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Returning to work after a period of unemployment can be challenging at any age, but may be particularly difficult later in life. Age discrimination is an ongoing issue, and it’s not uncommon for mature jobseekers to lack the confidence they once had, feel out of touch with current hiring practices, or simply feel unsure about where to start.
If you’re currently looking for employment or struggling to decide what’s next for you in your career, you might be interested in global law firm A&O Shearman’s ReStart Employability Programme. Supporting people over 50 with finding work since 2017, this free 14-week course offers a mix of coaching, one-to-one mentoring, and practical workshops designed to equip people with the confidence and self-awareness they need to re-enter the workforce. Via a mix of online learning and meetups in their London offices, participants are taught how to network, apply transferable skills, and boost their application, interview, and communication skills.
The reviews speak for themselves, with 100% of 2023 ReStart Employability Programme participants recommending it. We spoke to Stephen and Nicola, who completed the course earlier this year, to learn more.
“It was the first time in my life I found myself out of work and really not knowing what to do”
Fifty-eight-year-old Stephen from London has spent his career in marketing and advertising roles across a range of industries, from confectionery and motoring to pet food and financial services.
However, after being made redundant in 2023, Stephen struggled to secure a full-time position – despite having years of experience.
He says, “It was the first time in my life I found myself out of work and really not knowing what to do or where to start.
“I think part of the trouble is that advertising is quite an ageist business. Once you’re out in your 50s, the chance of getting back in is quite tough. I applied for lots of permanent roles, but it was much harder than I expected to get client-side work.”
“I started to think…what do I want? And is it about time I did something different?”
Nicola, 56, was born in Birmingham but spent 12 years working in a range of roles across South East Asia, South America, China, and Europe. From teaching to conservation projects, Nicola ultimately became a career coach and returned to the UK in 2022.
She says, “My experience led me to advising, coaching, and helping others who are moving to the UK.”
However, due to personal circumstances, Nicola was forced to take some time off work in 2023. She explains, “I needed to take a break to pause and reset after a major, unforeseen life-changing event occurred. Everything turned on a dime overnight, so I just paused everything.
“Afterwards, I started to think about my next steps and it made me reflect on my career. What do I want? And is it about time I did something different? I wasn’t really sure.”
“I’d lost all of my confidence and I needed a fresh start”
In January 2024, after being out of full-time work for a year, Stephen heard about A&O Shearman’s ReStart Employability Programme through a friend and decided to apply.
Stephen says, “The programme seemed to offer a lot of practical help for people wanting to launch a new phase of their career at a time of life when the employment world might look at you like you’re old, expensive, and maybe out of date.
“I was looking for advice on how to improve my CV and complete applications, as well as insight into how businesses use technology to process applicants.
“The moral support of being in a group of people in a similar situation was also very attractive to me. I’d been out of full-time work for a year and it’s easy to feel alone or question what you’re doing wrong. I thought it’d be great to be in a cohort of people all going through it together and sharing experiences and tips.”
Nicola came across A&O Shearman’s ReStart Employability Programme in 2023 after browsing the Rest Less website. In the hopes of building herself up again, both personally and professionally, she decided to enrol.
She explains, “As a result of everything I’d been through and having to pause my career, I’d lost all of my confidence and I needed a fresh start. So, when I saw the ReStart Programme I thought: I’m ready to put my hat in the ring, I need to pull myself up and get back on the saddle.”
“The course gave me time to reflect, build confidence, and motivate myself”
Through specially designed upskilling workshops, presentations, and coaching sessions, A&O Shearman’s ReStart Programme encourages people to consider their strengths and motivations.
Stephen recalls, “There were lots of different guest speakers coming in week after week, and the core team was incredibly positive about everything.
“One of the best things we learnt about was our working personality and style. This analysis was really helpful as it told you some things that you did know about yourself, and some you may not have considered. It held a mirror up to you in a very uncritical way to help you think about what to do next.”
Nicola also found the programme’s introspective approach useful. She says, “The course gave me time to reflect, build confidence, and motivate myself.
