Age definitely makes it more difficult

monkeychops

I have been claiming JSA for a few months now and my adviser keeps telling me my age is no obstacle to finding a job.


Having applied for tons of jobs and not even getting an interview even after take my date of birth off my CV I decided to take the careers adviser's advice and only put details of my employment for the last 10 years (previously it showed the last 30 years although I have in fact worked over 40 years).


Anyway it worked and I got some interviews BUT obviously at the interview they can see roughly how old I am and, not surprisingly, I have not been offered any of the jobs.


Now I didn't want to only put 10 years employment history as I feel it is lying even though the careers person and my adviser tell me it's not.


At one interview as I walked through the door I could see the woman's face express surprise. Now I am almost 60 and although I am told I don't look it I know I do look at least 50. Literally her first question was to ask how old I am. She then asked me why I had so little employment history on my CV and actually said it was very misleading. The interview carried on and she said if I were successful I would hear from her - needless to say I didn't.


The other interviewers weren't quite as outspoken but both wanted to know my date of birth and one got me to fill in an application form which asked for ALL employment history.


I don't know now what to do with my CV. It annoys me that job centre advisers give you the rubbish that employers are not put off by age but that is totally untrue.

lakes17

monkeychops wrote: »

I have been claiming JSA for a few months now and my adviser keeps telling me my age is no obstacle to finding a job.


Having applied for tons of jobs and not even getting an interview even after take my date of birth off my CV I decided to take the careers adviser's advice and only put details of my employment for the last 10 years (previously it showed the last 30 years although I have in fact worked over 40 years).


Anyway it worked and I got some interviews BUT obviously at the interview they can see roughly how old I am and, not surprisingly, I have not been offered any of the jobs.


Now I didn't want to only put 10 years employment history as I feel it is lying even though the careers person and my adviser tell me it's not.


At one interview as I walked through the door I could see the woman's face express surprise. Now I am almost 60 and although I am told I don't look it I know I do look at least 50. Literally her first question was to ask how old I am. She then asked me why I had so little employment history on my CV and actually said it was very misleading. The interview carried on and she said if I were successful I would hear from her - needless to say I didn't.


The other interviewers weren't quite as outspoken but both wanted to know my date of birth and one got me to fill in an application form which asked for ALL employment history.


I don't know now what to do with my CV. It annoys me that job centre advisers give you the rubbish that employers are not put off by age but that is totally untrue.

I am 56 and also looking for a job. On 1 application form I had to detail everything with no gaps from the age of 16!! This showed my age as I had to go back to 1974. I did get an interview in spite of this. Unfortunately I didn't get the job as I did a very poor interview. I have also been offered interviews at 3 other places in spite of it being obvious on my form how old I am. I didn't get these jobs either but again this was more down to the way I performed at 2 of the the interviews rather than my age. The 3rd interview actually said I performed very well even though I was unsuccessful and have been placed on their talent pool for future vacancies where you are considered first before they advertise the post.. They contacted me yesterday to inform another vacancy has arisen and to validate my form if still interested in being put forward for short-listing and subsequent interview.


The message I'm trying to put across is that it may not be all down to age but something else that you need to work on. Maybe it is more a case that you have been out of work for awhile and it is the gap causing problems? Originally that was the case for me as I wasn't at one point getting any interviews. I solved that by doing voluntary work and low and behold the interview requests started coming in!!


Good luck in your quest for finding work.

Pixiegill

I was made redundant when I was 52 and found a job within 6 weeks though admittedly it was a temporary contract, when that finished a year later I was fortunate to find a permanent position - both positions were office based - IT and Sales. I have the last 15 years employment on my CV as that covered my previous 2 jobs but I then put 'further employment history available on request'.
I thought my age would go against me but people kept telling me I would have more experience than others. I do however consider myself very fortunate to have found a job so quickly on both occasions !

Good luck with your search !

Takeaway_Addict

For some employers age wronglly is a problem but it won't be as common as you would believe.

If you feel that you are being discriminated you could take it further (but it will gain you little IMO)

I think you have had some unlucky experiences to be honest. Keep plugging away.

noelphobic

I didn't think they were actually allowed to ask you how old you are and I wouldn't put my date of birth on a CV.

I am looking for a complete career change so expected to struggle and am also over 50. However, I have recently completed a degree that is relevant to the kind of work I am looking for and am also doing voluntary work.

I haven't applied for many jobs as yet but have had 2 interviews. I didn't get the first job but they said if something else came up they will offer it to me without me having to have another interview. I've not heard from the second one yet but it was an awful interview so I'm not expecting to get it. It was for an organisation I volunteer for and both of the interviewers know me so would have had a good idea of how old I was.

I think it may be more difficult to get some jobs but could be considered an advantage in others.

marlot

I have had two job offers recently and I'm 50 so it can be done. I think the trick is to show that you're still learning, and how your experience means that you'll add more value in the job than someone else.

I've rejected people for roles because they've become set in their ways in their 30s/40s and hired people in their 50s before. As much as you can, you need to network with your contacts and make it known you're looking for work - linked in can be very valuable at our time of life, though face to face is even better.

Sorry to ramble, but there are opportunities out there. Hope you find one soon.

t0rt0ise

I don't know what sort of job you are after but I have to say that the NHS doesn't seem to be ageist. I'm 59 and started a new job a few months ago. Before this I had two short term contracts also in the NHS, so that's three times I've got jobs in my late 50s. So the NHS is a good choice for older people.

Paypeanuts

Age discrimination is alive and kicking. But instead of just putting 10 years experience on your CV put 20 years experience. You should be ok if they think you're 50, another 17 years to go till retirement.

seven-day-weekend

Why don't you just put the last ten years and something like 'further employment details can be provided upon request'. That's what I did last time I applied for a job (in my 50s), because the CV was too long otherwise. I got the job.

(They never requested the 'further employment details'. ).

PasturesNew

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

Why don't you just put the last ten years and something like 'further employment details can be provided upon request'. That's what I did last time I applied for a job (in my 50s), because the CV was too long otherwise. I got the job.

(They never requested the 'further employment details'. ).

Because when you go to interview they can still see you're old ... and getting the job also depends what job you're after, the location and other stuff.... it's more rare to get the job when you're older; you can't get the jobs you'd walk into 10-15 years ago if you're the wrong age demographic for their "company look" if they're that sort of industry (e.g. not public servants, not teaching, and more).

Most of the "teams" I'd have to work with would be aged typically 18-24 and it's often asked about how you'd work with young teams. And, often, they get to see you and are brought in to help with the "picking".

noelphobic

PasturesNew wrote: »

My job applications would be in smallish companies that describe themselves as "young, fast paced office, cutting edge", so they're all about "looking good" really ... and I don't. I've skills, I am not a model.

What sort of work are you looking for? I'm probably stating the obvious but if you are having no luck with this type of organisation then maybe you should consider looking at other types of work/companies?

I'm hoping to work with older people and/or people with mental health problems. I'm hoping my age might work in my favour in some ways, but time will tell. My CV goes back to 1990 because that was when I started my last job (left in 2013, would have got less for murder. :eek:) However, a lot of applications forms ask for the dates of your qualifications. Doesn't take a Maths O Level to work out how old I am if I took my O Levels in 1976! Most of my exam certificates also state my date of birth.

I do remember many years ago that my mum lied about her age in order to get a job. I can't remember the details but I think she came close to getting found out. Mind you, she did fall asleep at work several times and didn't get the sack for that! :eek: