In two earlier posts, I explored the challenges of wanting to work into and beyond retirement; Too old to work, too young to retire – and the benefits of hiring older workers.
This post will focus on some of the resources and support available to you if you’re an older worker who is looking for work or wanting to explore a change of career direction. These resources are by no means an exhaustive list, so do please feel free to contribute your own recommendations.
This blog and relevant posts
Within my blog, there are many posts that may be useful. You can search on either ‘Help and Advice’ in the menu at the top by theme, or by tags under each post. However I’ve curated a list of key posts below to save time. Some of these may be of specific interest, depending on your particular needs.
Changing career direction
- Explore your career: 10 FREE questionnaires
- IKIGAI: How to find your career mojo
- Knowing and growing your Strengths
- How to escape a job you feel trapped in
- Charting new waters: How to make the transition into self-employment
- How to change career in 3 different directions
Who can help?
Career progression
Dealing with setbacks
Presenting yourself well
- 10 people skills to make you indispensable
- How to make your application irresistible to recruiters
- 7 tips on making the most of LinkedIn
- How to create a successful personal brand
- CV bootcamp: 3 ways to sharpen your professional profile
- How to make the shortlist
- The interview: how to make a great impression: part 1
- The interview: how to make a good impression: part 2
- 5 types of interview question and how to prepare
- How to answer ‘getting to know you’ questions
Book recommendations:
The 100 Year Life: Living and Working in an Age of Longevity by Lynda Gratton and Andrew J. Scott. An optimistic take on living longer and how to curate a future that works for you.
Rethinking Retirement for Positive Ageing: Denise Taylor. An opportunity to take stock on where you are and what you want from life- both work and life in general.
You’re Hired! Find Work at 50+: A positive approach to finding the work you want. Denise Taylor.
The Squiggly Career: Ditch the Ladder, Discover Opportunity, Design Your Career. Helen Tupper, Sarah Ellis.
Podcasts
Next-Up Ideas, inspiration and information from professionals 50+.
The Squiggly Careers Podcast. Search by topic for wisdom and tips from the hosts and their guests.
Online resources
Restless website with access to articles, jobs board and groups.
Noon Jobs board for 50+ women.
The Government’s resources for older workers and some links they list:
One to one support: career coaching
Investing in a qualified career coach can be an invaluable way to access personalised, bespoke support; whether it’s to help clarify your career next step or help with securing a job, a shift to part time work or self-employment or dealing with redundancy. You can search the CDI (Career Development Institute’s Register) for a qualified careers professional. You can also ask your contacts for career coaches they would recommend.
These years are still the years of my prime. It is important to recognise the years of one’s prime, always remember that.
