For some people, ageing might evoke unpleasant associations; for others, it’s nothing but a number. Our quality of life and life expectancy are steadily growing thanks to numerous scientific and medical advancements. Compared to 1950, when life expectancy was 67 years, in 2020 to 2022, this number stood at 78 years for males and 82 years for females. Along with these, we can witness significant improvements in working conditions and loads of jobs that have flexible working hours, which can be done from the comfort of our homes.
70-year-olds have a good chance of finding employment if they can and want to. As Oliver Wendell Holmes once said, ‘All limitations are self-imposed’. If you are 70 or a bit over and you don’t feel like giving up working, this article is meant for you!
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How to handle a job search in the current job market? Despite the increasing prevalence of the query ‘jobs for over 70s uk’ in a search engine, for a 70-year-old job seeker, it may be quite a challenge. Here, the team of Jooble Career Advice shares some effective tips.
Some companies are committed to a diverse workforce, including hiring older workers. Of course, we recommend applying to such companies first. This information is usually provided on a company’s website. You should also be reasonable regarding the roles you’re applying for. Give preference to jobs where you can make an impact with your wisdom and expertise. These could be roles in mentorship, consulting, or strategic planning.
As a 70-year-old candidate, you certainly have a lot of experience. However, according to the general guidance, your resume should include only the most recent 10 to 15 years. This move has a few convincing advantages: it keeps your resume focused on your most significant achievements and may well help avoid age discrimination. Furthermore, pick the most relevant skills and accomplishments for the positions you’re applying for. In such a way, it will be easier for potential employers to spot the value you can bring to their company.
Even if you devoted all your life to the same role or field, don’t deprive yourself of the opportunity to explore new areas and roles. Some of your skills and experience can be transferable and come in handy in other roles too. For instance, a candidate with a professional background in customer service or sales must have developed strong communication skills, gained a deep understanding of human psychology, and enhanced their ability to find a common language and build relationships with others. Such soft skills will be helpful in customer success, account management, training and development, or consulting.
It’s also worth seeking assistance from governmental resources and programs. Among those, there are:
What quality makes a valuable employee? A thirst for knowledge and constant improvement. For instance, to land remote work, one should be good at devices and using the Internet. As we know from our previous tip, many governmental programs, such as Jobcentre Plus, offer IT literacy courses for older workers. It’s a great idea to complete one of such courses and attach your newly obtained certification to your CV. For an employer, it can become a sure-fire sign of your dedication to self-improvement and adaptability.
When looking for a new job, all means are suitable. Older people seeking employment may start with a recruitment agency. Usually, they provide their services for free, and their most significant advantage is an impressive number of contacts. On the flip side, the job choices they sometimes offer may not be reasonable.
The following popular tools are online search and job boards or aggregators like Jooble. The keyword “best jobs for over 70s UK” may be a bit generic. Therefore, you should work with filters on each job aggregator you use. These include full-time and part-time jobs, flexible hours, home office, etc. Luckily, many companies are already working on simplifying their application process. However, if there are some complicated steps, don’t hesitate to ask your family or friends for help. It’s better to ensure that your application will be seen.
We’ll always say that networking is king. Should you be a graduate seeking their first job or a 70-year-old career switcher, you can’t underestimate networking. We don’t say that applying online makes no sense; that’s not true. However, many resumes or CVs tend to be rejected by applicant tracking systems before the hiring manager even sees them due to format, content, and lack of keywords. To eliminate this possibility, first, fine-tune your resume. Second, network and suggest your candidacy directly to people, not machines.
Here are some options a 70-year-old jobseeker could consider when choosing their new job.
Older people who are still as fit as a fiddle and who seek meaningful jobs may well consider roles in social care. Such jobs are rewarding but also demanding: care workers are generally responsible for such day-to-day tasks as cleaning, cooking, shopping, giving medication, and, most importantly, providing emotional support.
Retail positions are good because they include remote work and home office opportunities. However, dealing with customers can be stressful and energy-consuming. If you possess excellent people skills, a friendly phone manner, and don’t mind multitasking, you may succeed as a customer service representative.
Why not share your massive baggage of experience with others for money? After years and years of working in a particular field (or fields), you have quite a few ideas or tips to share. A great advantage of consulting jobs is that they aren’t very stressful, they can be done remotely, and they can be very generously rewarded financially.
No other job offers so much flexibility and freedom as this one. Whatever your experience or talent, you can monetise it through freelance work. Register on the most popular freelance platforms and start showcasing your skills and expertise from the comfort of your home. Among other advantages of freelance work, you can work on your terms, set your own rates, and choose only those projects that align with your interests.
