research. Websites have lots of useful information, for example the Department for Work and Pensions www.dwp.gov.uk includes details of New Deal 50 Plus) and the Government’s Age Positive site www.agepositive.gov.uk (includes details of specialist recruitment and advice agencies). Another very good place to look is the Directgov site and, in particular, their Over 50s section. There are also many independently operated sites with useful links and directories (for example www.inmyprime.co.uk) so spend some time “silver surfing” and see where it leads you.
3. Upgrade your skills. If you’re finding that they’re not as up to date as they should be, perhaps you need training or a refresher course. Learn Direct is a good starting point for information www.learndirect.co.uk or look at part time courses available at colleges locally.
4. Don’t restrict yourself to what you’ve always done. If you’re looking for a complete change of career, there’s plenty of advice available from your local Council and other sites on the web, e.g. Careers A-Z (includes how to write a good CV).
5. Take action. Finding a job at any age means putting in regular effort to search for vacancies – in newspapers, online and through recruitment agencies – and following up on any that sound possible. You won’t find out how easy or difficult it is to get a new job until you try, so get stuck in, apply yourself, and don’t give up!
6. Approach employers. Don’t just wait for jobs to be advertised, contact businesses directly. If they have nothing immediate, they may keep your details on file for future vacancies. And be prepared to be flexible; it may be worth taking a less than ideal job in order to join the company and get access to further opportunities and promotion.
7. Focus on your transferable skills and achievements. Make sure your CV isn’t just a list of jobs, but highlights what benefits you could bring to an employing organisation. And arm yourself with evidence of achievement and references. Just saying you’re good won’t be enough.
8. Ask for help and advice from wherever you can get it. Many over 50s make the mistake of thinking they ‘know’ about the job market. But if we only have our own perspective on the world it’s not always a reliable indicator of reality.
9. Emphasise your energy. One of the biggest misconceptions about the over 50s is that they are slowing down and are more likely than younger people to suffer ill-health (none of which is borne out by fact). So include active pursuits on your CV and stress that you are energetic, enthusiastic and up for a challenge.
10. Dress for success. You don’t need to look young for your age, but you do need to look good for your age. This means good grooming (particularly hair and nails), the best suit you can afford, and smart accessories. Knowing you look your best will also do wonders for your confidence.
11. Constantly ask for feedback. Ask prospective employers and recruitment agencies why you weren’t selected and what you can do to improve your future chances. Ask your friends and family for honest feedback on your appearance, mannerisms and attitude. Do you need to change? (If you do, a good book to use as a starting point is Primetastic – 50 tips for life when you’re over 50 (available from Amazon).
12. Persevere and believe in yourself. Looking for a job is a time and energy-consuming process and you need to be tenacious and resolute, but also philosophical. If it takes a while, don’t despair and don’t take it personally, you will get there in the end and it will all be worthwhile.