“But I have so much experience!” It’s the cry of pain from job seekers over 50 who aren’t getting hired. Sure, you can blame “the kids” interviewing you and their lack of appreciation for what you’ve learned over the years. But there’s a hard reality to face: Your experience may not matter. In fact, much of it is irrelevant. What does matter is your understanding of what’s happening now in your industry and your ability to adjust to what’s ahead. This was the message of Fawn Germer in her recent interview on the Repurpose Your Career podcast. Ultimately, what matters is staying relevant.
Yes, resentment rises as your hard-won experience loses value. But technology and the high-velocity rate of change it causes mean that for every area of your life in the next 30 to 40 years—and especially work—you’re going to need to keep pace. So how does one go about fostering their own relevance at work?
Lay the foundation of understanding
Certain new technologies influence almost every industry. Germer suggests these include AI (Artificial Intelligence), blockchain (including payments by crypto), and big data. You will need to gain a baseline understanding of these concepts. Then get more specific. Search on your industry plus any of the above trends. You’ll want a solid understanding of how overall technology trends affect your industry today and in the future.
Focus on learning in areas that matter
To maintain an ambient awareness of what’s happening in your industry, subscribe to general business and trade publications. If you’re able to pay the premium, newspapers like the Wall Street Journal or premium trade newsletters (such as The Information, if you’re in tech) keep you up-to-date.
Next layer on some courses. There are so many free classes, including on Coursera and Edx.org. Plus, many public libraries include free access to LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda) courses. Business podcasts and Clubhouse conversations are also excellent ways to hear the best minds share their insights. Germer offers a good tip: Don’t revert to your A-student mode in these classes. You don’t need to take the tests; you don’t even need to finish the courses. You do need to keep it enjoyable and sustainable. Your learning needs to become a lifelong habit.
Finally, get comfortable with hands-on technology. Learn one new platform. Pick one you’re not already familiar with that’s now commonly used at work. Consider Slack, Notion, Airtable, or Trello. Each offers a free version, and you can set them up for personal tasks where you can experiment. Do you enjoy knitting? Join a public Slack group of knitters. Eager to track movies you want to stream? Set up and use a Notion or Airtable table. If you’re feeling inspired, once you’ve gotten comfortable with one, layer on another. Having familiarity with these platforms, which are easy to use, grows your tech confidence. And all that comes across in your interviews with a certain relevance vibe.
Stage 3: Let your relevance shine
As you gain confidence, you can go public by showing you have the knowledge and skills to be relevant in today’s workplace. For example, on social media comment or share an article on new trends. Or write on LinkedIn about your insights into new technologies that will affect your slice of industry. If you’re feeling even more ambitious, set up a landing page and publish blogs there. The goal is to show those who are looking at your profile or googling your name, that you are staying abreast of new technologies and understand their importance.
Germer’s newest book is Coming Back: How to Win the Job You Want When You’ve Lost the Job You Need, and it’s a guide to staying relevant. Check it out. And begin your journey back to relevance.