Career Renewal After Age 50: Navigating the New Landscape
Much like everything else in today’s turbulent world, perpetual flux characterizes the job market. And executives aged 50+ are increasingly finding themselves at unexpected crossroads, often facing unintended career transitions. As companies pivot and restructure, many seasoned executives who once felt secure in their positions, grapple with the question of “what’s next?” According to Eelco van Eijck, Managing Partner at Amrop in The Netherlands and an executive search leader with expertise in assisting executives move onto their next chapter, this demographic is waking up to stark new realities.
“In my role, I often invite executives into my office for a candid conversation about their future,” van Eijck explains. “I always ask them, ‘What’s your value proposition for your next job?’ Surprisingly, many have little to say, and some even talk for 20 minutes without addressing the core question I asked them.”
According to Amrop’s latest global study The Meaning of Work, economic pressures continue to motivate career paths post-50, albeit without a matching motivation for leadership or 'ambition' per se. This lack of focus reveals a broader problem: many experienced professionals, despite their successful career trajectories, find themselves unprepared for a job market that now demands a proactive approach to personal branding and self-promotion.
