Lucy Kenny, Project Manager at the Centre for Ageing Better, details what older workers need to know if they are facing the threat of redundancy later in their career and the options open to them.
At the Centre for Ageing Better we are pioneering ways to make ageing better a reality for everyone through the tackling of inequalities calling out and challenge ageism and encouraging better planning for our growing ageing population.
One of our specialisms is the world of work where we want to increase opportunities and lower barriers for older workers. For example, we set up an Age-friendly Employer pledge for businesses to demonstrate their commitment to making workplaces better for older workers.
Since 2021, we have also been carrying out work on improving employment support for people in their 50s and 60s by researching the impact of redundancy and piloting new solutions to support older people at risk of redundancy.
For people who are being made redundant from long-term jobs, redundancy can come as a shock and a blow to their self-esteem. Many haven’t applied for a job for years and feel unsure about the value of retraining later in their careers. We’ve also found that many of the employment support services on offer aren’t as effective for older jobseekers and do not meet their specific needs.
Ageing Better developed a pilot project in partnership with over 50s who had recently been made redundant or who were facing redundancy to test what really works for people. Recognising the devastating emotional impact redundancy can have, the course we developed involves peer groups working to support each other through the process. It enabled peer groups of over 50s to come together before their redundancies were finalised, or shortly after, with a professional coach to support each other, build confidence, explore job options and take practical steps to prepare for work – like creating a CV, getting ready for interview, even applying for training.
Our work has shown that getting the right tailored support as early as possible is key to better navigating redundancy. It’s important to be able to access quality coaching and resources whilst you’re in consultation, before you’ve been made redundant.
If you’re at risk of redundancy here are four steps you can do to take control of your situation:
- Think about your transferable skills – You have more skills than you possibly realise. Spend time thinking about and mapping the skills gained from all aspects of your life including your career, home and any volunteering. What are you good at? Do you have great time management? Do you have health and safety experience? Are you the treasurer for your favourite club or society? There’s more to you than your last job description.
- What are you looking for? – Take the time to think about what you really want out of a new career opportunity. Do you need the same money? Do you want a shorter commute? Are you after a less physically demanding job or more flexible hours? Taking the time to think through what you enjoy and need rather than applying for any job means you might find something that makes you happier.
- Build a great CV – There are lots of free resources out there to help you build a winning CV. Include your transferable skills as well as your work history and training, but remember to have a master CV that you tailor to the needs of the job you’re applying for. Tailoring your CV will help recruiters see which bits of your experience relate to the job you’re applying for.
- Remember you’re not on your own – Being made redundant can be a huge shock and it may take time to process the grief and other emotions involved. You may have colleagues who are going through the same experience as you. Set up a WhatsApp group to support each other, share job opportunities and job-hunting tips. Speak to friends and family to help support you and seek out local employment support groups in community settings for professional advice. It can be difficult to know where to get support, but we recommend looking at local employment programmes and online resources. You’re not on your own.
