THEThe job market has transformed greatly in recent years and those who are no longer kids may find themselves uncomfortable. But seizing the opportunities of the new world is also possible for people over 55. But for change jobs or get rehired in another company you have to demonstrate that you have a mentality that is in step with the times.
Changing jobs after 55? Yes, 10 practical tips
A figure in the labor market has continued to grow, INTOO finds (Gi Group Holding). And that is the “mismatch” (+48%): that is, the difficulty of companies in finding personnel with certain skills on the market. The context is defined as “people scarcity”.
In other words, we are looking for figures with experience, know-how and ability to manage complex projects. In other words senior figures. How to become those figures and change jobs by taking advantage of possible opportunities? It is necessary, first of all, to learn to make the most of yourself.
The job market is looking for senior figures
«You need to be aware of the macro transformations taking place, in your sector and in your role», he explains Cetti Galante, CEO of INTOO (the Gi Group Holding company, leader in Italy in career transition services). “AND approach with flexibility, including contractual, to the needs of businesses, looking at SMEs as the most interesting pool for people of this age group. If you come from a large multinational, then you also need to change your approach and language.”
From practice (how to best use your CV, LinkedIn profile and create a network of relationships) to the necessary change in mindset and storytelling that is needed today to seize existing opportunities. here are the advice for re-entering the market after the age of 55.
1. Speak in skills, not titles
“From who I am to what I can do.” The first step is to get out of the “cage” of your professional title and think in areas of expertise gained. It’s worth choosing at most 3: they must immediately emerge clearly in any context and tool for presentation and contact with the market.
How to identify them? A useful exercise is to ask yourself: “What can I concretely help a company with?”.
In particular, it is necessary to carefully valorise process skills (e.g. supplier rationalization) which in reality are less structured and can represent added value.
2. Write a functional CV (without acronyms)
The first tool to adopt is therefore a functional CV. This means a CV which, instead of listing experiences, focuses mainly on skills, “verticalising skills”. The reader must immediately understand in which areas one can be the right person.
How to fill it out? Ranking the top experiences in terms of results and grouping skills thematically based on the three distinctive areas of competence identified.
Ban on sector or company acronyms and acronyms, which are not understandable outside of specific contexts. The activities carried out and the responsibilities managed must be clearly illustrated.
3. For an “HR friendly” LinkedIn profile, choose your keywords carefully
Recruiters’ searches on LinkedIn, but not only, are now carried out by keywords, rather than by roles. For this reason, including complex job titles in the summary can penalize in terms of visibility. Instead, it is necessary to separate one’s role into practical activities that are more immediate and easy to understand.
What to indicate, for example? Keywords that match our profile. For example “business development”, “process optimization” (explaining which ones), “supplier management”, “data analysis”. Or the foreign countries of jurisdiction in the case of international roles.
4. Enhance experiences with Junior figures
In a moment of co-presence of multiple generations in the company (up to 5 different ones) those who have participated in training, mentorship, coaching and support projects for new hires have an edge.
Collaboration with the new generations is, in fact, a sign of open-mindedness, flexibility and ability to transfer know-how. These experiences are to be valorised, both in the CV and in the Linkedin profile, and during the interview.
5. The same role in another company? Maybe not right away
In the transition from one reality to another, what matters is getting started. Perhaps we start from a narrower area of responsibility or from a transversal role, so as to become familiar with the new environment. To later broaden your scope of competence.
6. Smart working is an ally
Remote working, smart, hybrid working or short weeks allow you to collaborate even with geographically distant entities. In the search for an opportunity, you can evaluate companies more easily in areas other than where they are domiciled, combining family and personal needs.
7. The importance of the network for changing jobs
Especially after the age of 50/55, around 80% of opportunities do not appear in adverts, but derive from informal channels and word of mouth.
It is essential to do what experts call personal branding, not just online. Fairs and events are, for example, a precious source of new contacts.
8. Ready for the interview, online and offline
The talks online they are still widely used. You have to be ready to take care of all the details. From the light (always preferable for it to be frontal towards us), to the background (white or neutral backgrounds are better, virtual backgrounds are better than untidy rooms), up to the stability of the internet connection.
It is useful to do some tests before the appointment, to become familiar with the app you will use. And remember to warn your family about the importance of conversation to have the right confidentiality and silence.
9. Stay up to date with technology
Whatsapp, Google Drive, Teams, Slack, Skype, Zoom, Trello. Today, most companies (of all sizes) use instant messaging apps and co-working tools. Not knowing how to use them means falling behind in the most common daily operational processes, precluding an opportunity.
This too must be an area of continuous training to remain aligned with advancing digitalisation.
10. Changing jobs means letting go of what isn’t needed
It means being able to mentally and practically abandon what is no longer part of the role and context that one has experienced or that one has decided to leave. And embrace the flexibility that every reality requires today, giving yourself the opportunity to discover new resources that you didn’t know you had and be surprised by what you might find.
It does not mean trivializing or forgetting one’s professional history, but making that mental shift that allows for a more immediate valorization of oneself in the eyes of another reality.
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