Staying relevant in the workplace when you’re over 45

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life ... have the courage to follow your own heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become.” - Steve Jobs, during his 2005 Stanford commencement address. 

Easier said than done, right? Although it no doubt helps to be a genius billionaire with a tech empire behind you. But if 30 is the new 20 and 40 is the new 30, then as we slide towards 50 (which of course is the new 40), our careers should be ramping up and reaching new heights, not stagnating and stalling. So the question is: how do we stay relevant and drive our careers when we’re on the other side of 45?

DON’T STOP LEARNING

What you learnt at university, and in the first decade and even the second decade of your career, is a great foundation but it doesn’t mean you know everything. The world is changing rapidly, as is technology, so make sure you stay on top of these changes as well as of advances in your industry and related industries. Being the 48-year-old in the room who knows more about the latest app for your consumers than the millennials is a great way to remain relevant.

DON’T LET FEAR STOP YOU

It’s easy to become settled, feeling content with the familiar, sometimes so much so that stepping outside your comfort zone can be difficult. This is especially the case when you’ve been in that comfort zone for a long time. Don’t let fear stop you from trying something new or from putting yourself forward for a project, promotion or learning opportunity. Who cares if you’re the oldest in the room or if they say no – they’ll never say yes if you don’t ever ask!

UTILISE YOUR CONNECTIONS

One of the best things we older workers have going for us are our relationships and the networks that we’ve spent decades fostering. Relationships are the key to a successful career so if you have them, use them. Those connections might get you introductions and speaking opportunities, or even put you in the running for a role that will challenge you and drive your career forward. 

LEVERAGE YOUR EXPERIENCE

Remember the saying: if you’ve got it flaunt it! This is as true when it comes to your experience as it is in terms of your looks. If you’ve been working longer than anyone else in your team or your division, make use of those years of experience by taking on a mentoring role. You have wisdom to pass on and you never know what you might learn in return.

KEEP IT FRESH

You might not be looking for a job or actively wanting to make a move but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t keep your resume and your LinkedIn profile up-to-date. Changing these up and keeping them fresh puts you in your best light and lets people know that you’re still in the game and that you’re a long way from finished yet!

Maybe most importantly, we need to remind ourselves why we are doing what we do. What do we love about our job, our industry and our team? Keeping alive the passion for what you do is essential to driving and building your career, but also for being happy generally with your life. Whether nearing 50 or already on the other side, we are too old and too experienced to be unsatisfied with what we do. Don’t forget – if you aren’t happy, it’s never too late to make a change and follow your heart and intuition, even if you don’t have billions and an empire behind you.