Changing jobs in Spain at 60? “I was given the opportunity to show that I could bring value”

Is it possible to change jobs at 60? The short answer is yes, it is possible. Age should not be a barrier to making a career change. However, the reality is that it is not easy for seniors to do so. This is what Amparo Agustí, 58 years old, tells us. She has worked in the logistics and construction sector since she was 18. Since 2018, when her contract ended, she has been sending between 50 and 100 resumes a week without receiving feedback. She is certain that her age is a hindrance. “In Spain, people over 45 are already considered seniors, that's why I don't put my age on my resume. In an interview, they even told me, without any shame, that they wouldn't hire me because of my age.”

It seems unthinkable that a professional with decades of national and international experience, holding positions of responsibility and awards to her credit, cannot find a place to work. Her long career fills nearly five pages, but that, to her, is no longer useful. “You are valid until the day you are fired.” This is a harsh statement, but one that is repeated over and over among those seniors who want (or have to) change jobs. They feel invisible, as everyone says.

You are valid until the day you are fired

Amparo Agustí 58 years

Difficult, but not impossible

As we approach our 60s, the range of opportunities narrows. According to the most recent statistics from the Active Population Survey (EPA), of the 2,767,860 unemployed people in Spain, over 46% are over 50 years old, with our country also leading in unemployment among people aged 55 to 59 years old; 75% of them believe they will never work again. “While these figures may be discouraging and do not paint a favorable picture for change, it is important to keep in mind that it does not mean that it is impossible,” says Angélica Barrero Guinand, a clinical psychologist and leader of the Corporate Clinical Department at ifeel.

Your office colleague is an example of this. Carmen Martínez, 59 years old, changed jobs after trying to reinvent herself in different ways. “Since I was 20, I had never been out of work. When the last company closed down, I struggled to find a job that matched my experience. I started with collaborations, but they were not very motivating and lacked stability.” She decided to change and open her own restaurant, but it closed shortly after. “I went back to job hunting and realized that, even though they ask for experience, age becomes a barrier.”

They tell you that you are overqualified or that they are looking for a more junior profile, which is extremely frustrating. You have experience and enthusiasm, but it seems like no one sees you

Carmen Martínez59 years

Carmen feels that new companies prefer to start from scratch and train their own staff. “They tell you that you are overqualified or that they are looking for a more junior profile, which is tremendously frustrating. You have experience and motivation, but it seems like no one sees you,” says Carmen. Once again, invisibility.

She was like this for a few months, until she arrived at the company where she now works as a sales technician and mental health consultant. “During the interview, I wanted to convey to them that my age meant I had a lot of willingness to work and I only asked them to give me the opportunity to prove that I could add value.” Carmen acknowledges that seniors have to prove themselves more than a younger person. “You have to justify that you can and that you are capable.”

Why change jobs?

The reasons that lead to leaving a job you have been in for many years play a relevant role. According to the latest update from LinkedIn, 62% of Spaniards are considering changing jobs in 2024. The percentage decreases among older workers: only 29.87% of baby boomers (aged 59-77) are contemplating a change. Another study by the consulting firm Robert Walters reveals that 75% of professionals over 50 believe they have reached a career ceiling. 72% of these professionals state that they are not being offered promotion opportunities in their current companies, while 41% feel they lack professional development options.

Rosario Sierra, Corporate Business Director at LinkedIn, comments that among the reasons for changing jobs among older workers are the pursuit of a higher salary (33%), confidence in finding a better job due to their skills (28%), or the desire for a better balance between their personal and professional life (26%).

Some of the most common reasons

• To make a complete turnaround.

Angélica Barrero adds that “changes can also be linked to the search for a greater sense of purpose, finding something that connects them. It is possible that as we advance in life, we are more 'burned out' and a change is often what we need.” She notes that it is very common for people to reach a point where they are no longer passionate about their career, activity, or professional challenge that they had set for themselves when they were younger. “Since we are very young, we have been taught that we must quickly know what we want to dedicate our whole lives to, and it is expected that we fit in. This, after several years, makes us realize that we are in a place where we do not want to be.”

