As we start the New Year we often reflect and look to the future, making resolutions for a new year. Often this can be thinking about moving jobs and considering a change of career.
You may feel as you get older that your options are limited but there are opportunities out there for everyone.
I’ve recently undertaken a career change and I know it can feel be both daunting and exciting.
I wanted to share some helpful tips, ideas and information to help you achieve your resolution. As Minister for Pensions, supporting people to have a fuller working life remains a priority for me.
Whether it means retraining, more flexible working, or a career change, there can be opportunities to take advantage of a strong job market – according to PRIME (Prince’s Initiative for Mature Enterprise) one in six new businesses started in the UK are set up by over 50s.
88 per cent of employers agree older workers can bring skills and benefits to the business. And for those thinking about starting out on their own in later life, there is lots of support and information available to help you make that change.
Here are a couple of tips to start you on your new path, if you want to use social media, especially LinkedIn and Twitter.
Social media isn’t just about talking to your family and friends, you can also use it to boost your job search. You should consider creating a professional LinkedIn profile
LinkedIn is a business networking site where you can develop relationships that can help you find new opportunities that you didn’t know existed.
Your profile is your LinkedIn page that describes your career history, education and interest and a little bit of self-promotion can go a long way.
Find out more about how you can set up your LinkedIn profile.
If you’ve got a LinkedIn profile here are few tips:
- Adding a profile photo could result in 14x more views than someone without one
- A summary of 40 words or more makes you more likely to come up in a future employer’s search
- Members who include their skills get around 13x more profile views
Source: LinkedIn
Twitter is increasingly being used by employers and recruitment agencies and means that it is an essential tool for jobseekers to use.
You can use Twitter to connect directly with recruiters and companies you want to work for.
Many job sites post vacancies on to Twitter so make sure you follow them and you can also use hashtags such as ‘#jobsearch’ to find jobs.
Learn new skills
Developing your skills and ensuring your suitability for the workplace is essential at every age.
- Work experience and volunteering gives you the chance to learn new skills and improve those you already have
- Consider an apprenticeship. They aren’t just for the young and give you an opportunity to gain the skills and experience to succeed in a new field. They are becoming more popular with older workers
- For example Barclays Bank and National Express launched mature apprenticeship schemes, giving older workers a chance for a new career
You could become your own boss.
Whilst self-employment isn’t for everyone, it can provide the flexibility that many older workers want or need.
The Government’s New Enterprise Allowance scheme provides business mentoring and financial support to unemployed people who want to move into self-employment.
After 20 years Tracie changed career and started a business with support from the New Enterprise Allowance. Watch Tracie’s story:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPeC02aIiZ4
Make sure your IT skills are as up to date as possible
If you feel that you could improve your computer skills there are many opportunities to develop your skills, before and during your time at work.
- Find out about improving your English, maths and IT skills
- Read guidance from Age UK about training in technology and using the internet
- Get information about life long learning and adult education, from the National Careers Service
Consider not putting your date of birth on your CV
Recruiters should be able to make a decision about your skills and abilities without information on you date of birth, so you may want to consider if this is needed on your CV.
You can leave comments below and I would be interested to hear about your top tips to retrain or change careers and the opportunities you’ve taken.
My message is - don’t be afraid, be bold and make that change to fulfil your resolution.
Find out more
Find out more about help and support on gov.uk and visit the daily jobseeker for tips and advice to help give your job search a boost
4 comments
Comment by Debbie Hawkes posted on
You say 88,% of employers agree older workers can bring skills and benefits to the business and then you say consider not putting your age on CV!! And therein lies the problem for the over 60's. Employers say one thing and then employ someone younger. I've been on the receiving end of this action.
Comment by DWP Pensions Latest posted on
We have examined the issues generated by an ageing workforce, and set out the case for action by employers, individuals and government in the Framework for Action on Fuller Working Lives published in June 2014. The Business Champion for Older Workers made specific recommendations, including on combatting conscious and unconscious age discrimination, in her report published in March 2015. Age discrimination makes no economic sense. Without action in this area, employers will see their productivity decrease as they lose the skills of an experienced workforce. In the longer term, their choices on filling vacancies at all – and maintaining the growth of their business – will become increasingly limited as fewer people enter the labour market from education and training, and the economy increasingly relies on the skills of older workers. The best employers already recognise this, as well as the benefits older people bring through life-skills, loyalty and maturity, and matching the ageing customer profile. These are the employers we are working with to make the case to business and to drive forward changes.
For its part, government has a role to play not only in combatting discrimination, but also through the operation of the tax and benefit system, and in providing help for re-skilling people in mid-career for those whose employers are unable to help them. For example: local older workers’ champions have been introduced in Jobcentre Plus branches around the country; DWP is conducting a number of pilots to support older people into work by helping them to build their confidence and skills; and we are taking initiatives to help older carers retain or return to employment, and to prevent unnecessary early medical retirement which is harmful to individuals as well as to their employers.
Comment by Janet Powell posted on
If you are redundant and over 60, there is precious little chance you will be able to get any sort of job other than zero hours or low paid shiftwork, however quaified you are. I have applied for hundreds of jobs and the feedback I keep getting is "overqualified" = too old. As I have to wait another six years for pension now and JSA stopped I am forced to rely on husband's pension.
After working since 16 I am now on the scrapheap.
This is a "flyng pig" scenario by people who have no idea what it is like to live in the real world.
Comment by DWP Pensions Latest posted on
We have examined the issues generated by an ageing workforce, and set out the case for action by employers, individuals and government in the Framework for Action on Fuller Working Lives published in June 2014. The Business Champion for Older Workers made specific recommendations, including on combatting conscious and unconscious age discrimination, in her report published in March 2015. Age discrimination makes no economic sense. Without action in this area, employers will see their productivity decrease as they lose the skills of an experienced workforce. In the longer term, their choices on filling vacancies at all – and maintaining the growth of their business – will become increasingly limited as fewer people enter the labour market from education and training, and the economy increasingly relies on the skills of older workers. The best employers already recognise this, as well as the benefits older people bring through life-skills, loyalty and maturity, and matching the ageing customer profile. These are the employers we are working with to make the case to business and to drive forward changes.
For its part, government has a role to play not only in combatting discrimination, but also through the operation of the tax and benefit system, and in providing help for re-skilling people in mid-career for those whose employers are unable to help them. For example: local older workers’ champions have been introduced in Jobcentre Plus branches around the country; DWP is conducting a number of pilots to support older people into work by helping them to build their confidence and skills; and we are taking initiatives to help older carers retain or return to employment, and to prevent unnecessary early medical retirement which is harmful to individuals as well as to their employers.