Data from the UK's Office for National Statistics indicates that mid-career workers are gradually being pushed out of the job market. The employment rate significantly declines after age 50, with 71% of individuals in the 50-64 age group currently employed. When these individuals lose their jobs, they face double the risk of long-term unemployment compared to younger workers due to age discrimination.

According to behavioral scientists, Generation X (born between 1965 and 1980) experiences significant stress. As the "sandwich generation", they bear the pressure of caring for aging parents and children, while simultaneously adapting to new technology and worrying about retirement finances. Prolonged stress increases cortisol levels, neutralizing the brain's creative thinking abilities and pushing workers into a survival state rather than strategic planning. Millions are being left behind, despite having approximately 15 years of potential contribution remaining.

To overcome this crisis, UK career consultant Rosie Nixon states that mid-career individuals need to reinvent themselves.

Neuroscience demonstrates that the brain maintains its capacity for change and adaptation even beyond 60 years old. Instead of asking, "Why won't anyone hire me?", workers should ask themselves, "What value do I want to create next?". From this perspective, they can utilize decades of experience as an advantage to pivot their careers.

Illustration: Pexels

Nixon proposes the PRO method, which consists of three steps: Pause, Reflect, and Organise. This method helps workers regain calm, identify their desires, and map out a career trajectory.

Pause

This step helps the nervous system reduce stress before making decisions. When under pressure, the prefrontal cortex, the brain's planning region, ceases to function effectively. Actively pausing is a way to reset the nervous system.

Workers should dedicate 60 seconds to deep breathing daily to decrease cortisol and activate their thinking. Afterward, seek out nature or a quiet space, away from electronic devices. It is advisable to interrupt negative thoughts by grounding oneself in the present moment, such as placing one's feet on the floor, taking a deep breath, and naming five objects in the surroundings.

Reflect

This step aims to identify true values and desires. The most successful career transitions stem from performing familiar tasks in novel ways. "Redefine your current core values to find your motivation for work," Nixon advises.

Candidates should ask trusted individuals to point out their underutilized strengths. Instead of starting from scratch, list the aspects of previous jobs that still provided positive energy to serve as a foundation for new directions.

Organise

The brain operates most effectively when there is a clear structure. Workers should outline small, consistent, and controllable steps.

Begin by assessing finances to determine the necessary income level. Subsequently, expand your network in new spaces, as job opportunities often come from a peripheral network (acquaintances, former colleagues) rather than close friends.

Finally, to navigate automated recruitment systems that use artificial intelligence (AI), candidates should use keywords from job descriptions, quantify achievements with numbers, avoid complex curriculum vitae (CVs), and regularly update their online profiles.

The final 10-20 years of a career can be the most valuable period. Re-establishing one's path allows for the maximum utilization of accumulated strengths, rather than forcing a complete personal transformation.

Bao Nhien (According to Independent)