The Redundancy podcast

‘I can’t do that, I’m a dinosaur, I’m too old to be trained.’

We’ve probably all heard people say something like that - effectively they are self selecting themselves out of building up their skill base at work. And therefore making themselves a less valuable resource.

There are many things that may prevent older workers being recruited and trained but stereotyping, assumptions and self disablement play a significant role. And that includes the stereotypes and assumptions of both employers and employees. Professor Sarah Vickerstaff (Kent University, UK) and Dr Mariska Van der Horst (VU Amsterdam) discuss the findings of their latest research and the impact on multi-generational workforces.

And you getting that job or being offered training.

If you don’t manage your personal brand then Google will.

You’ve got a good track record of employment, many years of developed skills and hard won knowledge.

Recruiters know who you are, they can see from your resume/CV what you can do. So you don’t need a personal brand, right?

But you already have a personal brand whether you like it or not - is it the brand you want recruiters to see? Does it reflect what you want to say and how it projects you? And just what does it say it about you anyway? If you have little or no internet presence then what is that indicating to potential employers?

What do you need to do and how do you go about it? Joanne Tombrakos discusses the essentials of personal brand management and the importance of story telling.

‘Ageism is rife in the recruitment industry.’

Who said that?

The CEO of the British Recruitment Federation on record during an open session in the UK Government’s Select Enquiry into ageism in work.

And they didn’t show any contrition.

So if that’s how the recruitment industry sees itself how can organisations be encouraged to harness the power of older workers and what are the benefits of multigenerational teams?

Whose responsibility is it to encourage businesses? Governments? The organisations themselves? Anyones?

Do some of the problems lie with older workers themselves e.g. self-disablement?

Which businesses are harnessing the power of intergenerational teams successfully - we name names.

Waiting for the perfect time. With your Unicorn. In Camelot.

You’re 50+, you’re unemployed, you can’t get a job and you’ve come to the realisation that you may no longer be employable in mainstream work.

What do you do?

You could sit back and wait for the 'perfect time' to make your move. Hint - there is no ‘perfect’ time.

Katherine Brown, in the 50fiftyproject, set out to talk to 50 older entrepreneurs, learn what makes them successful, what motivates them and why they took the decisions they did.

Find out what Katherine’s learnt so far with 37 conversations completed out of her target of 50 by the end of the year. And what Katherine did next.

The purpose of a CV or resume is to get you to an interview.

If you aren’t getting invites to interviews then you are being sifted out.

So how do you reduce your risk of being sifted out at the application stage? And why does my guest really ‘hate’ application tracking systems - and what you might be able to do about them. In conversation with Jane Ferré

if A>50 then E=0.

In other words if you are 50 or older then your experience likely equals zero interest to many employers and recruiters.

Despite having a purpose, role and status in your previous jobs this enormous bank of hard earned experience, maturity and value seemingly counts for nothing on being made redundant.

For many older workers their job search can end in disappointment and even, if they get an interview, they may get a cold reception when recruiters find out their age.

So what can you do?

Continue applying for hundreds of jobs and face regular rejection as you come up against ageism?Start your own business?

Or is there a third road you could take?

‘I’ve never been happier.’

Not a phrase you might associate with life after redundancy but, for many, that enforced break leads to new opportunities.

After a long career working for the Australian Government Cindy Sciberras found herself unemployed following a redundancy during the pandemic. Using her skills as a journalist she started her own podcast to find out how other Australians, who’d also been made redundant, were faring in a tough economy and what they were doing to find new incomes. Cindy shares her her findings, insights and describes her new direction - and how she’s never been happier.

The emotions you’ll likely feel following a redundancy or layoff can affect your moods for a long time. Even if you saw redundancy coming, it still comes as a shock. The emotions you’ll experience have been likened to a bereavement. Paula Gardner, psychologist and coach, talks about what is normal and strategies for dealing with this difficult period. Paula also talks about what women in their 50s, who are facing mid life career change, divorce and confidence issues can do in their search for meaning and a desire for visibility.

18 guests

6 countries

6 themes.

During 2020 18 fantastic guests from 6 different countries joined me on the podcast to talk about a range of issues that affect older workers. Many offered practical help and guidance in finding a new full time role or how you might go about considering other options such as self employment or early retirement. Several guests described candid personal experiences around unemployment and two prominent academics discussed the issues affecting groups of workers who face additional challenges. These brief extracts give a taste of their expertise and views. The podcasts were heard in over 50 countries.

Transition.

One word.

Many meanings - changeover, conversion, development, growth, progress, upheaval.

We will all face that time when our career draws to an end and we have to consider what we do next. We may have a further 20 to 30 years ahead of us. So what might we do? Keep working, work part time, start our own business, retire (if that is an option)?

Larry Steward is a life transition coach and discusses the options and journey that we can choose to take and what it can mean to you.