The power of oldness – maintaining employability after the age of 50

The nature of work in Australia is changing. The type of work available has also changed. But that doesn’t mean you are unemployable once you are over 50. Sue Ellson has 10 tips that could help you secure your future.

I received a nice surprise when the new advertisement from the Australian Human Rights Commission about the ‘Power of Oldness’ screened on television recently. It took me back to a few other times in my life.

Firstly, when I was 29 and was sacked whilst I was pregnant. I couldn’t find work until I had my daughter and then the phone started ringing – I was in demand as a breast feeding mother but not as someone who was pregnant!

Then several years later, I was on a temporary assignment and I got the call, don’t come back tomorrow. You see I was using respectful recruitment techniques, but wasn’t following the script and insisting that people understand street directions via a telephone description rather than an accurate email!

Then again, a few years later, I spent the whole of the Christmas and New Year period in suspense. I had that awful feeling once again that I was going to be sacked and sure enough, it happened when I returned in January. The marketing I had generated prior to Christmas helped the business have their most successful period in 25 years – after I left and was not entitled to the commission!

More recently, I have been working with many individuals in large organisations where they have been working for many years in the same job – which automatically puts them into the category of ‘older’ and now looking for work.  So when they express their concerns, I can certainly empathise. I have been freelancing, contracting and self-employed for 20 years now, so I am used to rejection and starting again (without the comfort of outplacement, redundancy pay and career counselling to go with it!).

When I was 29, I predicted that there could be a chance that once I was over 40, I could be considered ‘out of date.’ So I have been in hot pursuit of regularly updating my skills, knowledge and expertise to make sure that no matter what happens, I can earn a living. I don’t earn it via a paid job – I actually earn it by direct negotiation with the paying individual or enterprise through a well-developed online and offline network.

I have to make sure that whatever I advise my clients, works for them. I have worked with many people over the age of 50 (and I will be turning 50 myself soon). I have learnt that there are many ways to secure your future – and here are a few of my suggestions on maintaining employability after the age of 50.

1. Build your network

There is no such thing as job security – and I don’t care who you work for or how long you have been there. The greatest source of work opportunities is your network. With up to 90% of jobs never being advertised, if you don’t have a network, how do you expect to access the hidden job market? If you don’t already have a LinkedIn http://linkedin.com profile, get one. Then start connecting with your old work mates, colleagues, peers (for your industry and profession), friends, family, alumni from any form of education etc. These people need to know where you are and what you are up to so that they can keep you in mind for an opportunity (and you won’t feel so alone and you can keep in touch too).

2. Update your skills

Younger people are prepared to give things a go before they read the instructions and have qualified training and experience. Try not to be hesitant when it is time to do something outside of your comfort zone. Don’t tell yourself that you are out of date, a dinosaur or only kids know how to do it. Stop labelling yourself.

You have wisdom. It is a lot easier for me to teach someone with wisdom how to use IT than it is to teach someone who knows how to use IT how to be wise! You don’t need to know everything about IT, but you do need to know the basics and you have to be willing to give things a go (or ask questions).  There are plenty of low cost ways online and offline to learn new skills (IT or others).

3. Describe your value not your experience

This is a little harder to do. Many Australians feel uncomfortable about describing themselves and showcasing their value – but it is important to help people understand how you can assist rather than just say ‘you have 30 years experience.’ That can sound intimidating (and expensive!).

Say for example you are a photographer. If you are ‘older’ I could assume that your photographic style was ‘out of date.’ But if you mentioned that you have consistently sourced new techniques by keeping up to date with international trends in photography, that you are inspired by meeting the requirements of every brief and that you only select the gigs that give you an opportunity to explore your creative side, the last thing I will be thinking is you are out of date! I know that I will have to give you specific instructions but with your skills so clearly defined, you will be able to do something I can’t.

4. Decide who you want to work for

At some point, you could be absolutely desperate for work. So you may think, I will just say yes to anything. This is usually when all of your opportunities will dry up. Do you REALLY want to work 70 hours a week in a hectic office doing routine tasks that you can master in 30 minutes for a low wage? Of course not. You want to use your experience in a work environment that values your contribution.

