How hard is it really to find an HR job in London / South East as an older person at the moment?

Hi, Karen, it is a difficult decision. I decided to take a break earlier this year. I had savings and having worked full time since age 16 and with ailing parents that needed a bit more support than I could give working in a very full on role, I decided to have a break, I left in February and the intention was to have at lease two months off and then potentially work in an ideally part time temporary role for at least 6 months whilst I took a breath.

I turned 58 in May and from my point of view I didn't find it all challenging. I appreciate that I do have FCIPD status and broad experience but, I was and continue to be approached about vacancies from the outset. When I did start looking I found something that exactly fitted what I was looking for straight away.

The only thing that could restrict you a bit is that you only have civil service experience, however there seems to be a lot of work around in terms of both the ERA and also local government re-organisation.

I don't regret what I did at all and the two month's off was bliss. I would advise you to scope out good agencies in your area and start to build relationships with them. many Solicitors will run free employment law updates and they are good to network and build relationships. If you don't already know about new trends such as AI and trauma informed practice, you may be able to find free courses on those and that will help keep your skills up to date.

Good luck with your upgrade and whatever you decide to do!

Hi Teresa - thank you so much for taking the time to reply and it's reassuring to hear about your experience. I'm so glad you have no regrets and that things worked out so well.

Thanks so much for the tips about job hunting and upskilling as well - I'm really fortunate with access to learning at the moment, but appreciate what you said about limited sector experience. I need to be thinking about the wider landscape and building some knowledge about those different contexts and ensuring I'm keeping up to date.

The Civil Service has also been my only experience of applying for new jobs in the last couple of decades, so I really need to get my head around recruitment outside of that bubble as soon as possible.

Hi Karen,

I've just changed jobs and I'm 53, so can speak positively for being hired at this age! Also London based, and specialised in a narrow (education) area. 

I'm sure there is a load of age discrimination out there, but I'm also sure that cuts both ways. No one can tell you how this will go for you, but it would be a good shout to start talking to recruiters now and applying for jobs. See what kind of response you get, and use this to inform your decision. 

Good luck!

I'm in my 30s, mid level HRM/HRBP in the hospitality industry in London. I'm on the look out for my next step up and am finding the market quite competitive at the moment. Not sure if it's my level or the industry. Very best of luck in your search

Thanks so much Ryan, and good luck to you too, I'm sorry to hear you're finding it tough. Hopefully the right opportunity will come up soon and/or you can grow within your current organisation

Thank you Nina, that is heartening and congratulations on your new job! You're right I do need to start getting myself out there and testing the water a bit. My experience of recruiters is very out of date now to be fair, but I remember signing up to various ones, going in to talk to them, being told I was hugely marketable and there were loads of companies they would send me to....and then absolutely nothing. So I'm hoping that things have changed in the last 30 years (obviously my level of experience certainly has) 

I think this level is a really tricky level to be looking at. I've had lots of feedback from recruiters that there are plenty of Advisor level opportunities due to upcoming changes (thanks ERA2025) and a fair few senior, but that the mid-level market is incredibly competitive and roles are just not becoming available.

Karen, you have some great replies already and it's always hard to work out whether to take redundancy at any age because there are risks attached to it. I would say the market is particularly tough at both the junior end and the more experienced end. I've friends who've left and spent almost a year trying to find a new role. I am professional interim - so I work on short term projects- and the market is harder than I've seen it for a while for all sorts of reasons connected to the current political and economic situation in the UK and global macro economic conditions. We can't control those things and there are also people who can point to getting hired quicker. I think it will depend on your experience, your network, your skills - if you've invested in those over the years to keep them current then that helps -, your location and the market there and your area of practice. 

I'd suggest preparing and planning for a longer wait to find a new role and then if you find it earlier it will be a bonus. I'd also network now with agencies, people you have worked with before and new connections so you are investing ahead of the time you need their support. 

Be prepared for longer processes, longer decision making, more competition and companies being very specific because they think and know they are in a candidate heavy market. I would also be prepared to counter covert ageism and be on the front foot explaining how you are up to date, current and think innovatively especially around technology. There are a lot of people, even in HR, who think above a certain age and you don't know much about tech or AI. 

Good luck. I truly hope you get a break and buck any negative trends in the market. 

Thanks so much Sharon - that's really great advice. That's exactly my worry, that the market is just so competitive at the moment. The exit package would give me a decent buffer to look for a role, but of course there is a limit to that. That's a great tip about being proactive in sharing how comfortable I am with tech AI / up to date on workplace issues etc rather than waiting to be asked

My pleasure Karen. There's probably never the perfect time to step off and go independent and solo from a market perspective but it's best to be prepared and then you are surprised if the transition is smoother than you expect it to be. Happy to connect and also share other communities for solo folks that might help if you would find that helpful - that's a no pressure offer. :-)