• The routine.

Doing the same thing every day for 40 years can be, at the very least, exhausting and draining, both physically and mentally and emotionally.

• Changing priorities.

It is also important to consider that when you cross the barrier of 60 years, life and work are seen in a different way. Some values change and things that were not crucial before now become a priority. One of them is time, which you want to enjoy doing the things you like and leave behind the idea that work should consume your daily life. That is why many seniors not only consider leaving work to prepare for retirement, but also to change sectors, companies, people, schedules to enjoy their time more.

• Stress.

The excess of work, the number of hours, the responsibilities, or one's own attitude towards all of this can generate high doses of continued stress and sustained fatigue, leading to the belief that the best solution is to change jobs. The same applies if there is burnout or the burnt-out syndrome. Experts clarify that changing jobs is just moving the problem to another place.

• Search for better pay.

If after dedicating many years to a company, a person does not feel valued or believes that they are not being compensated according to their worth, they may think that they will feel better working for another company that properly rewards them and ensures a better situation for the future and retirement.

• After being fired.

Not always is it within our power to change certain situations. In the world of work, things happen that are beyond our control, such as global crises, closures, restructurings, staff cuts, etc., which can force employees to take a different path. When this happens, workers who may have been with a company for a long time find themselves out of a job at an older age. Elena González is one of them. She has dedicated 35 years to working as an advertising professional in various agencies; 25 years at the last one. “I was happy, I was doing what I enjoyed most in terms of work, I had a good time, earned well, and my projects won awards for the company.” She was recognized and appreciated by her company, until the pandemic hit and, at 56, she was informed that there would be layoffs. “One day everyone praises and acknowledges your achievements until you leave the company, and you become invisible to everyone.” She is actively searching, always optimistic that someone will notice her talent more than her age and she can continue working in her field. Elena has different resumes depending on the recipient, although she has had to shorten them so as not to “scare off” recruiters.

Facing a dismissal is never an easy moment for any of the parties involved, regardless of age. Barrero Guinand emphasizes that in the case of an older individual, there may be fear of not knowing if they will be able to find something new soon. “This fear is very logical, as unfortunately, many companies prefer to hire younger people, even if it's not always what is needed.”

Entrepreneurship is not always an option

Neither Carmen, Amparo, nor Elena see the solution in entrepreneurship. “You need capital, risk, and patience for it to prosper,” says Elena. According to the report “The Entrepreneurship Map 2022,” developed by IE University, the profile of the Spanish entrepreneur is a young man of 33 years old. It is uncommon to start a business at 60. However, there are advantages. Rosario Sierra argues that the experience and skills that these professionals bring from their years of career are, of course, very useful for entrepreneurship. “The knowledge and contacts they have are an added value when bringing their own business to life, but I don't think it should be the only option for them,” she says. “The focus should be on companies, on building a corporate culture based on the diversity of voices that provide various points of view to a team.”

Knowledge and contacts are added value when it comes to bringing your own business to life

Rosario SierraDirector of Corporate Business at Linkedin

It's time for companies to make a move

Fortunately, although few, there are companies that are already thinking about changing the paradigm because they understand that a multigenerational workforce is much richer and more productive. Additionally, it is an investment in the future. “We have to consider that by 2030, 60% of the active population in Spain will be over 45 years old, so either companies change the way they recruit or they will have very few people to hire,” says Alfonso Bermejo, one of the leaders of DiversiEdad, a program by the human resources company WTC, that calls on the business world to put an end to age-based discrimination.

Age is one of the biases that prevail in the personnel selection process. Numerous studies have investigated the biases that operate consciously or unconsciously and can affect the interviewer's ability to make fair and accurate assessments of candidates. A meta-analysis published in Personnel Psychology concluded, after reviewing over 400 studies, that older candidates face discrimination in both interview evaluations and hiring decisions. The authors of the research suggest that negative stereotypes about the productivity and adaptability of older workers contribute to this bias.

