Finding a job in your 60s

Jobsearch, Jobseekers / 28 February 2023

You’re looking for a new job in your sixties. That might be because your current job no longer suits you or you’re facing redundancy. Maybe you’re retired but you need to return to work because of the rising cost of living.
Whatever the reason for starting a job hunt in your sixties, finding new employment at this stage in your life can be especially nerve-wrecking. You may be competing with younger candidates who are just starting out and eager to please. You may have worries that employers won’t want to invest in workers who may only be with them for a few years.

Whatever your worry, there are plenty of reasons that older workers are of value to employers and ongoing evidence that people like you are needed in the workplace.

UK Government support for older workers

In July 2022, the UK Government announced that it would invest several million pounds into assisting over 50s to find jobs in England, Wales, and Scotland. This included increased one-to-one support at Jobcentres and the creation of 50-Plus Champions who would work with businesses to build an understanding of the benefits of employing older workers.

The UK Government also plans to find ways to convince and assist retirees to return to the workplace following a report in December 2022 which concluded that the increased number of people retiring early since the pandemic had played a key role in the UK’s labour shortage.

The value of older workers to employers

One worry you may have when applying for a job in your sixties is how to overcome employer doubts. The best way to equip yourself to answer those doubts is to find out how employing older workers as part of a diverse workforce can benefit businesses.

Experience

By the time you reach your sixties, you have a wealth of knowledge and experience to bring to a new job and employer. Beyond the tasks and responsibilities of the job itself, you’ve had years to develop your skills too, including:

people skills and teamwork
communication skills
adaptability
problem solving
supervisory and leadership skills

You are more likely to hit the ground running when starting a new job and be aware of what is expected from you as an employee.

Able to act as a role model or mentor

With the wealth of experience mentioned above, you are in an ideal position to help out younger and less experienced colleagues. Whether you’re an official mentor or an unofficial role model that other colleagues go to for advice, you can save your employer time and expense by helping and perhaps training your colleagues.

Increased productivity

Businesses who employ older workers benefit from increased productivity. This is proven by research from the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) which found that employing 10% more workers aged over 50 years old increased company productivity by 1.1%. Key reasons for this increased productivity include the fact that older workers are less likely to leave for a job elsewhere, reducing job turnover and the need to train new employees, and the greater work experience and range of skills that older workers bring to the business.

Diversity

Employers understand the benefits of a diverse workforce. Age is an essential element of that diversity because of the wide range of experience, skills, and working preferences that an age diverse workforce brings to a business.

Age diversity also allows for a sharing of knowledge between different age groups and increases innovation.

Cost effective

Employing older workers can also be cost effective. Here’s why:

According to research by Ageing Better, older workers are generally less likely to take sick days than their younger colleagues.
Older workers are more likely to remain in a job, therefore reducing recruitment costs.
The experience that an older worker brings to a business, especially where that worker acts as a mentor, can often save the employer the expense of training less experienced employees.

Job search tips for older workers

As you can see, there are plenty of ways to answer employer doubts whether in your application letter or at an interview. Here are three more useful tips when searching for a job in your sixties:

Take advantage of your network

Just as you’ve developed a wealth of experience throughout your working life, you will also have built a wide network of contacts. These might be colleagues, employers, consultants, competitors, business owners, suppliers, or managers. Add to that your friends and family, and you have the benefit a vast network to approach about finding a job.

Know your rights

As a jobseeker in your sixties, you may feel at a disadvantage compared to younger candidates. Do remember, however, that employers must not discriminate against you because of your age. Yes, they want the right person for the job but age must not play a part in their hiring decision.

The CIPD provide a useful factsheet on age discrimination, your rights as a jobseeker and employee, and what is legally expected of employers.

Consider what jobs suits you now

Do you want to continue doing the same job that you’ve done for years or would you rather move into a supervisory role or something completely different?

Do you want full-time hours or would a part-time job be a better fit? Equally, are you interested in a flexible work pattern, such as working from home, working on a hybrid basis, or a four day week?

Decide what kind of job suits you now and will continue to suit you up until you retire.

Wrapping it up

As a jobseeker in your sixties, you are just as competent and valuable as younger candidates. Many employers have realised this fact but there are others who may need convincing. The key to successfully finding work at this stage in your life is arming yourself to answer employer doubts, building your confidence in your own abilities, and finding a job that suits your needs right now.