After the age of 50, finding a job can quickly be fraught with pitfalls. However, it is not always age that makes the difference. A mistake, very common among the most experienced candidates, can drop their chances without knowing it.
Looking for a job after 50 has nothing to do with searching 10 or 20 years earlier. Many employees find themselves on the job market after spending a good part of their career in the same company. Some have never even experienced unemployment. When a layoff, restructuring or conventional termination occurs, you have to start from scratch, update your CV, reactivate your network and above all learn to talk about yourself differently.
Indeed, in France, seniors take longer on average to find a job than other candidates. Prejudices still exist. Some employers fear higher salary expectations, a lack of flexibility or difficulty adapting to new tools. But these clichés don’t explain everything. In many cases, how a candidate presents themselves is just as important. A few minutes are sometimes enough to make you want to continue the discussion… or on the contrary to miss your chance.
This is what a publication relayed on LinkedIn shows. Caroline Sarrot-Lecarpentier, a support professional, recounts her exchange with a 52-year-old man, about to experience his first period of unemployment. During their conversation, she gives him several very concrete pieces of advice. Everyone is going in the same direction: stop putting up with the situation and change your posture. Because an interview is no longer a simple exercise where you go through your CV from start to finish.
Thus, the advice that she considers most important is to no longer focus your speech on your 20 or 30 years of career, the companies where you have worked or the different positions held. Many candidates think that this background is enough to convince a recruiter. However, the latter does not stop at what has been done. What interests him above all is to know what this experience will bring to the company from day one.
Another point often underestimated: continue to build something during your job search. Many put their projects on hold while waiting to find a permanent contract. However, it is usually the opposite that attracts attention. Giving courses, following training, launching an activity, supporting an association or developing a personal project shows that we remain active. It also proves that you don’t spend your days waiting for a recruiter to call back. This type of initiative gives a more dynamic and reassuring image.