Either companies change the way they recruit or they will have very few people to hire

Alfonso BermejoResponsible for Diversity, from the human resources company WTC

“When you automatically dismiss people, you haven't even stopped to see if that person is the most suitable for the position. This is due to the many prejudices associated with ageism,” Bermejo states.

“Companies perform better when they have that diversity, when their staff is multigenerational. Older people bring a lot of experience and can teach the younger ones, while also learning new skills from them. Diversity means complementing the vocations, values, and talents of different generations. Finally, in addition to knowledge and experience, their commitment, responsibility, and eagerness to give meaning to their work and their lives are noteworthy,” he adds.

10 tips for making a job change at an advanced age 1

Think beyond the job. Psychologist Angélica Barrero recommends “thinking about allowing a change within the capabilities you already have and in what situations you can put them into practice. Also, recognize emotions and uncertainty, which comes with all of this”.

2

Questions to ask yourself. The expert suggests that, instead of focusing on “what can I do”, we should think about “what am I good at” or “what have I excelled at”. Ask yourself what is important to you or remember what you wanted to be as a child, not to go looking for that, but to know why you wanted to be that. On the other hand, a psychological therapy is an excellent point of self-knowledge, to find our talents and our values.

3

Have a plan. It is essential to place yourself in the necessary context and skills, but with support, consistency and confidence, and that, in order to change jobs at maturity, you must have realistic goals.

4

A lot of enthusiasm. Rosario Sierra recommends that, in order to make this change, you have to be eager to face a new challenge and keep on the path of change. “It is not always easy to decide on a career or to enter a new position, so enthusiasm is essential for any worker,” she says.

5

Updating. Another key element is continuous training. The LinkedIn executive says that “if it used to be important to be at the forefront of your industry, today it is more important than ever. Senior talent, as well as those starting their careers, need to be aware of what is happening, analyze the skills they may need to perform their role or identify where they want to go to act accordingly and be prepared for the new role”. Seeking out courses and training is a must.

6

The resume. If you want to change jobs in the same sector, it is advisable to update your resume and include in it all the skills you have acquired over the years. Highlighting experience and knowledge is very important. There are many initiatives, workshops, apps, tutorials and professionals to help you make the CV, but “the fundamental thing is that it does not harm you and have common sense,” says Elsa Novo, head of employment training projects at the Endesa Foundation, which includes the senior talent program Generación Savia. “The CV has to enhance what you can offer for that position, not make one the same for all jobs, but a specific one for each one.” Some tricks are “instead of putting the experience by years, do it for longer periods, highlight what has to do with the offer, do not exceed one page in length and try to put the keywords that appear in the characteristics of the position”. As for putting age or not, Novo says there is nothing wrong with doing so. “And if you're going to be ruled out because of that, it's better to know as soon as possible.”

7

Before and during the interview. Novo advises feeling self-confident and being active, interested, taking notes and asking questions, but also analyzing the characteristics of the position and looking for information before going to the interview".

8

Social networks are also a showcase. The suggestion is to move your professional profile on LinkedIn. “It's perfect for senior talent,” Sierra says. “Beyond choosing their best photo, detailing their education and experience in their professional profile or writing a good description of themselves, it allows for the creation of quality content. When a recruiter enters the network, they want to see what we share, the words we use, the way we approach a problem or even face a challenge.” In addition, the way we interact with other members of the community also says a lot about us: “if we do it with empathy, with a desire to learn, to contribute or with the curiosity to find valuable connections for our work”.

9

Defeat fear. “The most frequent fear, in this case, is of failure, of things not going well, and of not being well. To face it, we must recognize it, feel it and not go against it,” proposes the ifeel psychologist.

10

Be confident in your abilities. “Review and recognize your achievements, ask your environment how they perceive you and what your strengths are. It is also good to do some good networking, both to look for our opportunities and to meet other people who have gone through the same situation,” says the expert.