Over 60 and Job-Seeking? Four Strategies to Help You Remain Competitive

Here are four ways that mature job seekers can remain competitive in a transforming job market.

Research has revealed that mature employees are more likely to struggle in the job market. As a result, it’s increasingly important for mature job seekers to remain competitive and adapt to a fast-changing employment landscape.

The research by the Institute for Fiscal Studies and Centre for Ageing Better found that employees over 65 were 40% more likely to face employment challenges than those in their 40s. Furthermore, less than 1 in 3 of those unemployed in their late 50s would typically return to work within a year.

Nowadays, ‘traditional’ long-term roles do not exist in the way they used to and the new job market is competitive and may be overwhelming. Mature job seekers must be more creative in evaluating the skill set they offer and update their job searching strategies to get noticed.

Here are four ways that mature job seekers can remain competitive in a transforming job market:

1. Focus On Experience Rather Than Skills

Individuals must now be more proactive than ever in considering the value they bring to a business. While doing this, mature job seekers may overlook their past achievements and experiences and focus on the skills they haven’t got.

However, it’s important to view your wealth of experience as intrinsically valuable and ask yourself how this experience can provide solutions for others. Long-term experience in areas such as compliance, transformation and business change are likely to be in high demand.

2. Use Networks to Find Job Opportunities

Mature employees are more likely to have established networks within their areas of expertise and these should be utilised to assess gaps in the market and job opportunities.

Be open-minded about the opportunities at hand and don’t be too influenced by reports from the media about potentially negative situations in the job market. Instead, utilise contacts to hear industry opinions.

3. Take a Blended Approach to Job Seeking

Professionals who have been employed in a role long term are less likely to be aware of current job searching trends. It’s important to become familiar with these and develop a blended approach to job seeking. A blended approach may include on and offline searches, networking, a speculative approach as well as working with recruiters.

In regard to online searches, use specialist jobsites like Jobs-redefined who only feature jobs from employers who are age-inclusive. Also ensure your LinkedIn profile is up to date by filling out the necessary information on your profile, expanding on relevant experience and skills, and requesting recommendations from your peers and ex-colleagues. Read six steps to make the most of your Linkedin profile.

4. Consider a Portfolio Career

Mature job seekers may also find it useful to move away from traditional career options and establish a portfolio career instead. A portfolio career is an agile, autonomous working style in which individuals can shape their own careers by combining multiple streams of income using a mix of employment, freelancing and volunteering. This approach can be particularly useful for mature job seekers as roles here often include consultancy or non-executive directorship positions which rely on longer-term, wide-ranging experience and expertise.