Dear Jobs Guru: ‘I’ve misplaced my job after 20 years and I really feel so out of contact’
Reader Leila is looking for a new job for the first time in two decades – and it feels like a different world. Jobs Guru James Innes is here with some advice
It’s easy to feel like the world has moved on(Image: Getty Images)
I’ve recently been made redundant after more than 20 years with the same company and, if I’m honest, the whole thing has knocked me for six.
It’s not just the redundancy itself; it’s the feeling that I’ve suddenly been shoved back into a jobs market I just don’t recognise.
The last time I had to apply for work properly, there was no talk of ATS and AI. I feel as though I’ve gone from being settled and experienced to completely out of touch overnight.
Has the job market really changed that much, or am I just panicking?
Leila, Cardiff
After 20 years in one place, Leila, yes, I can quite see why this feels like a nasty shock.
The job market has changed very considerably. It’s most definitely not your imagination.
But don’t make the mistake of thinking that, because of these changes, you have somehow become obsolete. You haven’t. To continue your cricketing analogy, you’re just a little rusty at a game you haven’t had to play for a very long time!
Everything now is faster, more crowded and less personal than it used to be. Jobs appear online, disappear online, and half the time you are dealing with systems before you get anywhere near a human being. That’s enough to make anybody feel a bit battered.
Then there’s the language of it all. Profiles. Keywords. Personal brand. Some of it is useful – but some of it is pure old guff dressed up as modern wisdom.
What still matters, though, is not all that mysterious. Employers still want somebody who can do the job, fit in well, and make their life easier rather than harder.
Top Tip:
Learn the modern job-hunting basics, of course – but don’t start talking yourself into the idea that 20 years of solid experience counts for nothing.
Spotlight On: Long service
There is something particularly brutal about redundancy after a long stretch in one company.
You don’t just lose the job. You lose your bearings – your routine, your confidence, often your professional identity as well…
One minute you know exactly where you stand, the next you are filling in online forms and wondering why the system seems to want your employment history and details of your firstborn child all entered separately. It can seem very grim!
But long service is not a weakness in and of itself. The danger is allowing it to make you sound hesitant, apologetic or in any way out of date. Your job is to make sure that any potential employer can quickly see the value in your loyalty, depth and experience.
Get a head start in your job hunt with James’ new book, The Job You’ve Always Wanted – out now from Pearson at £16.99.
Our Jobs Guru, James Innes, is a best-selling careers author and founder of the world’s leading group of professional CV and resume writers .
