Any point in applying for jobs if over 60 female 65 male

chickmug

I wonder if others have any experience of this.

A female friend said they phoned the council who were advertising a job who (the council) said yes still apply. It is clear that they can't discriminate but what is the point as it was obvious they wanted someone younger?

Savvy_Sue

How was it obvious? It shouldn't have been, that would in itself be discriminatory!

And why would your age be on your CV or application form?

weanie

I agree that it is lways worth applying but if you have to list your qualifications and when they were earned, then it is quite obvious that you are of a 'certain age' isn't it?

Savvy_Sue

weanie wrote: »

I agree that it is lways worth applying but if you have to list your qualifications and when they were earned, then it is quite obvious that you are of a 'certain age' isn't it?

Assuming these bright young things can do the maths ... :rotfl:

On an application form, it may be harder not to list dates. On a CV, should I ever have to do one again, I think I might just list my educational qualifications without giving all the dates, and I would only list my more recent work accomplishments. With a "Prior to 1066 I held down a number of jobs which gave me the foundation skills on which I have built my later career" kind of statement at the end.

I mean, who cares that I learned to operate a switchboard with plug in switches when I was teenager? :rotfl:

chickmug

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

How was it obvious? It shouldn't have been, that would in itself be discriminatory!

And why would your age be on your CV or application form?

Obvious because the person who got the job was about 40 as were the others in similar positions. Not old and therefore perceived senile but old enough not to get pregnant again.

Do you really think missing the age off the from will get you through to an interview as I would like to think so BUT don't think so. Sorry:o

I am old fashioned feel why waste peoples time on applications, etc when, firstly they do have an age limit, and secondly they have already promised the job, often internally.

Savvy_Sue

But you are raising different issues here.

chickmug wrote: »

Obvious because the person who got the job was about 40 as were the others in similar positions. Not old and therefore perceived senile but old enough not to get pregnant again.

Just because is was someone aged about 40 who eventually got the job doesn't mean that that's the age they had in mind when they advertised it. It just means that that person was the best candidate for that job at that time.

chickmug wrote: »

Do you really think missing the age off the from will get you through to an interview as I would like to think so BUT don't think so. Sorry:o

Well, I hope not to have to find out any time soon, BUT I like to think I know how to present myself to best advantage on paper, which is all anyone can do.

In applying for a job at the local council, I would make sure that I provided evidence of how I met the requirements of the job description and the person specification. At interview they might be surprised by my age, but as they should have been selecting 'blind' (ie without knowing my name, gender or other personal details) that might not be the only surprise.

chickmug wrote: »

I am old fashioned feel why waste peoples time on applications, etc when, firstly they do have an age limit, and secondly they have already promised the job, often internally.

Well, if you can read minds and know their internal workings, that would help know where to apply and when. Since I can't and don't, I'd apply for anything I thought I was qualified for and wanted to do.

And FWIW, I've worked in places which had similar recruitment processes to local councils, and many times jobs did NOT go to internal candidates, even though the internal candidates assumed they'd get the job ...

chickmug

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

But you are raising different issues here.
Yes but why shouldn't I???

Just because is was someone aged about 40 who eventually got the job doesn't mean that that's the age they had in mind when they advertised it. It just means that that person was the best candidate for that job at that time.
Nice thought but doubt it - I know too many in business and their ideas of recruiting

Well, I hope not to have to find out any time soon, BUT I like to think I know how to present myself to best advantage on paper, which is all anyone can do.
Again nice thinking but?

In applying for a job at the local council, I would make sure that I provided evidence of how I met the requirements of the job description and the person specification. At interview they might be surprised by my age, but as they should have been selecting 'blind' (ie without knowing my name, gender or other personal details) that might not be the only surprise.

Well, if you can read minds and know their internal workings, that would help know where to apply and when. Since I can't and don't, I'd apply for anything I thought I was qualified for and wanted to do.

And FWIW, I've worked in places which had similar recruitment processes to local councils, and many times jobs did NOT go to internal candidates, even though the internal candidates assumed they'd get the job ...
With my son in social services work and my daughter in charity work internal canidates getting the job is rife.

Sorry if I appear to be disagreeing because I really appreciate your getting back to me. The irony is my friend would be a great asset having worked for herself with a really good work ethic. I have said to her she may be better doing some voluntary work as you are appreciated more and she is only looking for a job as she is so bored yet full of energy.

Savvy_Sue

Well, there's no reason at all why you shouldn't raise as many issues as you like, but the thread started being about age discrimination. Now you want to talk about recruitment in general, which again is fine.

I work for a small charity: we did a big (for us) recruitment drive earlier this year. For two of the jobs there were candidates known to us (volunteers), but we did not appoint them. For one job the only applicant to get to interview was known to us, but then they were the only one who demonstrated on paper that they met the Essential requirements of the Job Description. In feedback some candidates said "But I do have ..." - for some reason they hadn't put it on their forms. If the successful candidate hadn't put all the necessary things on their form, they wouldn't have been interviewed either!

It is, at that stage, a box ticking exercise.

Plus it can't ALWAYS be internal candidates getting the job - eventually there must be a vacancy that no-one internal wants!

chickmug wrote: »

The irony is my friend would be a great asset having worked for herself with a really good work ethic.

I'm sure your friend would be a great asset, as would thousands of other jobseekers. The reality is that you need to know how to fill the forms in to get as far as interview. Did she get to interview? - that's not clear from your original post.

chickmug wrote: »

I have said to her she may be better doing some voluntary work as you are appreciated more and she is only looking for a job as she is so bored yet full of energy.

Absolutely! If she doesn't need the money, then voluntary work can be a brilliant solution. Plus there is such a wide variety of voluntary jobs available, either using traditional 'working' skills, or hobbies and interests you want to share.

If she googles volunteer plus your local area / town, it should bring up your local volunteer bureau, which may have a list of 'vacancies'.

chickmug

I am not aware of the detail with her application but she wasn't offered an interview.

I have suggested I could help her as I have helped my two 'young uns' (in their 30's) not with the detail but as far as the ramblings - "why do you feel you should get the job" type of questions. Not sure she will ask for help as she is very independent but I think feeling a little shocked that she is getting the feeling her age will go against her.

The voluntary route would be better but she has the attitude if I am going out to work so many hours each week why not get paid for it. I help out volunteering in various ways and have done more in the past but my health is getting in the way of it!

Savvy_Sue

chickmug wrote: »

I am not aware of the detail with her application but she wasn't offered an interview.

In which case, I personally wouldn't blame her age. Especially not with a council job which should be selecting for interview without any personal details.

The beauty of voluntary work is that you can choose what you do! :rotfl: and when! DS1 has been heard to complain when I bring home envelope stuffing jobs which I need help with because our volunteer envelope stuffer has gone on holiday. I tell him, I can't lock volunteers in the office! (Of course I can't lock paid staff in the office either ... :rotfl:)

chickmug

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

The beauty of voluntary work is that you can choose what you do!

Yes but on the other side I remember many years ago when I was elected regional chairman of a charity and held my first commitee meeting. After an hour one of the members stood up and said I am off now when we were only just getting to grips with the agenda.

My first lesson in volunteeering is that you need to motivate the volunteers in a different way to to the career where I had 60+ staff who did as they were told (but I was always a carrot, not a stick, boss).