Should I remove my age or dates from my CV?

You do not have to give your date of birth. Most people keep employment dates for the last 10–15 years and summarise anything earlier without dates. Hiding everything tends to read as evasive.

Is it too late to change career at 50?

No, but the maths matters. A route that takes two years of unfunded study is different from one that takes a three-month course. Cost the time, the money and the income dip before committing.

How many applications should I be sending?

Fewer than most people think, in more detail. If a hundred applications produced no interviews, the hundred-and-first won't either — the input needs changing, not the volume.

Over 50

Jobs after 50: where experienced people actually get hired

Finding work after 50 is not about proving you're still capable. It's about routing around a hiring process that screens for recency, and putting your experience in front of the people who value it.

For over 50 · Last reviewed 2026-09-01

Why applications stop working

Most large employers screen applications before a person reads them. Screening rewards recent, closely-matched keywords. Thirty years of varied experience reads as unfocused to a filter that is looking for the last three years only.

This is a mechanical problem, not a judgement about your ability. It also means the fix is mechanical: change what the filter sees, and change how much of your effort goes through filters at all.

What to change first

Lead with the last ten to fifteen years. Summarise everything earlier in two lines.
Put a target role title at the top of the CV, matching the job you're applying for.
Replace responsibility statements with outcomes: what changed, by how much, over what period.
Remove dates that add nothing — early qualifications rarely need a year attached.
Apply for fewer roles, in more detail. Five tailored applications beat forty generic ones.

Employers who hire experience

Some employers structurally prefer experienced hires: smaller firms with no training capacity, regulated sectors where mistakes are expensive, complex operations, interim and contract work, and organisations replacing someone who left suddenly.

Small and mid-sized employers who never advertise on the big boards
Regulated industries — finance, healthcare, safety, compliance
Interim, contract and fractional roles
Public sector and not-for-profit roles with structured, fair scoring
Employers hiring for judgement: quality, risk, technical assurance

Routes that often pay better than the jobs you're chasing

Consultancy, interim work and portfolio combinations frequently pay more per hour than the permanent roles that are hardest to get. They are not for everyone — income is irregular and you carry the risk — but they are worth costing properly rather than dismissing.

Age discrimination is real and it is unlawful in both the UK and the US. Knowing your rights matters, and so does having a strategy that doesn't depend on employers behaving well. This page is general information, not legal advice.

Common questions

Should I remove my age or dates from my CV?: You do not have to give your date of birth. Most people keep employment dates for the last 10–15 years and summarise anything earlier without dates. Hiding everything tends to read as evasive.
Is it too late to change career at 50?: No, but the maths matters. A route that takes two years of unfunded study is different from one that takes a three-month course. Cost the time, the money and the income dip before committing.
How many applications should I be sending?: Fewer than most people think, in more detail. If a hundred applications produced no interviews, the hundred-and-first won't either — the input needs changing, not the volume.

Not sure which part applies to you?

The assessment scores your position and tells you what to fix first.

Take the assessment

Related tools

Career Comeback Assessment
Consultancy Readiness AssessmentIn build
Transferable Skills FinderIn build