Decades at a company and suddenly quit: This is how to find a job

The Location Austria is expensive by global standards. Labor and production can be maintained more cheaply elsewhere. And then there is automation and AI, which are intended to simplify a lot of things and make them more efficient. Companies are intensively calculating how their business will now pay off. Some calculate too late, slide into bankruptcy or announce massive job cuts. It’s not just the job of the person symbolically sketched that is at stake because of this cocktail. The radical austerity plan has long since affected all sectors. (You can read more about this in this article: Radical job cuts are sweeping through Austria.)

But where to go if (almost) your entire career has taken place in one company? How much are the acquired skills worth in a tight labor market and is additional training needed? Two human resources experts, both with over 25 years of experience, gave the KURIER honest answers. And created a guide for all those who need to reorient themselves professionally after a long corporate career.

“Most people underestimate their market value”

“The situation is much better than many initially believe,” says HR consultant Johanna Zwölfer. She and Diana Huber, HR professional and Lead Expert Talent Management at Greiner, recognize a pattern among people who have been in a company for a long time: they underestimate their market value. “That’s completely normal,” says Diana Huber. “You have to become aware: You can do something, but what is it? You have to work out your skills in a structured way.” How does that work?

By detaching yourself from the job description and thinking about what specific skills you have acquired so far. This can be: working in complex organizations, structured thinking, process strength. “If I have worked in a company that is of a certain size, I have that. That is an absolute advantage in the job market,” says Diana Huber and adds: “If I combine these skills with a hands-on mentality, I am also very, very interesting for smaller companies. Because that is exactly what is often missing there.”

For the application letter this means: “I have twenty years of professional experience in this company” – is the wrong start. Instead, Johanna Zwölfer recommends highlighting successes, skills and personal strengths with four to five bullet points – with professional support if necessary: ​​”It should present what you have achieved and not just how long you were there for.”

Don’t panic about training: ongoing studies can even have a negative impact

When browsing through job advertisements, some people may come across in-demand skills that they themselves may not have acquired (yet). However, the experts strongly advise against panicking and catching up on complex training on your own. “A degree can be helpful depending on the position, but it is no longer a must. Especially not for people who have experience,” says Diana Huber. Johanna Zwölfer warns that ongoing studies can even be viewed critically by employers. It would be better to openly address any need to catch up with the potential employer. After all, there are enough offers of in-service training. But how do you even approach the job search if your last CV was written over a decade ago?

But apply correctly

“What I would urgently avoid: falling into activism,” says Diana Huber. She warns against sending out masses of applications and perhaps even selling yourself short for fear of not finding anything better. Instead, you should really think about where you want to go and then take four focused steps.

Searching through job advertisements (step 1) would certainly be a good first step to get an overview. Diana Huber also recommends activating your own network (step 2) and not being ashamed to seek support. The most important step is probably the unsolicited application to companies in a similar industry environment (step 3). “This is particularly promising for small, medium-sized companies,” says Huber. As long as the application is really individual and precisely formulated. Finally, both experts recommend contacting suitable HR consultants (step 4). “This means I am registered and have a higher spread,” says Johanna Zwölfer. What’s more, it’s free for job seekers.

Applying from an existing employment relationship would also always be a better starting point, says Johanna Zwölfer. But if you lose your job because the company goes bankrupt, that wouldn’t be a disadvantage. “The reason for the termination is obvious.”

Where the chances are good

Even though the labor market is under great pressure, the vacancies (approx. 167,000 according to the Economic Association) show that there is still a need for jobs. Medium-sized and family businesses in particular, which clearly dominate in Austria, would value values ​​such as experience, stability, loyalty and long-term thinking.

Sectors such as logistics, infrastructure and energy supply would also be promising. However, the higher the position, the more difficult it is to find a job, says Johanna Zwölfer. Why? Because management levels are thinned out and positions there are rare. People with a high level of responsibility or a broad network would therefore often dare to take the step into self-employment when reorienting themselves professionally.

But the following applies to all job seekers: be open, flexible and patient. In any case, it could take between six months and nine months to find something again. Depending on the position and level of specialization, even longer.