The 50+ context
- 22% of active population is between 50 and 64
- Real discrimination: 30% of 55+ search longer than 12 months
- BUT: chronic shortage reverses trend in some sectors
- Salaries: generally higher than graduates at equal competence
Welcoming sectors
Sectors valuing experience:
- Health: nurse, doctor, ASSC — acute shortage
- Tech: systems architects, security, GRC, project management
- Public: Confederation values private sector experience
- Consulting: Big4, sectoral boutiques
- Industry: senior engineers sought
- Coaching and training: frequent reconversion after 50
Less favourable sectors:
- Digital marketing (unless hybrid profile)
- Early-stage tech startup (unless C-level)
- Physically demanding trades
Experience levers
- Quantified track record: 25 years XP = 50+ projects/deliverables to showcase
- Mentoring: ability to train junior teams
- Network: 5,000+ LinkedIn contacts = value
- Soft skills: leadership, calm, judgement
- Multi-sector: if you've touched 3+ industries, it's an asset
Practical strategies
- 50+ target CV: don't mention birth date, focus on last 15 years
- Active LinkedIn: regular posts, demonstrate you're in the game
- Recent certifications: add 2-3 recent certs to show agility
- Junior mentor: allows being perceived as modern
- Network: 70% of 50+ jobs come from network, vs 30% ads
- Flexible salary: -10 to -20% vs former role acceptable to restart
Self-employment and reconversion
After 50, alternatives to salaried employment:
- Independent consulting: monetise expertise
- Board of directors: for ex-executive profiles
- Executive coaching: ICF certified, CHF 200-400/session
- Entrepreneur mentor: Innosuisse, accelerators
- Entrepreneurship reconversion: business purchase (SME)
Mistakes to avoid
- Hide your age: Internet reveals it, transparency preferable
- Apply with juniors: focus on mixed teams
- Over-qualify your CV: adapt to role, not level attained
- Refuse transition coaching: 70% of successful reconversions benefit
- Wait too long: start searching as soon as you think about it, not after end of contract
