Finding feeling on the scrap heap so hard

[christinarossetti19]

I've been working in a particular sector for over 25 years, over 13 in a particular type of role.

This sector, which used to be niche, is now very, very mainstream and absolutely saturated with newly self-defined 'experts'.

My work has dried up completely (I've been self-employed for nearly 15 years) and I've had no success with applying for jobs. 3 interviews so far and dreading being rejected again.

Being menopausal doesn't help. Although I feel 'young' in many ways (have always worked with a mixture of ages and like working with younger people), this situation is really making me feel frightened about my future.

I'm finding people saying things like 'oh, you must be really busy' really difficult. Even my GP said that to me last week when I phoned re: depression/not being able to sleep!

I've started a MSc, which is about applying theoretical models to your work situations. Very interesting, but I'm a bit lacking in a work situation at the moment, so can't even do that properly to improve my prospects.

I honestly don't know what to do. I'd be happy to think about voluntary work, but organisations seem to be finding it hard enough to get the staff they need back on site let alone some random who's not necessary. Also, I don't know what I want to do. I'd love to stay in the sector that I've been in for so long, but experience seems to have no value there anymore.

Feeling particularly low as at a meeting yesterday and looking at Linked in today, I've found out yet again that people with a fraction of my experience have been promoted/secured new roles. Good luck to them, I'm glad that things are going well for them, but it makes me feel so inadequate/unwanted/useless.

Can anyone relate, or have a positive news story to cheer me up a bit?

[christinarossetti19]

Can anyone relate to this?

What did you do in similar circumstances?

[Cottagepieandpeas]

I’m in a similar-ish situation myself so don’t have any useful advice but I certainly sympathise.

I had to take a job with much less pay & responsibility during lockdown #1 and now it’s proving impossible to get back to where I was.

It only dawned on me the other day that it could be my age (early 50s) and I found that very depressing.

[christinarossetti19]

Thanks for your reply.

Yes, I'm the same age. It is incredibly depressing and frightening.

[ColumboOnTheCase]

I am wondering if age maybe a factor too I am late forties and have been self employed for just over 16 years and am now employed on the same salary as I was when I was employed all those years ago. I know I should be thankful that I have a job but doesn’t stop me feeling a bit sad and trapped.

[Parsley1234]

I was self employed lost my three business in Covid I’m 54 I went to work for the DWP as a work coach I love it I don’t think I’ll ever go back to self employment I’m sorry things are tough for you

[SpongeBobJudgeyPants]

@christinarossetti19. Would it be worth trying to acess some adult careers advice, even if you had to pay for it? Not sure what's available in your area. I find myself in a slightly similar position, but a little bit older. I had a few career changes, and am now a bit stranded. Considering going back to uni to take a qualification to teach english as a foreign language. Someone I know has done this for a while. Throughout the pandemic has taught via Zoom, to clients across the world.

[christinarossetti19]

I'm trying to do exactly that SpongeBob.

I'm studying with the OU who have a careers advice service, but I haven't been able to access it.

The Computer Helpdesk is receiving a high volume of enquiries etc....

I do feel that it would be beneficial to talk to someone. I've read everything there is online and more and it seems to muddle and depress me more.

[SpongeBobJudgeyPants]

I would keep at it. OU are really organised, so I would think they give good advice when you are able to acess it. Or would a Life Coach be an idea? On recomendation, not some randomer from the internet. I had a couple of sessions a few years ago, found it reasonably useful at the time.

[CrispsnDips]

I’m almost 57 and have just secured a new job as a Wellbeing Advisor within Probation Services. Your title “Feeling on the Scrap Heap So Hard” resonated with me as I feel the absolute opposite! On the one hand I can see that a mature age may be a factor in not getting a job but in my case they wanted someone with life experience. Some applicants, who had left University with good qualifications, did not have the parenting/life experience which they were looking for (it’s not their fault, just a shame that this is how life can be).

I know you said you wanted to hear some positive stories - I hope my story helps 😃

[christinarossetti19]

Yes, I will keep at it with the OU SpongeBob. I'm sure that I'll be able to get logged on to the Careers Hub sooner or later.

