Am I Too Old To Change Jobs?
Q: “After a decade working for the same company, I’m stuck in a rut. I’d love to find a new job, but I keep hearing that no-one will hire you when you’re over 50. Do I have to resign myself to being bored at work for the next 10 years?”
Today’s adviser is Roxanne Calder (above), founder of office-support recruitment agency EST10 and the author of the forthcoming book, Employable: 7 Attributes to Assure Your Working Future.
A: I understand why you might be feeling this way. Until recently, society has not been too generous with our demographic, but things have changed. Increasingly, I am working with employers who are crying out for employees with wisdom and maturity.
Australia is currently experiencing an extreme talent shortage in every job category, and you have a wealth of experience and knowledge on your side. Your 10 years working in one place also demonstrates loyalty, resilience and dependability.
In saying that, a career is a work in progress and it pays to think about not just staying employed but also staying “employable”. Employable workers are always learning and adapting; they take accountability and relate well to others.
Lack of self-confidence dismantles people’s careers and stymies potential. I see this a lot among candidates in their late 40s and 50s. We talk of self-confidence as necessary for children, but I think it is critical for all of us at every age.
Give yourself confidence by polishing your CV. It’s important to:
Focus and expand on your more recent jobs and experience; relate them back to the job you are applying for.
Don’t list all your jobs; your CV shouldn’t be longer than three to five pages.
Concentrate on your skills and achievements that are most relevant today. You want to demonstrate attributes such as flexibility and adaptability with technology – perhaps even social media, if that’s relevant in your field.
I also want to address your feeling of being in a rut. Are you sure changing jobs is the answer? Sometimes when we think it is the job we want to escape, it is really something else, and we end up with a new job but the same old problem.
If it is definitely about the job, before you jump ship consider an alternative role in your organisation. Can you speak with your boss and be open about how you feel? Perhaps you need to be pushed out of your comfort zone and stretch your limits to become excited again. In today’s climate, all our jobs are morphing and there are often opportunities to upskill and reskill on the job.
Remember, whether you decide to change jobs or stay with your current employer, it is up to you to maintain your employability. Be the employee others want to be around.
Need career advice? Drop us a line at: hello@tonicmag.com.au
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