Framing the Over-50 Job Search

One of the most meaningful parts of my work as a career coach is helping people in the later stages of their careers — often in their 50s, 60s, and even 70s — navigate change and rediscover their professional value.

I have a particular passion for this group, because their experience is deep and the unique job search challenges they often face:

➡️ Long gaps since the last job search

➡️ Little or no LinkedIn presence

➡️ Ageism, both subtle and overt

But here's what I also see? Resilience. Courage. Growth. Reinvention - I also understand that more people today are working longer because they have to, they want to or both - And Petra's story is a perfect example. note - names have been changed to protect privacy

At age 68, Petra found herself in unfamiliar territory.

After more than 25 years with the same company, she was suddenly restructured out of her role. She hadn’t searched for a job in decades. She had little presence on LinkedIn. And she wasn’t sure what the modern job market even looked like anymore plus she was worried that no company would hire her at this age.

Sound familiar?

If you're over 50 and navigating a job search — whether by choice or circumstance — you're not alone. And yes, it can be very overwhelming.

The tools, the trends, even the language of today’s job hunt have changed. Gone are the days of brushing the cobwebs off of your CV and blasting it off to a few places. But here’s what hasn’t changed: your ability to grow, adapt, and thrive — with the right support.

Petra's Starting Point

When I first met Petra, she had everything you'd expect from a seasoned professional: deep industry knowledge, strong mentorship and teamwork skills, and decades of experience under her belt. What she didn't have was a modern job search strategy.

She had never needed one before. But instead of letting that stop her, Pat did something that made all the difference: she approached her situation with a learning mindset.

“I knew I was out of my depth with LinkedIn and networking,” she told me, “but I was willing to learn. I had to.”

What We Worked On:

So Petra and I rolled up our sleeves and tackled her job search with purpose:

• We built a professional LinkedIn profile from the ground up. We highlighted her achievements, created a compelling summary, and aligned her profile with her current goals — not just her past experience - she also updated her picture and Linkedin banner to look more up to date and professional

• We practiced networking. It didn’t come naturally and there was a lot of discomfort so we continuously worked through that. She learned how to reach out to people, ask for conversations, and grow her visibility without feeling like she was “selling herself.” Did she like it? No not really but she trusted this was what would open opportunities.

• We overhauled her interview skills. Petra hadn’t done a formal interview in years. We practiced strategically sharing her stories of success and accomplishments, answering or getting in front of age-related questions with confidence, and demonstrating her value in today’s terms.

• We also embraced new tools like ChatGPT to help with all aspects of the Job Search

The Result?

She ended up with multiple offers on the table — at 68! She chose a contract role that aligned with her values, challenged her professionally, and respected her experience and one that could also evolve into something longer term.

What Can You Take Away From this Story?

Here are a few lessons anyone in a similar situation can apply:

1. You Don’t Have to Know Everything — You Just Have to Be Willing to Learn

A modern job search has a big learning curve, but it’s navigable. If Petra can learn LinkedIn, virtual networking, and digital interviewing, so can you.

2. Your Experience Is Still Your Strength

Don’t let ageism — internal or external — make you doubt your worth. Your track record, judgment, and professional maturity matter. You just need to present them in a way that fits today’s context. Will you have to work hard - Yes - but everyone has to work harder today, it seems.

3. It’s Not Too Late to Start Again

Whether you're 55 or 68, it’s not “game over” — it’s a new chapter. And with the right support, strategy, and mindset, that chapter can be deeply fulfilling and at this stage you can feel that you are in the drivers seat of your career by doing the work to really define what you want to experience in your working life.

A Final Thought

The job market is tough. Ageism is real. But so is your resilience. Petra's story isn’t a one-off — I’ve seen many people in their 50s, 60s, and beyond reclaim their confidence and land work that truly suits them -whether that is full-time, contract work, consulting or starting down the road to entrepreneurialism - the field is wide open but that also begins with your mindset.

I also often hear from people at this stage - "Now I finally get to choose work that I want to do - more on my terms" - That's an exciting journey to be part of!

I'm hoping to share more stories like this and some tips and strategies that are working - with a lot of hard work - for wonderful people at later stages in their careers to find that next right opportunity.

Because no matter your age, your career isn’t over — it’s evolving.

Thanks for reading!

Angela Kontgen

Career Coach/Consultant