Looking To Re Enter Workforce In Your 50s? Here Are Some Golden Expert Tips

It's never too late to begin again; never too late to find a new passion and work towards it. However, sometimes, navigating a path and finding the right job can get very difficult, especially in your 50s and 60s.

Research shows that senior workers have a greater unemployment rate, compared to younger workers. Here are some strategies you can use when hunting for jobs in your 50s.

Leverage your network of associates

Your network is a chain of professionals with shared values and interests. You should build a positive relationship with your network by sharing value and offering help around your area of expertise. Remember, most job offers come through relationships with people and only people who have found you capable will refer you for opportunities.

Reassure a younger manager when you get called for an interview

While trying to show how you can be a great asset to the company, it is essential to keep your tone, gestures and responses in a manner that reassures the managers that they are making the right choice. You don't want to give them a feeling that it'll be difficult to communicate with you without stepping on your ego.

Don't let age limit your chances at the job 

It's important to be proud of one's age, and it's even more crucial to not let that age restrict or limit you in any way, especially when you're out looking for a suitable job.

Showcase relevant experiences in your resume

You don't want to bombard your resume with experiences that are unrelated to the Job you are applying for. Only include experiences related to the job you are applying for. It's your Resume, not your biography.

Learn and stay updated with the latest software

We are in the era of technological advancement, and being vast with technological tools can put you ahead of other applicants. Especially with the recent Launch of Artificial Intelligence tools, there is so much one can do in a very short while.

There are courses available on LinkedIn and Coursera to stay updated with new software or trends.

Leverage social media platforms like LinkedIn for your job search

The social media space has become a stage to showcase skills or land a dream job. There are so many social media platforms right now but, identifying which one aligns with your interest and efficiency makes it easier. I often advise people to Leverage LinkedIn because it's a platform dominated by professionals. It is often used by Employers and recruiters to find suitable candidates for employment.

Recently, Recruiters often look out for candidates on LinkedIn after receiving job applications and resumes. Companies have also moved to use online job applications mode and it is fast becoming a norm for companies to allocate a section on the application page where an applicant supplies his/her LinkedIn profile link.

Find where your expertise will be valued and appreciated

Workplace toxicity is a major killer of efficiency in companies today. It is essential to avoid workplaces where you are dehumanized and treated like trash.

If it affects your mental health, it will affect your efficiency which can eventually ruin your career in the end. So, stay in places where your efforts are valued and appreciated.

Research where and how to obtain new skills

Platforms like Google, Microsoft, Coursera and LinkedIn have learning platforms to improve skills and learn new digital skills that put you in vogue as a solution provider to the needs of many companies' target audiences. So many companies don't care about school certifications anymore. As long as you have the required knowledge and skills in the needed niche, you are perfect.

Don't get tired of learning and upscaling.

Conclusion

According to Harvard Business Review, individuals over the age of 40 are three times more likely to create successful companies than people under the age of 40 because of their patient, collaborative nature and absence of an "I need to prove myself" mindset.

Frankly, workers who are qualified will find it simpler to secure a position in the rapidly changing workspace as companies are becoming far more interested in skills than age.

Although finding a job in your 50s can be strenuous, the above tips will make it a piece of cake.

I am a content creator and LinkedIn Expert and hold decades of experience in the space. 

Suggested reading: Back To School, 30 Years Later: How Chittorgarh’s Madhu Redefined Her Timeline