As we age, it becomes more difficult to change careers. However, if you are unhappy in your job, it could make things even more scary to wait until retirement.

Many women who have experienced a midlife career change have survived and are still here to tell their stories.

Reddit's AskWomenOver50 had a thread discussing finding work in your midlife. Many other women over 50 are able to relate to the original poster's concerns about making big changes.

She asked, "Have you all found a job after fifty?" "If yes, how long did it take you? What was the difference between a better or worse job? I don't like where I am at the moment and would love to change jobs. There are many horror stories of women over 50 who have had to wait a long time to find work.

She explained that she suffers from a chronic illness and was worried her employer would ask her to come back to work after she had worked at home during the pandemic. She mentioned that she was a former teacher, a published writer, and was currently working in clerical.

She wondered, "Is it better for me to just suck it up and work until retirement or is it possible to make a change?"

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Surprisingly, women who were in her shoes expressed optimism. They said that although ageism is a problem in the workplace, they shouldn't underestimate their abilities.

One person said that "ageism" was real and that finding a job at 53 would be difficult. My current company did not accept me for the job I applied for but gave me a second interview. Three weeks was the longest I was without work. Don't underestimate your experience. You have much to offer. While I agree with you that you should keep your job until you find a better one, you can still look forward with confidence. You will find it. You'll find it. Good luck!

Another person shared the idea that midlife job seekers may need patience and/or flexibility. It took her just over a year for something similar to the job that she lost at 55. She was able to make it happen after rewriting her resume. She also removed her graduation dates from her university so that she didn't appear "totally dinosaur" on paper.

The commenter said, "Bottom line: Definitely look for something better if your job isn't satisfying you."

Workplace Ageism Is Real

In the last few decades, there has been a significant improvement in the job market for older women. CNBC reported that companies are increasingly looking for mature workers in July.

The labor market is tight with only two jobs available for every worker in America. Employers are also struggling to retain and recruit talent. Research shows that older workers are more likely than younger workers to be interested in their work and to connect with their employers. They are also less likely than younger workers to quit.

Another Reddit commenter said, "I'm 65 years old and just found a job." "... Employers recognize that we have a better work ethic then most millennials.

Despite the optimism, ageism is still alive and well in America. AARP discovered that workplace discrimination against older workers is higher than ever since 2003. A 2020 survey revealed that 78% of workers had experienced or seen ageism, a significant increase from the 61% who said so in 2018.

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Find Non-Discriminatory Employers

Check out the AARP Employer Pledge program to find an age-friendly employer. This is a list that includes more than 1000 companies who have made a public commitment to equalize the employment market for older workers.

This list includes Microsoft, Marriott International and Humana. To be eligible, a company must not have been involved in discrimination lawsuits in the last five years. They also need to agree to recruit across all ages and treat applications equally. AARP has a jobs board that certifies companies that are "best in their class" for workers aged 50+.

If you are looking for work in your 50s or beyond, make sure to look out for language that explicitly states there is no age discrimination. Also, visit the company's site and learn about the culture. Red flags are raised when you see "digital native" or a limit on years of experience in job descriptions.

Check to see if older workers appear on company websites or in promotional materials. It could indicate that the company is more interested in young workers if everyone seems to be in their 20s or 30s. Keep searching if you get asked how old you are and when you graduated.

The original Reddit poster, now 55, updated the thread in June to say that she has decided to stay with her current job.

She wrote that "We are still working at home and have been informed this will be indefinite." "... Right now, things are fine. I'm taking care of some personal matters and paying my bills.

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By: Perry Carpenter
Title: These Women Over 50 Shared How They Landed New Jobs, But Ageism Is Alive And Well In The U.S.A.
Sourced From: www.suggest.com/changing-jobs-after-50/2674177/
Published Date: Tue, 20 Sep 2022 11:45:00 +0000

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