“You’ve got to start with yourself: who you are, what your strengths are, and what your values are. Then, building on that involves asking what it means in terms of where you’re heading, what you want to do, your CV, and your LinkedIn profile. How do I build on my own personal brand and show the best of myself when speaking to people?”
“Give it a go, what's the worst that can happen?”
Part of what makes A&O Shearman’s ReStart Programme so unique is that through one-to-one mentoring from accredited coaches, it’s tailored to each individual. A&O Shearman aims to match participants with a mentor who has industry-specific experience.
Both Stephen and Nicola got on well with their mentors and found their time with them incredibly beneficial.
Stephen says, “My favourite part of the programme was the executive coaching. My coach was absolutely brilliant and it was amazing how much we achieved in our sessions. She was very generous with her time.
“She asked quite piercing questions that made me look at myself. I think that was one of the surprises of the process for me. I’d spent 20 years working and had never really looked around and come up for air. You never really look at yourself and think: What am I actually good at? What do I like doing?
“While I knew I liked marketing and wanted to stay doing something like that, the course opened my mind to considering some other things I could do.”
With this new mindset, Stephen has not only landed a part-time contract working for a big agency, but has decided to start his own business.
He says, “The decision to launch my own brand was a direct result of being prodded through the process. My mentor made me realise that it’s a path worth trying.”
Nicola adds, “Meeting the trainers and being part of a very professional outfit was a highlight for me. I felt supported by a group of professionals who knew what they were talking about.
“The course gave me the confidence to try a couple of new roles that I thought sounded interesting. My coach said, ‘Give it a go, what’s the worst that can happen?’. Rather than sitting there thinking about these ideas and never really knowing, I was encouraged to try them out.”
During the programme, Nicola was offered a job coaching someone through a career change, which gave her a real boost of confidence.
“When I learnt that I’d been instrumental in my client getting her new job, it was fantastic. This helped me realise that I’m good at coaching, so why not keep doing it and see how it goes? My mentor encouraged me to cut myself some slack and focus on my strengths.”
Since completing the course, this has empowered Nicola to take on a major international coaching client, and she’s undertaking extensive training to upskill herself for this.
“It was very social. There was a diverse mix of people and everyone was really nice and positive”
Both Stephen and Nicola explained how they found a real sense of community on A&O Shearman’s ReStart Programme.
Stephen says, “It was very social. There was a diverse mix of people and everyone was really nice and positive to be around.”
Nicola adds, “It was comforting to know that there are others just like you in the same situation all struggling. We always used to go to the pub after coming into London and would end up getting home quite late! It was nice to mix business and pleasure.
“We formed a great support network and we’re still in contact now!”
“I couldn't recommend it highly enough. It was excellent”
When asked whether she’d recommend A&O Shearman’s ReStart Programme to others, Nicola said, “Yes – I was grateful for the networking, for the reinvigoration, and for the fact that I’m not on my own. It gave me the confidence that just because all these things have happened to me, the last 40-odd years are still valuable and I’ve still got things to offer.
“With my career now, I love that it’s flexible and multicultural – I get to support people who live all over the world from my own house. I have a great work-life balance and am happy that I’ve got enough work to sustain me for the moment.
“Don’t hesitate, don’t look back, and know that there are people out there to support you. It’s not all over because you’re 50.”
Stephen adds, “I couldn’t recommend it highly enough. It was excellent. It’s hard to say whether it was more helpful from an emotional point of view or from a practical one, but it was both of these things.
“Everybody on the course was really grateful to be on it and we were marvelling the whole time that it was free – I felt almost guilty as I was getting so much out of it! I’d say that even if you don’t think you’re stuck, you probably are in some ways; this is a crash course in lots of ways to unstick your thinking.
“The one thing I can say for certain is that I wouldn’t have pursued an entrepreneurial route without the programme. Trust the process, it really delivers.”
If you’d like to find out how you can sign up for A&O Shearman’s ReStart Employability Programme in 2025, head over to their website below. Applications close on 8th January 2025.
Have you been inspired by Stephen or Nicola’s stories? If so, we’d love to hear from you in the comments below.