{"id":7414,"date":"2026-09-29T11:27:02","date_gmt":"2026-09-29T11:27:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/backtoworkconnect.ie\/careerhub\/?p=7414"},"modified":"2026-09-29T11:27:07","modified_gmt":"2026-09-29T11:27:07","slug":"lets-start-the-conversation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/backtoworkconnect.ie\/careerhub\/lets-start-the-conversation\/","title":{"rendered":"Let\u2019s Start The Conversation: Part 8"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h4 id=\"h-a-member-of-our-community-recently-asked\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">A member of our community recently asked:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWho\u2019ll want someone my age?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" data-src=\"https:\/\/backtoworkconnect.ie\/careerhub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Back-to-Work-Connect-1-1024x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7415 lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/1024;width:268px;height:auto\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/backtoworkconnect.ie\/careerhub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Back-to-Work-Connect-1-1024x1024-1.png 1024w, https:\/\/backtoworkconnect.ie\/careerhub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Back-to-Work-Connect-1-300x300-1.png 300w, https:\/\/backtoworkconnect.ie\/careerhub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Back-to-Work-Connect-1-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/backtoworkconnect.ie\/careerhub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Back-to-Work-Connect-1-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/backtoworkconnect.ie\/careerhub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Back-to-Work-Connect-1-148x148.png 148w, https:\/\/backtoworkconnect.ie\/careerhub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Back-to-Work-Connect-1-296x296.png 296w, https:\/\/backtoworkconnect.ie\/careerhub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Back-to-Work-Connect-1-512x512.png 512w, https:\/\/backtoworkconnect.ie\/careerhub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Back-to-Work-Connect-1-920x920.png 920w, https:\/\/backtoworkconnect.ie\/careerhub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Back-to-Work-Connect-1-600x600.png 600w, https:\/\/backtoworkconnect.ie\/careerhub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Back-to-Work-Connect-1-100x100.png 100w, https:\/\/backtoworkconnect.ie\/careerhub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Back-to-Work-Connect-1.png 1080w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019ve 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 \u201cstay positive\u201d doesn\u2019t make those experiences disappear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But those employers do not get to decide the value of your experience, or whether there is a place for you in the workforce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"h-what-might-an-employer-value-about-your-experience\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What might an employer value about your experience?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By midlife, you\u2019ve likely dealt with change, worked with different kinds of people and learned how to handle situations that don\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The useful question is: <strong>which parts of that experience matter for the role you want now?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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\u2019ve worked with and how you helped them understand something or reach a decision. Give employers a specific example they can picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You don\u2019t have to account for every year of your life. You do need to help them see the connection between what you\u2019ve done and what they need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"h-but-i-ve-been-away-from-work\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u201cBut I\u2019ve been away from work\u201d<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can explain a break clearly and briefly, then bring the conversation back to the present:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI took a career break to care for a family member. I\u2019m now ready to return to work and am particularly interested in this role because\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You don\u2019t owe an employer every personal detail. You can decide what you\u2019re comfortable sharing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019ve 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\u2019t mean everything you knew before is out of date. It means you\u2019re building on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"h-look-for-employers-who-can-see-your-potential\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Look for employers who can see your potential<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No careers page can guarantee what an interview will be like. But these clues can help you decide where to put your energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At Back To Work Connect, we work to connect Returners and career changers with employers who recognise the skills and experience they bring. Our <a href=\"https:\/\/backtoworkconnect.ie\/search\/job\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Jobs Board<\/a> is a place to explore those opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"h-one-step-you-can-take-this-week\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">One step you can take this week<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Choose a role that interests you, even if you\u2019re 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You may find that the question begins to shift from \u201cWho\u2019ll want someone my age?\u201d to \u201cHow can I show this employer what I can do?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That won\u2019t remove every barrier, and a rejection can still hurt. But your age alone does not tell an employer what you\u2019re capable of. Your story, your skills and what you want to do next deserve to be part of the conversation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019re unsure where to begin, try our <a href=\"https:\/\/backtoworkconnect.ie\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Back to Work Roadmap<\/a>. It can help you identify the next step that feels right for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Keep up to date with the latest Returner Friendly employers, upskilling &amp; retraining opportunities by joining our platform&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/backtoworkconnect.ie\/signup\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">HERE<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sign up to our newsletter &amp; job alert today and never miss the ideal opportunity again! Sign up\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/backtoworkconnect.us20.list-manage.com\/subscribe?u=b14e986a20d3ea1877fdd1281&amp;id=9eeb0eca6f\">HERE<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A member of our community recently asked: It\u2019s a question we hear from people returning to work and&hellip;","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":5599,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"csco_display_header_overlay":false,"csco_singular_sidebar":"","csco_page_header_type":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7414","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-uncategorized","cs-entry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v28.5 (Yoast SEO v28.5) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Let\u2019s Start The Conversation: Part 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