Tips for older people re-entering the workforce

Looking for a job after being out of the workforce for a while can sometimes be daunting. Here are some tips to help make the transition easier.

Plan your finances

Working brings in additional income that may have an impact on any government support that you receive, including the pension or a health care card.

Make a free appointment with a Financial Information Officer at your local Services Australia centre to check how your particular circumstances are impacted. They can help answer questions such as:

  • How does working impact on pensions and jobseeker allowances? 

  • Where can you go for financial advice?  

  • What do you need to consider when returning to work or increasing your hours of work?

This will give you the best information to shape your job search and negotiate with potential employers.

Make use of assistance services

Learn Local

Learn Local providers are located across the peninsula and can offer short courses in a range of job skills; employability, digital literacy, language skills, or specific sectors such as hospitality, community services or medical reception. Many are free if you are on JobSeeker payments or have a health care card

Learn more

Chisholm Skills and Jobs Centre

Chisholm offers a free service for job seekers and their Chisholm Skills and Jobs Centre can assist you with; 

  • Preparing or updating your resume 

  • Access to professional career counselling face to face or online 

  • Weekly workshops to help job seekers prepare for their next role 

  • Practicing your interview skills 

  • Undertaking additional training/upskilling 

  • Identifying new job opportunities and assistance with job applications 

  • Linking you to other supports and services 

The level of support you receive is tailored to your individual circumstances. 

Learn more

Job Switch

Job Switch is a free Workforce Australia tool that allows you to consider new careers and identify jobs based on existing skills and experience from previous employment. 

Learn more

Your Career 

This website provides a range of materials and expert advice on looking for work. Take a quick quiz to find study, training or job options that support your current career needs or goals.  

Courses

To help you get the skills for the job you want, the Victorian State Government has made Free TAFE available to more Victorians. 

The Funded Course List includes courses and skill sets that are subsidised by the Victorian State Government and only includes courses and skill sets that: 

  • align with industry needs and workforce demands 

  • represent government priorities, including rolling out the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), responding to family violence, and completing Victoria's infrastructure projects 

  • have strong job outcomes, such as apprenticeships 

  • meet other social needs, such as foundation skill courses 

 

Even if you already have a VET qualification or a university degree, you can now access Free TAFE.

Learn more

 

Identify the benefits of employing you to employers

  • What are the skills you have developed over the years that are transferable to other jobs? Have you handled cash, delivered customer service, problem solved, been part of a team? All of these skills are desirable in a wide range of jobs.
  • Take a little time to recognise all that you achieved in any volunteering work. Look at skills involved with any personal interests and hobbies. Make sure you list out the skills relevant to the role you are seeking. Communicating your achievements is very important.
  • Consider the benefits mature aged workers bring into a workplace that employers cherish but often overlook such as responsibility, maturity and flexibility. 

 

 

Build your skillset

  • Consider volunteer opportunities that help further develop your skills. Choose volunteering roles that give you experience in customer service, teaching others, responsibility, project management or team work. All of these skills can be transferred to a wide range of jobs.
  • Enrol in a short course to build your skillset. You can ask the course provider what the skillsets are that you will develop and include them on your resume
  • Identify a number of strong examples that you can share where you have demonstrated skills that the job you are applying for has asked for. Include them in your resume or cover letter and practise talking about them so you can share them in an interview.

 

Up the ante on your job search

There are many ways to look for work. The more ways you explore finding work, the greater the chance of success. Consider; 

  • Contacting your own network. Ask your friends and relatives to keep an eye out for roles.

  • Look at local shop windows for advertised roles

  • Meeting with local employers - in your local main street or through local industry groups.

  • Registering with Recruitment and Labour Hire companies 

It is also worthwhile considering what it is about the job that you are focusing on that could be on offer in other roles. For example; skills used in reception work could apply to medical, accommodation, legal or other professional services that need receptionists. Setting narrow search parameters in online searching can limit your results.

Likewise, expanding your  ideal job location by ten or twenty kilometres can vastly increase the number of jobs available.

Broadening your job search may open new opportunities.

 

 

Having a job not only helps to pay the bills, a meaningful role can also help to keep us mentally active and support us to live longer, happier lives.

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