It’s a question we hear from people returning to work and changing careers in midlife. Sometimes it comes after a long career break. Sometimes it comes after sending application after application without a reply. And sometimes it appears before the search has even begun.
If you’ve asked yourself the same question, we want to take it seriously. Age bias exists. Some employers make assumptions about older candidates, and being told simply to “stay positive” doesn’t make those experiences disappear.
But those employers do not get to decide the value of your experience, or whether there is a place for you in the workforce.
What might an employer value about your experience?
By midlife, you’ve likely dealt with change, worked with different kinds of people and learned how to handle situations that don’t go to plan. You may have built specialist knowledge in a job, developed new skills while caring for someone, or discovered through a career break that you want to work in a different way.
The useful question is: which parts of that experience matter for the role you want now?
For example, if a job asks for someone who can manage competing priorities, think of a time you did exactly that. If it asks for communication skills, think about who you’ve worked with and how you helped them understand something or reach a decision. Give employers a specific example they can picture.
You don’t have to account for every year of your life. You do need to help them see the connection between what you’ve done and what they need.
“But I’ve been away from work”
A career break may feel much bigger to you than it looks to someone reading your application. You know all the uncertainty and effort behind it; they see a period on a CV.
You can explain a break clearly and briefly, then bring the conversation back to the present:
“I took a career break to care for a family member. I’m now ready to return to work and am particularly interested in this role because…”
You don’t owe an employer every personal detail. You can decide what you’re comfortable sharing.
If you’ve been away from a particular industry, it can help to find out what has changed. A conversation with someone working in the field, a workshop or a short course may give you the knowledge and confidence to speak about it. That doesn’t mean everything you knew before is out of date. It means you’re building on it.
Look for employers who can see your potential
An application is also your chance to assess an employer. Read the job description and careers page. Do they welcome people with different backgrounds? Do they recognise transferable skills? Can you see people with varied career paths in their team?
No careers page can guarantee what an interview will be like. But these clues can help you decide where to put your energy.
At Back To Work Connect, we work to connect Returners and career changers with employers who recognise the skills and experience they bring. Our Jobs Board is a place to explore those opportunities.
One step you can take this week
Choose a role that interests you, even if you’re not ready to apply. Pick out three things the employer is asking for. Beside each one, write a real example from your work, caring responsibilities, volunteering, study or other experience.
You may find that the question begins to shift from “Who’ll want someone my age?” to “How can I show this employer what I can do?”
That won’t remove every barrier, and a rejection can still hurt. But your age alone does not tell an employer what you’re capable of. Your story, your skills and what you want to do next deserve to be part of the conversation.
If you’re unsure where to begin, try our Back to Work Roadmap. It can help you identify the next step that feels right for you.
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