Beating Ageism in The Workplace
November 21st, 2009in general, we have an older population than at any other time in history, and we are struggling to find enough money to pay for pensions, so people are having to work for longer years. Unfortunately, some more mature people find it difficult to get employed. If you are looking for a career change over the age of 40, people have reported a negative reaction from employers to this.
There are things you can do during a job search that will make you an attractive candidate no matter what age you are.
Make sure to tailor your new CV to the job you are applying for. You can do this by highlighting all the skills and experience which are needed for the job and then proving that you have got them. Age and experience go hand in hand so you should come up with enough examples. Don’t worry if you are returning to work after bringing up children as soft skills, such as communication, time management and the ability to meet deadlines are crucial in the workplace today and all of those will be skills you have developed as a parent.
You are not legally obliged to state your age on your CV and an employer is breaking the law if they demand that you tell them. Leave your date of birth of your CV but if you really want to include it you could put it at the very end.
Many people make the mistake of assuming that they will get job satisfaction in one place, but this is the exception rather than the rule. Ask yourself what gives you job satisfaction and all the skills you want to show or learn in your job. You might find that you would be happiest doing a variety of things. You might want to set up your own small business whilst working on a part time basis in your original role. If you have mastered a skill, you could teach this to others. You could teach anything from a hobby to a fitness class, it doesn’t have to be related to your work. You might find yourself to be a bit of an expert at something which you have done all of your life.
Doing the things you enjoy and earning money for doing it should be your reward for years of hard work.