Congratulations on your new role CrispsnDips. Experience used to be valued in my field, but it seems not nowadays, which I'm finding very difficult.

Is your new role similar to roles that you'd had in the past? Some of the applications that I've submitted have been 'sideways' moves ie transferable skills and similar sector but not the same. Either no interview or not going through to second interview, despite a 'strong application' (their words) as other candidates had more relevant experience.

That's what I'm finding hard. Despite it being a huge growth market, I can't get work in my field, yet I don't have experience in any other.

[Timeforabiscuit]

I'm looking at your post as my next life stage as I saw too many expert women get shunted out of the way for the bright shiny graduate.

It has made me particularly choosy about the types of employer and the teams they cultivate , in particular age and experience, as working in a team of younger talented, capable people needed experienced mentoring that just wasn't there - and it showed in the quality of work.

[MarshaBradyo]

I’m old for my industry (46), creative is young.

I had an interview the other day and actually it was ok, maybe zoom helped. I’m also doing other stuff.

What do you do?

[gonnabeok]

Don't give up OP, I spent 25 years in the public sector,then self employed and gave just changed jobs to working as a co-ordinator for a counselling service for young people.

I did a level 2 qualification with skillsnet. You can do free courses if you are a tax payer. I. Interview I could show I was committed to self development.

Don't give up hope, you may just need to adjust your path a little, for me I thought about what I was really passionate about and mo be ef towards that area. Good luck!

[gonnabeok]

I'm 51 by the way

[christinarossetti19]

I don't really want to say what I do as I haven't named changed and it's too outing.

My sector has really changed in the last few years, maybe even the last few months. I was doing really well before the pandemic, and kept going online throughout.

It's the convergence of not being able to generate any work and being unsuccessful in applications/interviews that I'm finding difficult, on top of the whole isolation/home schooling aspects of lockdown.

I know that I'm not the only one and thanks for your replies.

[OverTheRubicon]

If you are able to, I would also see if you could do some practice interviews and get very honest feedback. In recruiting, the 'experience' point is often a convenient line that actually covers so many other things from 'you are the wrong age/race/gender' (obv not ok!) to 'you didn't seem to understand behavioural interview questions so didn't really answer the questions that we asked', to 'you told an awkward nervous anecdote that made us wonder if were just really nervous or whether you would be a really strange colleague, or maybe a bit racist' (all examples from actual panels I've sat on)

The experience point is the equivalent of 'it's not you, it's me' in dating.

[christinarossetti19]

OverTheRubicon spot on. The 'experience' point in this particular interview was 'we're going to appoint someone that already works as an Associate with us'.

So however 'strong' my application it wouldn't have mattered.

Which made me feel a bit 'used' especially as they didn't even bother to let me know that I'd been unsuccessful. I would have preferred that they didn't bother interviewing me tbh.

Although, fair enough. I can completely understand why organisations go for a known quantity when recruiting (and I would bite someone's hand off if they offered me this type of leg up at the moment).

I don't like online interviews, but I can do them - STAR, work based competencies, smile, make eye contact with the camera etc.

Another bit of feedback I received was that I didn't seem to know much about the area in which I've been working for 25 years, which I don't agree with but it really disturbed me that I could come over like this.

But that may have also been a 'we've got someone else in mind' type scenario, so who knows.

Regardless, the whole experience has knocked my self-confidence and even sense of reality and what skills/experience I do have.

[CrispsnDips]

I think you’re having a real rough ride at the minute but, because you care so much and it feels as though you are determined, it will all work out. Something will come along and you will realise that all the disappointments just helped you to get to where you needed to be. Hang in there, it will all be worth it!

My new role is completely new but there are transferable skills. I have had quite a lot of experience with vulnerable families, which my new employees liked, and I have studied Counselling for four years and gained a Level 4 Diploma.

I remember applying for a job I really wanted but didn’t even get an acknowledgement that they’d received the application! When I was desperate and wanted to try anything, I couldn’t even get a job delivering parcels for Hermes 🤣 they didn’t get back to me after the interview 😂

These things happen for a reason, there is always something better on the horizon 🌺

[christinarossetti19]

Thanks for your kind words, CrispsnDips.

I'm finding it very difficult to see the bigger picture at the moment.