So save your time, energy and effort and ignore the opportunities you don’t want. Become absolutely clear on your ideal job, task, business or employer and find it. Then ask the question – can I come and work for you? If they say no, move on and try the next person.  If they say no, it is their loss but keep going.  Keep in mind a couple of different streams if you would like to spread your risk, or alternatively, choose something close to where you live even if it is not ideal role – that makes almost any job bearable!

5. Give up your grudges

Okay, so we all get to a certain age and stage in life and we realise we have made a few mistakes, not explored our best opportunities or sacrificed our lives for someone else’s. That is past. This is now. If you need help to stop feeling angry, hurt, bitter, disappointed, resentful or just plain frustrated, go and get it. This subconscious attitude will appear in interviews and you may think you missed out on the job because you were old – it could be because you are stuck.

To be perfectly frank, I am extremely grateful that I can work. One of my favourite ‘date block’ quotes is ‘Occupation is the necessary basis of all enjoyment’ by Leigh Hunt. My grandmother is 97 and although partly blind, still finds ways to do little jobs around her aged care facility. I would be very bored if I had to be on holiday 365 days a year!

6. Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater

You may be at a crossroads and think that you have to give up everything you have done and start something new to feel better. That is rarely the case. At some level, your past has served you and met your needs. So now it is time to ask which components need changing? Is your mother, father, brother, sister, friend or foe’s voice repeating a negative statement in your head? You will never be any good unless you are a doctor, lawyer or dentist?

Rubbish. Turn off all of those anecdotes, passing comments, bitchy gossip, past bullying, bad boss’s statements and start listening to your inner voice. What is in your highest good? How can you best contribute? Your own voice should be the loudest and strongest. Start listening to the positive comments rather than the negative. If you haven’t heard any for a while, start asking people you know how they see you and what they think your best skills are. Write them down and look for patterns. You may be pleasantly surprised.

7. Document your past

Again, I am going to refer to LinkedIn. You may not like the idea of telling people what you were doing in 1982 (which is when my career started), but it has made you who you are today. You don’t need to go into as much detail as to what you did then compared to now, but it has shaped you and makes your story interesting. There are also keywords that can help you come up in search results. This process will help you identify good and bad ‘stories’ from your past. Deal with them as they come up and be kind to yourself. Put them into perspective and look for what you learned rather than criticise yourself for anything that didn’t meet your expectations.

8. Celebrate your achievements

Be proud of who you are and what you have become. Identify your strengths and be willing to use them. Spend time with people who encourage you and support you. Stand up to the people who are negative and say ‘thanks for your feedback’ and then choose how you reply.

For example, you could say, ‘that may be your experience, but I am adopting a strategic approach in the future and I am not going to listen to one comment and assume that is the truth in every situation. I am learning the skills to find a job, not just the skills to do a job.’

9. Find a mentor

It could be someone older, younger or the same age. This person can supply the additional knowledge, skills or networks you need. They can discuss your situation and explore your ideas and suggestions. They may have inside knowledge. They could be around for a month or years. Choosing someone outside of your regular discussion circle can give you a fresh perspective and generate new ideas and opportunities.

10. Look after your health

Yes, your physical and mental health. You need to sleep well, eat well and exercise – walk for a total of at least two and a half hours per week. Make sure you have time to talk with people who understand you or time out for you to process your thoughts in your own way.

If can be difficult to make the transition to a new stage in life. Around the age of 50, children are leaving home, aging parents have additional needs and relationships can change. The human body does not have the same energetic vitality but you can work smarter and more efficiently. You can be prudent and not waste time doing non important things and you can prioritise what is urgent.

The nature of work in Australia is changing. The type of work available has also changed. That doesn’t mean you are unemployable. It means that you need to understand yourself and your skills and source the opportunities that match. If you need to re-skill or re-train, try and find options that are aligned with your existing skills and strengths. Keep positive and source the best advice for your circumstances (where there is no conflict of interest or hidden agenda involved).

Be courageous. Be adventurous. Smile. We can all take comfort in the fact that we got to this age and we are still here – so it is up to us to make the most of it. It is not the responsibility of the government, your employer, your partner, your family, your friends, your community, God or anyone else.

You have to take responsibility for your future – and if you need assistance, ask for help – after all, we live in the Lucky Country and there are many options available – you just have to find the ones that work for you.

If you have any further tips, suggestions or advice to share, please comment below. All responses will receive a reply.