Beating Age Discrimination in The Workplace
As populations in the developed world are growing older and many countries are experiencing a crisis in the pension system, we are facing the prospect of having to work past the usual retirement age. Unfortunately, some more mature people find it difficult to get employed. Many also have difficulty finding a new job if they have an unbroken track record and are simply looking for a change in career after the age of 40.
There are things that you can do which rely on experience which can only be gained through age which will make you a more attractive candidate during a job hunt.
When writing your CV be sure to target it for the job in question. 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. The fact that you are older means that you have valuable experience in many areas. If you have had a career break in which time you raised children, you will still have developed skills that employers are looking for like communication and organisation.
It is not necessary to put personal information on your CV, it is illegal for an employer to ask your age during the recruitment process. Leave your date of birth of your CV but if you really want to include it you could put it at the very end.
You might think that you can only be happy in a job in a particular industry, however this is unlikely to be the case. Ask yourself what gives you job satisfaction and all the skills you want to show or learn in your job. Then consider the possibility of becoming someone who has more than one occupation. You could freelance in your original industry for a couple of days a week and then do something totally different the rest of the time. If you have mastered a skill, you could teach this to others. It does not have to be related to your work but could be a hobby you enjoy or a health related course like meditation. 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.
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