Resource, the Jewish community’s dedicated employment support organisation, hosted a special event on Tuesday 25 November to help people over 55 overcome age-related barriers in the job market. The event brought together 30 attendees eager to learn strategies for navigating employment later in life and hear from guest speaker Baroness Ros Altmann CBE, who emphasised that “older workers are complementary to younger workers.” Baroness Altmann also encouraged attendees: "50 is just the second half of your life.
Finding a job over 50 can be challenging, but it is absolutely possible – do not give up."
Recent research by think tank Demos highlights the scale of the issue: many over-50s left the workforce during the pandemic, with over 800,000 older people currently out of work but seeking employment. Hundreds of thousands more are at risk of leaving the workforce due to limited access to flexible working, insufficient redundancy support, ill health or disability, negative workplace experiences, or age discrimination.
The interactive workshop included:
• Insights from Baroness Ros Altmann CBE on the value older workers bring to businesses and society, particularly as more people continue to work later in life.
• Practical guidance from Resource’s employment experts on overcoming age barriers, including creating an “age-less” CV and preparing for interviews with confidence.
• Tips on leveraging personal and professional networks effectively at any stage of a career.
• A success story from a former Resource client, sharing how she overcame challenges to secure her ideal job.
The event also marked the launch of Resource’s new Ageless Career Programme: Experience that Works, part of a three-year initiative to support over-55s back into employment. The workshop was held at Resource, 894 High Road, N2 9RH, from 10am to 12pm.