At 65, Alan faced redundancy and feared age discrimination would impact his job search. Glide Outplacement Australia helped him update his resume, improve interview skills and secure multiple job offers. With the right outplacement support, age and redundancy weren’t barriers to finding new opportunities.
Twice the challenge: redundancy and age discrimination
Alan, 65, had worked for more than 40 years in the manufacturing sector as a Workplace Health and Safety Officer. Having spent eight years with his last employer, the sudden news that his company was going out of business came as a shock. With the closure came the redundancy of his role. While job loss is challenging for anyone, Alan worried about an additional hurdle in his job search that he believed many older workers face – age discrimination.
Alan hadn’t had to navigate the job market in many years. He knew however that the job search process had transformed significantly since his last experience. With the rise of digital recruitment processes, online applications and video interviews, Alan felt unsure where to begin. More troubling was the nagging fear that his age would work against him, making his job search feel even more daunting.
Starting with outplacement support
When Alan enrolled in Glide Outplacement Australia’s career transition program, he was paired with a dedicated career coach. From their first meeting, his coach made it clear that Alan’s wealth of experience and skills were invaluable assets. Together, they began the process of identifying Alan’s transferable skills and strengths, as well as mapping out potential sectors where his expertise could be in demand.
One of the first priorities was updating Alan’s resume. His old resume detailed his long history in workplace health and safety but lacked the punch to stand out in today’s competitive job market.
The career coach worked with Alan to rewrite his resume, focusing on both his technical abilities and his leadership skills, adaptability and problem-solving expertise. They transformed Alan’s resume from a traditional career summary into a document that showcased his value in today’s workplace. They also updated his LinkedIn profile to reflect his refreshed personal brand.
Interview preparation and building confidence
Another area where Alan’s coach provided support was with interview preparation. Given the length of time since Alan’s last job search, he felt rusty and nervous about interviews. His career coach guided him through mock interview sessions, refining his technique, improving his communication style and preparing him to answer difficult questions, including those related to his age. These sessions improved Alan’s interview performance and boosted his confidence.
Alan’s coach emphasised the importance of demonstrating his eagerness to continue learning and adapting, something many employers value highly, especially in experienced candidates. Reframing Alan’s wealth of experience as a benefit, his coach helped him create responses that highlighted his deep industry knowledge while showcasing his enthusiasm for new challenges.
Securing multiple job offers
With his updated resume, sharpened interview skills and renewed confidence, Alan began applying for roles in the manufacturing sector and related industries. The job search wasn’t always easy, but with support from his career coach, Alan persisted.
Before long, Alan began receiving calls for interviews. His career coach helped him prepare for each one, tailoring his approach to specific employers and roles. As a result, Alan was offered three positions aligned with his skill set and experience.
Making the right choice
With multiple job offers on the table, Alan faced a different kind of challenge—choosing the right position! His career coach guided him through this decision-making process, helping him weigh the pros and cons of each offer. They discussed the roles themselves and also factors like company culture and work-life balance.
One of the most valuable aspects of Glide Outplacement’s support came during salary negotiations. Alan had never been comfortable negotiating, but with guidance from his coach, he was able to secure a better salary and improved working conditions in his final choice of employer.
Outplacement support can overcome age discrimination
Thanks to the support he received from Glide Outplacement Australia, Alan found a new role with renewed confidence in his abilities. Reflecting on his journey, Alan said, “Without your assistance, I’d still be drowning.” His experience is a powerful reminder that age and redundancy don’t have to be obstacles to finding meaningful employment.
For Alan, the combination of practical job search support, ongoing encouragement and expert guidance made all the difference. Glide Outplacement’s tailored approach ensured he found a new job that suited his skills, experience and personal goals.
His story highlights the life-changing impact that outplacement services can have, especially for those facing daunting challenges like redundancy and age discrimination.