Applying for lots of jobs, not getting interviews, am I just too old?

easy

I'm really fed up with my current job, and the commuting for over an hour through city traffic every morning. I work as a finance manager for a medium sized business, I have many years of experience, including working as a freelance bookkeeper for a few years before this job.
Been looking to change for a few months, applying for lots of jobs, registered with a few agencies. I'm prepared to take a pay cut, so I've applied for accounts admin jobs as well as management roles
I think I have a good CV, which I have tweaked and adjusted over the last few months, but I'm just not getting shortlisted for interviews. The agencies I've been to say my CV is good.

Problem is that I'm 56. I haven't stated my age on my CV, but the fact that it shows I have o'levels, and the year I gained my degree gives my age away.

Any ideas how I can help myself?

Nile

easy wrote: »

Problem is that I'm 56. I haven't stated my age on my CV, but the fact that it shows I have o'levels, and the year I gained my degree gives my age away.

Any ideas how I can help myself?

I'd remove the O Levels and remove the date you gained the degree. The agencies say your CV is good but it hasn't resulted in an interview, so ask friends / family for their opinion.

Good luck with your job hunting.

Nile

tgroom57

@AvidCareerist on twitter has good cv tips.
Cv 2 pages, top 3rd of the first page should showcase your best bit plus a mobile number. Get a couple of references on your Linked In profile.

You can reasonably leave O levels off if you've a higher qualification. Good luck !

motorguy

easy wrote: »

I'm really fed up with my current job, and the commuting for over an hour through city traffic every morning. I work as a finance manager for a medium sized business, I have many years of experience, including working as a freelance bookkeeper for a few years before this job.
Been looking to change for a few months, applying for lots of jobs, registered with a few agencies. I'm prepared to take a pay cut, so I've applied for accounts admin jobs as well as management roles
I think I have a good CV, which I have tweaked and adjusted over the last few months, but I'm just not getting shortlisted for interviews. The agencies I've been to say my CV is good.

Problem is that I'm 56. I haven't stated my age on my CV, but the fact that it shows I have o'levels, and the year I gained my degree gives my age away.

Any ideas how I can help myself?

I dont think too many companys would exclude you based on age. And it would be illegal to do so (?)

Make sure the roles you are applying for you have at least a 90% fit on their pre-requisites, also tweak your CV dependent on the job role to highlight the particular areas of expertise they're looking.

Better to apply for 3 focused opportunities with tailored CVs every month than applying scattergun for 20 with a generic CV

TELLIT01

I'd agree about leaving the 'O' levels off as you have a degree. Employers are generally only interested in the level of education achieved. However, I think it will make little difference assuming you are providing a full CV. Presumably that has at minimum a list of previous jobs / employers and dates of employment. It won't take a rocket scientist to work out approximately how old you are.

Takeaway_Addict

The vast majority of employers wouldn't be bothered about your age, I suspect alot of it is thinking along the lines of being overqualified for the jobs they are offering and thinking you're not going to stay.

maisie_cat

I disagree that age isn't an issue, it won't be the employers, but a 30 something manager will not want somebody 50 something working for them. My experience is that the 30 something will know that the 50 something has more experience and they will not want to risk being outshone. I have seen this happen, in fact colleagues have told me that they do not want somebody who knows more than them. Companies as a whole will not discriminate, but the person looking through the CVs will.

easy

motorguy wrote: »

Make sure the roles you are applying for you have at least a 90% fit on their pre-requisites, also tweak your CV dependent on the job role to highlight the particular areas of expertise they're looking.

Better to apply for 3 focused opportunities with tailored CVs every month than applying scattergun for 20 with a generic CV

Sorry I didn't make myself clear, I do customise my CV for each application.

motorguy wrote: »

I dont think too many companys would exclude you based on age. And it would be illegal to do so (?)

Yes we all know it is technically illegal, but honestly who checks what criteria a small business uses to reject candidates?

easy

motorguy wrote: »

Make sure the roles you are applying for you have at least a 90% fit on their pre-requisites, also tweak your CV dependent on the job role to highlight the particular areas of expertise they're looking.

Better to apply for 3 focused opportunities with tailored CVs every month than applying scattergun for 20 with a generic CV

Sorry I didn't make myself clear, I do customise my CV for each application.

motorguy wrote: »

I dont think too many companys would exclude you based on age. And it would be illegal to do so (?)

Yes we all know it is technically illegal, but honestly who checks what criteria a small business uses to reject candidates at CV stage?

motorguy

maisie_cat wrote: »

I disagree that age isn't an issue, it won't be the employers, but a 30 something manager will not want somebody 50 something working for them. My experience is that the 30 something will know that the 50 something has more experience and they will not want to risk being outshone. I have seen this happen, in fact colleagues have told me that they do not want somebody who knows more than them. Companies as a whole will not discriminate, but the person looking through the CVs will.

Any manager with any level of ability / self confidence wont have any issue with an older person working for them.

I've worked in many roles with people under me with more experience in a given field or are older than me. You use that to the teams advantage, not see it as a threat.

DavidT67

My tuppence;
Your CV should not show your age, home location or any other personal details that enable an agency, HR or manager to weed your CV off the pile. So don't mention hobbies, marital status, etc.

Focus on your skills and experience, but don't list everything from school leaving age. One you're past thirty no one cares what O's or A's you did or your first job unless directly relevant to your current career.

The CV is there to get you the interview, once at the interview you can hopefully sell yourself effectively and knock back any in-built prejudices interviewers might have.