Firms that want to hire older workers
THE number of workers aged 65 and over reached 1,133,000 in January — an increase of 53,000 in one year, according to TAEN, the age and employment network catering for the over-50s.
Ann Headland, 69, says: ‘I retired from the NHS at 60, but wasn’t ready for full retirement.’
She’s now an activity coordinator at Bilton Court, a care home run by the not-for-profit Anchor housing charity in Wellingborough, Northants.
‘I had previous managerial experience, but Anchor’s training and support helped me develop new skills,’ Ann adds. ‘Don’t let age stop you. As you get older, working full-time might not be feasible, but parttime working has given me the perfect home/ work balance.’
Jane Ashcroft, CEO of Anchor, which has 2,000 vacancies over the next year, says: ‘There are many more opportunities for older workers than you might think. And there are a huge range of jobs that offer flexible working hours.
‘Don’t undervalue your previous experience. Older workers often hold a wealth of life skills crucial to a range of careers. You can take this chance to
build a new career that will let you grow. Look for an employer offering training to help you develop new skills.’
Anchor looks for employees with the right skills and attitude, and previous care experience isn’t a necessity (see
anchor.org.uk/careers).
Use your age to your advantage. Research employers whose target customer is over 40, consider omitting your age from your CV to prevent age discrimination, and detail your achievements on page one of your CV, ahead of your career history.
List your previous roles, putting the most recent first and dates on the right, to highlight experience over age.
More information at taen.org.uk, opportunity50plus.com, tradingtimes.org.uk.