55+ - are there really any jobs out there?

MrsAverage

Hi
I am 55 next month and am about to be cast out into the job market for the first time in 6 years. I will have a modest settlement from a compromise agreement for a few months buffer, but will be needing to work until I hit 67 and retirement age.
My first few applications via the plethora of job sites and agencies have had to go through internet sites, and I haven't even had an interview. I have had a few acknowledgments but that's it.

I only apply for jobs I am qualified/experienced for.

Why am I getting such a low response rate? Is it simply my age? In the past I have always got the job at interview as I am good - but I need to get through the technical filtering that's obviously going on.
Any advice/ideas gratefully received

Emmzi

it's a very tough market atm so may not "be" anything.

but let's assume it is your age. age discrimination is now illegal. so first stop go through your cv and edit it to disguise your age.

falko89

Emmzi wrote: »

it's a very tough market atm so may not "be" anything.

but let's assume it is your age. age discrimination is now illegal. so first stop go through your cv and edit it to disguise your age.

Might be a give away at an interview though.

Emmzi

got to get your foot in the door first.

MrsAverage

I do try to make CV relevant, ie start with most recent jobs first and maybe not get as far as the earliest ones. But very difficult to hide year of degree or schooling.
Computer forms always, always demand Date of Birth and I wouldn't want to run risk of being done for fraudulently falsifying etc.
Do any agencies actually interview any more?

Northerness

Your problem could be that you're applying through agencies. They're notoriously rubbish for picking the right people for the job, often they don't even understand the industry they're recruiting for. I've found a ten-fold success rate in applying direct to companies, hardly ever hear back from agencies. Sometimes you can work out where the agency advertised job is at - and apply direct to the employer.

At 55 you don't need to put your schooling on your CV. I just have a line for schooling that says something like "ten GCSEs grades A*-C, including Maths and English". I'm guessing you did O Levels, but I'd just leave them off and concentrate on any professional qualifications if you have them.

There's little we can do about our age - but I think age discrimination is becoming less of a problem because there's no longer a compulsory retirement age.

Itismehonest

Just keep at it. Mrs A

From the FT:

"There are now 200,000, or 6.2 per cent, more women aged 50-64 in work than in early 2008, CIPD research shows. Among men in that age group, employment has risen by just 3,000."

paulsad

Ageism is alive and well in my experience although veiled by some sticker stating equal opportunities etc. Big companies always find ways to eliminate the over 50's although god knows why as most of us are more reliable, harder working and have a lifetime's experience in the real world. I've had many a condescending email "sorry you haven't been successful this time but we had a large number of quality applicants" .... I mean can you get a more insulting attempt at an placating apology???... makes me vomit... in other words you're either crap or truthfully too !!!!in old in the eyes of the two 20 odd yr olds that interviewed you.
(Sorry for the depressing rant! Good luck anyway!)

Timalay

Chin up, nothing is imposable. My dad (who is 58 btw) was a self employed plumber until about 2-3 years ago, and after a year of having little work, he applied for a job at a as a college a technician on the plumbing course and he got it due to his experience (over 40 years)

Googlewhacker

paulsad wrote: »

Ageism is alive and well in my experience although veiled by some sticker stating equal opportunities etc. Big companies always find ways to eliminate the over 50's although god knows why as most of us are more reliable, harder working and have a lifetime's experience in the real world. I've had many a condescending email "sorry you haven't been successful this time but we had a large number of quality applicants" .... I mean can you get a more insulting attempt at an placating apology???... makes me vomit... in other words you're either crap or truthfully too !!!!in old in the eyes of the two 20 odd yr olds that interviewed you.
(Sorry for the depressing rant! Good luck anyway!)

Damned if you reply, damned if you don't...

simson3325

im 54 years old, and on the work programe at best,
in the last year or so i have had plenty refusals but only one interview, for a job as litter picker out side a chain of shops,
which i did not get,