There are more women than ever before in work and according to recent research, women over the age of 50 are responsible for nearly half the employment growth the UK has seen in the past decade. What’s more, the number of female over 65’s in employment has doubled in the past decade. Much of this is due to the rapid equalisation of the state pension age, which has left many with no choice but to keep working and is perhaps why more and more of us say we are planning to work beyond our state pension age.
At Rest Less – a jobs and volunteering site dedicated to the over 50’s – we have found that 30 percent of women plan to work full or part-time after they reach their state pension age; 45 percent of whom said it was because they could not afford to retire.
Working Longer
Whilst it is worrying that nearly half of all women who plan to work beyond their state pension age will do so because they can’t afford to retire, there are a myriad of well documented health benefits for those choosing to work in older age, from social interaction and keeping active, to leading a more fulfilled retirement.
But where do you start? Many women over the age of 50 find themselves out of practice when it comes to looking for a new job. You can find lots of tips on finding a new role in your 50s, 60s and beyond on our website, but exclusively for Woman Ready we have put together our top five suggestions for women over the age of 50:
Do Your Homework:
Knowledge is power and you shouldn’t underestimate the confidence you will get from learning more about the company at which you will be interviewing. Regardless of the level or the role, being well equipped with background information about the company, its financial performance, its goals and visions will show your interviewer that you mean business.
Believe In Yourself:
It might have been a while since you’ve been for an interview and you might be feeling a little out of practice. This is totally normal; the trick is to use it to enhance your confidence rather than dent it. One great advantage of being older than some of the other candidates is that you have experience – life and work – on your side.
Look in the mirror and repeat positive affirmations out loud telling yourself that you’re good enough and experienced enough to be an excellent choice for the role. If you believe you are good enough for the role and you’re able to express it, then the chances are that your interviewer will believe it too.
Be Proud of Your Career Path:
Maybe you’ve taken a few breaks in your career to have children, look after elderly parents or to retrain. Be proud of your career path and make a concerted effort not to apologise for the choices you have made. Think about transferable skills you have and where you can add value in the organisation – whether that’s through professional experience, leadership qualities or your ability to roll your sleeves up – and hand it to your interviewer on a plate.
Don’t gloss over your career breaks or changes in industry. They have made you who you are today and you should bring them to the table and explain why they have contributed to your overall life experience – which counts for so much to many employers.
Have Some Great Examples Pre-Prepared:
Many employers today will ask you competency based questions. These can be along the lines of ‘tell me about a time you did this’ or ‘give me an example of where you went over and above for a customer’. Questions like these can make you feel like you’re on the spot, but you can get around them by thinking of examples in advance on general scenario topics e.g. when you have overcome a difficult challenge at work, when you haven’t been happy about an outcome and how you dealt with it and/or a time when you felt most proud. These can be both inside and outside of work.
Dress To Impress:
Whilst your clothing is of course secondary to what you can bring for the role, it’s important to dress appropriately. I was once given the advice that you can almost never over dress for an interview: even if it’s a casual environment, dressing in a suit and smart shoes will always be appropriate while turning up in jeans will not! If you’re fond of wearing black, think about adding a bit of colour so you can stand out in your own way.
Why not also read why age diversity is the future of work or 17 ways to boost your confidence and self-esteem.
Bio
Sara Stephens is Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer at Rest Less (restless.co.uk), the digital community that helps those in their 50’s, 60’s and beyond find fulfilling opportunities to work, volunteer or find a new career path.
Website: restless.co.uk
