Britain needs you.
That was the message from Chancellor Jeremy Hunt last month as he urged people who have taken early retirement to return to the labor market to help revitalize the economy.
Mr Hunt promised that for anyone wanting to go back to work, the Government would pay for it.
We are awaiting details on the measures, but in the meantime the BBC has reached out to recruiters and charities for advice for anyone looking to get back to work.
Unfortunately, ageism is still a problem, says James Reed, managing director of recruitment firm Reed.
“Despite legislation to prevent age discrimination, older jobseekers can still face prejudice,” he admits.
He suggests shifting the focus from your age to your ability wherever you can.
While you shouldn’t lie about your age, there’s no need to point it out either,” he says.
“Consider streamlining your resume and removing older experiences dating back more than 10 years, or omitting dates in the section listing your education.”
Employers are allowed to ask for your date of birth, for example to see if they are attracting many applicants. But they should keep this separate from the application, says charity Age UK.
When health is the reason you left your last job, things can get difficult. But you don’t have to mention it at the interview unless it might affect your future work.
Petra Tagg, a director at Manpower, says it’s up to you to decide how much information you share.
“There is no need to disclose a medical history if it will not affect your ability to perform your duties,” she says.
However, she says be honest about any health concerns that may affect your ability to do a job or if you may need time off.
Laura Reilly, director at Taurus HR, advises keeping the reasons for leaving previous employment relatively light and positive.
“Once an offer is received, all disclosures can be made — even if reasonable adjustments need to be made for you,” she says.
Yvonne Smyth of recruitment consultancy Hays says if you’re asked to fill out an assessment or workplace adaptation form, it’s the right time to disclose any health information you think might impact your job. But that’s usually a little further in the interview process.
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Older workers often face biased questions about digital literacy and skills, according to James Reed.
For this reason, it is worthwhile to brush up on skills in areas that are valued by employers.
He says things like using News Alerts to keep up with developments in a particular area can help you stand out from the crowd during the interview process.
Taking advantage of volunteer opportunities can also improve your skills because you’re effectively getting on-the-job training in each technology used, says Stuart Lewis, executive director of Rest Less, a website that provides resources for jobs and volunteering for over-50s.
He also recommends making it clear in your application that you are interested in new challenges and learning new skills.
Some older people find they don’t have the energy to work full-time or have caring responsibilities, or simply prefer to work part-time.
But don’t be afraid to ask about flexible work. In fact, employers can count on it.
According to Tracy Riddell of the Center for Aging Better, companies are increasingly realizing that offering flexible working hours helps retain older workers.
Visit the Acas website for more guidance on flexible work requirements.
According to James Reed, older job seekers should not rule out a new professional qualification. It can show potential employers your ability to adapt and learn new skills, or even be the start of a whole new career.
Apprenticeships, for example, are not just for young people. Older employees and career changers can also do this.
And think about your “transferable skills,” says Clare McCartney of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.
For example, if you’re a good communicator or have a lot of managerial experience, you can apply for jobs in different industries, she says.
The UK Government has further advice here on how to support older workers.
Manpower’s Petra Tagg says older workers should try not to fall into the trap of self-undervaluation.
She says the benefit to older workers is often the breadth of experience they bring.
“In circumstances where other, younger candidates seem to offer more, remembering what makes you stand out from the crowd is a quick and effective way to build awareness and confidence in yourself and your own worth,” says she.
She says people can use a job description “to carve out all the things you can do and give real examples, rather than focus on the ones you don’t have experience at.”
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