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Our resident career doctor is here to study your problems and research the best
advice for you by consulting a vast army of experts.
Here, the career doctor investigates whether age really is a barrier to
furthering or continuing careers.
Dear career doctor,
My father left school after taking his A-levels and went straight to work
for a major American bank for 25 years, climbing to senior MD level. He has
spent the last 12 years working for himself but now wishes to return to the
finance industry. However, he is not getting any interviews because 'he doesn't
have a degree'. I'm sure his age is an issue - but companies would never admit
this. What do you think?
Regards
B
Dear B,
I have received lots of letters on the theme of age, with readers and their
families feeling that age is a barrier to furthering or even continuing
careers. So I hope this answers some of the broad issues.
In most cases I think there is a temptation for candidates to blame
their lack of success with job applications on their age, when
inappropriate skills are the real problem.
One expert who sees this phenomenon all the time is Jaqy Jacobs who runs
the recruitment agency Forties People. The agency specialises in placing
workers from the older age band into jobs (mainly in central London).
She advises that when looking for a job the main thing to focus on is being
able to demonstrate having relevant skills and not to think that a long
work history means that they will walk into a well-paid, senior job.
Skills gaps are changing so quickly that everyone has to work hard to
make sure that they are not left behind.
'Older applicants have to brush up their skills - particularly their
computer skills. They need to find jobs relevant to their experience -
which can be hard because so many jobs have changed. They also need to
ask for market level salaries - not expect an employer to understand that
they have to fund a mortgage and children,' she says.
'I often advise people to prove their worth, by working for an
employer for six months for example, and then to ask for a pay rise,
rather than command a high salary at the outset when they are an unknown
quantity.'
These might sound harsh words but they are practical pointers, and
I got a similar response from the Third Age Employment Network
(telephone 020 7843 1590) which campaigns for better opportunities for
mature people to continue 'learning, working and earning'. Chief executive
of the network, Patrick Grattan has these suggestions for anyone looking
for a new role:
- Decide that the future will not be the same as the past. It's likely
that you will find yourself doing something completely different.
- Make a list of all the things you're good at - especially those to
do with other people, which is what employers need most.
- Keep in touch with friends. Companionship is vital but also can
lead to networking opportunities. There are more employers willing to
employ you than you may think - if they could find you.
- Have an open mind about voluntary, low-paid or temporary work - it
might just help you to hear of another opportunity - but be clear about
what you want so that you are not exploited.
The good news is that employers are making attempts to dismiss age
from their selection criteria and the Employers' Forum on Age
is trying to encourage a more positive attitude.
My best advice to all of you who have written in about ageism would
be to stop seeing it as a problem and move on. This doesn't mean give up,
and it certainly doesn't mean lie about your age on application forms,
but it means find an area where your skills are meaningful, or develop
new skills to suit your chosen career path.
Search for jobs with totaljobs.com.
Register for jobs by email.
Register your CV.
Good luck!
Career doctor | 