Is it too late to switch jobs?

The decision to switch jobs is never an easy one, especially if you feel old. Or if you feel pressured by society to stay in a role you hate because you’re “old”.

People who reach a certain age feel like they’re too old to switch jobs and they often want to power through the desire and completely ignore it. We live in a fast-moving world full of opportunities. Should we really settle for less and stay at a job that we don’t really like?

There’s no such thing as “too old”

Remember: you’re never too old to switch jobs! If you have the desire to move on, and you want to try something new, you should go and do it.

This is applicable worldwide. If you want to change something, you should just go for it. If your country doesn’t give you the opportunity to do it – look into seasonal or contractual work abroad. There’s always a way, it just depends on how eager you are to switch jobs.

Why would you do it?

Usually, those who have stuck with a company for a while take great pride in the fact they’ve been loyal. And perhaps they feel too much time has passed and they’re too old to move on to something different.

This is completely understandable. After all, that is the place where you have perfected your skills, helped coworkers improve, and provided valuable insight to the management.

Obviously, you love your job because otherwise, you wouldn’t have stayed for so long. But what happens when, suddenly, you begin to dread every hour spent at the job?

Well, it is then time for a wake-up call! Yes, loyalty is great and it’s amazing you were part of a team for so long. However, keep in mind your knowledge and skills are valuable. And you can bring that value to another company. It’s never too late to switch jobs, the only question is do you want to do it?

So, let’s look into the reasons that turn long-term employees into job seekers.

What turns senior employees into job seekers?

Difficulties workers face in their position are many and varied. We wouldn’t be able to list all of them even if we tried. Precisely because there are so many of them and because they affect everyone, long-term employees are not exempt from them. On the contrary, your years of dedication and reluctance to leave most likely only amplify the issues you have.

It’s not easy to give up on something you’ve put a lot of time into, and it’s even harder to imagine what can replace it.

We will take a look at some of the problems senior workers experience and what can push them into the job search.

Feeling overwhelmed by changes

There’s a myth that long-term employees are resistant to workplace innovation. Is that the case with you? If you feel like you’re being pushed to constantly come up with new solutions, change the workflow, and do other innovative stuff, then it’s not just a myth in your case.

If you really feel you can’t keep up, after years of great performance, chances are it’s not your fault.

You know all the nooks and crannies of your position, and if you still do your best, you wouldn’t find it hard to adapt.

It’s up to the management and the company to help you do that. If they are implementing changes over your head, without hearing your input or allowing you to understand them, it’s a sign they are taking their most loyal employees for granted.

The youngster threat

It’s a positive thing to be challenged at work. Feeling threatened is not.

Do you feel there’s a constant silent conflict between the new arrivals and the old guard?

Do you feel your experience and knowledge are looked over in favor of the new blood?

That doesn’t mean you’re getting rusty. In every company, there needs to be an understanding and a positive level of cooperation between old workers and new employees. Everything else is a toxic work environment that doesn’t benefit anyone.

Before you send in your resignation letter, try to talk to some other more mature colleagues. Perhaps they feel the same and maybe you can tackle this issue together.

Dead-ends and deaf management

There aren’t many things more harmful to a long-term employee’s happiness than their voice not being heard.

Senior workers know a lot, not just about their job, but about the way the company breathes. After all, you have been there for a while and you know the ins & outs.

If you, however, find your comments, insight, and concerns are falling on deaf ears, or you see no way forward for your career, then your dedication and contribution are not being respected.

This oftentimes happens when there’s a new manager and it’s not uncommon for senior employees to leave when there’s a change in the management set-up.

Magic word: underappreciation

That’s exactly what it all boils down to – lack of respect.

According to a study by Randstad US, 60% of workers are considering quitting their jobs or have already done so because of this very reason. Don’t put up with the lack of appreciation.

You have the skills, you have knowledge and experience. If this is a daily occurrence, definitely look for other opportunities. There are a bunch of things you could be doing!

So, how do I switch jobs as a senior?

Well, if you’ve decided to switch jobs, the first thing you need to do is write a CV and a cover letter. Browse through our blog posts here and get the ideas you need to succeed. If you feel you need more, we’ve got a professional CV and cover letter writing guide just for you. It’s a step-by-step guide designed for jobseekers to land a job interview and you can get it here.

If all this sounds overwhelming, you can always get in touch and we can prepare your brand new CV and cover letter in no time.

Whatever you decide to do, don’t give up – if you’ve decided to switch jobs, do it. You’re ready!