For National Careers week I thought I would ask a provocative question. How many careers have you had? Or perhaps even - how many careers are you going to have?
The idea that we all stay with the same company for 40 years before retiring has long gone, but what about the idea of having not just multiple jobs, but multiple careers? At Rest Less, we see huge numbers of individuals looking to change careers in their 50s, with many on their third or fourth successful career and the idea of slowing down a far off idea...
What is a career anyway?
It’s perhaps helpful to start by defining what a career is. It means different things to different people and the dictionary definition is suitably vague “An occupation undertaken for a significant period of a person's life and with opportunities for progress.”
So how should we define it? By industry i.e a career in retail vs banking? Or by functional skills i.e. a career in marketing vs finance? Whilst the definition is open to interpretation, it is clear that in today’s ever changing world, people of all ages are constantly on the lookout for opportunities to develop themselves and forge exciting new career paths.
The benefits of multiple careers
The benefits for individuals are clear. We’ve all had that feeling when we just knew we needed a change, whatever that was. A change is as good as a break as they say. It can help us stay fresh, driven and enthusiastic about our work.
There are also significant benefits to employers. Enabling multiple career paths within an organisation can energise existing employees and get the best out of them - without losing their corporate knowledge. Additionally, with the pace of disruption only increasing, having a workforce who have demonstrated success in multiple situations and careers can build organisational resilience in dealing with the unknown.
The opportunity for retail
Most career programs are targeted at Graduates and those in their 20’s. These are essential programs, although their narrow focus actually excludes the majority of career changers.
With increasing life expectancy, almost all population growth - and therefore future workforce growth - is coming from the over 50s. Today’s 50 year old is not who many think they are. They are fit, healthy, ambitious, driven and on the lookout for new and interesting career paths. They will also have 30 years of diverse experience behind them and nearly 20 years ahead of them in the workplace, plenty of time for several new career paths.
All age apprenticeships
Recognising seismic cultural and demographic shifts, the Government expanded its apprenticeship scheme to allow levy funds to be used to cover 90% of apprenticeship training costs for staff of all ages - even those with existing degrees.
Quick thinking retailers, looking to get access to a talented, work-ready audience of older (but certainly not old) individuals will benefit from considering what they can do to attract and upskill this rapidly growing section of the workforce.
Stuart Lewis
Stuart is the Founder of Rest Less, the digital community that helps those in their 50s, 60s and beyond find fulfilling opportunities to work, volunteer or find a new career path.
Website: restless.co.uk
Email: info@restless.co.uk
To find out more about careers in retail please visit www.rethinkretail.org.uk