To think you can find a job after 45

at the BBC they are plenty of people older

Yes but surely @happydaysout the BBC is a special case, meaning that once in, almost no-one leaves, staff turnover is very low/retention is very high. This has been the same all through my working lifetime. The same people who joined in their 20s and 30s are now the people in their 50s and 60s. If the older cohort left now, very few would be able to find a similar job in media, because the landscape has changed so much since they joined.

I have found it depends on the industry, when I worked at a music venue over 35 was deemed past it, now at the BBC they are plenty of people older than me (50s), some still working in their 70s

I got the best job I ever had when I was 50. It was some years ago and even then people told me it was comforting to know that people could still get new jobs at 50.

I wonder if perhaps some of the issues encountered in high profile campaigns like Stacy D’s are down to women taking long periods out the workforce or working in ultra competitive areas like fashion media.

Is it the individual's fault they can't find a job? For example, should Stacey Duguid have been more far-sighted 30 years ago when she left school and not ever become a fashion journalist?
Or is it structural factors in the economy and changes in the work environment (eg new tech) meaning that there are fewer jobs overall and fewer of the type Stacey D (again for example) would be qualified for and interested in?
Plus a dose of good old fashioned sexism and ageism. And a few other -isms, not forgetting that black women have historically found it harder than white women to find the work they want.

Yes you can find a job after 45.
But it may be at half or less of the salary you got previously.
And a zero hours contract instead of employed with benefits.
Unless you are a data engineer or AI bot-builder in which case the future is looking good (right now).

It's industry-dependent and depends on what skills you have.
The UK job market overall has kind of seized up, reflecting low growth post Brexit, higher costs for employers (eg energy, NI) and AI (for the over-45s this is less about being replaced by an AI than by firms in a kind of stasis deciding how to respond, or investing money in AI solutions instead of spending on new hires)
And at the same time AI has famously already made some areas beloved of MN freelancers pretty defunct. Translation, copywriting and copyediting, graphic design, audio typing, some jobs in media eg film editing.

So let's say you were previously a Head of Marketing at £70K and were made redundant, now looking for an equivalent role. Or - to use the example of Stacey Duguid - a fashion editor looking for a job in fashion/media.
These types of roles are being squeezed or contracting. So this is where the 100 applications and no interviews happens. If there's a real job the employer gives it to the person a PP mentioned - age 35-39.
The example beloved of MN - get a job in a supermarket - is not useful. The unemployed grads are going for the supermarket vacancies.

Stacey Duguid is right that there is an issue for experienced, over-45, female knowledge workers in certain industries, who want to find similarly senior salaried jobs they are interested in and would choose to do. She was brave putting it out there and has been rewarded with a temporary part-time freelance contract - which is better than the dole.

Of course you can. You need skills that are in demand.

I am 56 and have managed to get two jobs over the past two years after voluntary redundancy at 54.
Admittedly my current one is part time administrative as I didn’t/couldn’t work ft because of demands of elderly DPs, now thankfully in a care home.
My thoughts are yes it’s hard, but I am more worried about DS prospects after graduation. CVs have changed - both roles involved answering questions for the application rather than being CV based. It’s easier to get a job from a job and it’s easier to get taken on if you apply for roles where they are recruiting teams rather than one individual. How much of that is due to my age versus being general, I am not sure.

I would also say if you really want a job, you will get one. Not necessarily well paid, but my experience is if you put in the effort, tailor your applications accordingly and use AI sparingly and importantly at interview have compelling reasons why you want the role other than it fits round your life or it’s all you think you can get, then you will be hired.

I got a new job at 52. Most recent hires one in 50s and one 60. It is a very tough market out there currently. No entry jobs because AI is doing all the admin and data entry where people learn, no younger people (especially women) in case they have children. No older people because of ageism and not wanting to pay for experience. There must be some sweet spot around 39 if you're a man where you are wanted...

It's apparently one of the the biggest demographics of working population. People of 45 have possibly 20+ years to work - I wouldn't necessarily expect anyone to stick in a job that long (I was in my last job for 19 years, though.) It seems a daft policy to me.

I found skilled work quite easily (2nd application) aged 53 after a long gap being a sahm and carer. But I kept up my skills throughout with a second BSc, MSc and internships and was treated essentially as a new graduate. It helped that my skills were quite technical, I was the top performer in my year, and it was in a skills shortage area with lowered limits on recruiting from overseas.

I changed job after 45 in a totally different industry to what I was working in. It was my second application and interview.

There's been lots of posts/articles about it applying to older men too. That said, lots of younger people are struggling to get jobs, so it's not necessarily easy for anyone.

I worked in both education and local authorities for many years as a manager, and have recruited countless people over that time. It wouldn’t cross my mind for a moment to think that 45 was too old! It’s all about how well you demonstrate that you are able to do the job.

Also,‘I’d have expected it to be easier for 45+ women as employers don’t have to worry about maternity leave!

I agree it depends on your skills and experience. At 57 I decided to change roles, had two interviews and was offered both jobs. I took one but it didn’t work out as I’d hoped, my previous employer found out I wasn’t particularly happy and got in touch to ask me to apply for a job (same one as I’d been doing) I was 58 by then. I’ve also just given a job to a 63 year old woman who I am confident will be an asset to the team based on her skills and experience.

Interested to know what the industry is if you don’t mind @Gengha

It depends on the field.

I have never experienced this in the health sector. Most Consultants and senior grades are over 45.

I changed jobs at 49, to a higher level. I also do private work and my age has never been an issue. Indeed, you are expected to have many years experience of working as an expert.

Some fields may well have a preference for younger people however.

I think in different areas again, over 45s would be preferred. People aren't allowed to discriminate, but I would bet money some employers avoid women of child bearing age.

I retired aged 63 18 months ago. I got bored after 6 months (after I had turned 64) and applied for a job, albeit part time. I was selected out of 28 applicants.

I got a new job in a totally different field 2 years ago, aged 58. That said, the job market seems to have fallen off a cliff since then.

Had a child at 36, was 8 years home stay, so that is what, I was 44?? Restarted working and have never stopped. I am not late 50s

I found it easy to get interviews and job offers until the end of my 40s, once I turned 50....a different story altogether.

I was made redundant a few months ago (despite being on the ‘up’ and a high performer) due to a change in company direction and leadership/ownership. I do 100% believe that they disproportionately targeted women over 40 as a demographic. When people were pooled for redundancy, the white men seemed to survive.

That said, I do have a new good job as do many of my colleagues, but it did feel really tough out there. I’m 46, and I feel I’m just tipping over into ‘old’ 😭

As an employer who does not use AI to sift CVs, of course I wouldn’t discount a woman, or a man for that matter, for being “over 45”. Why would I? Some of my best staff are 60+.

I am 55 and struggling to find a new job.

I have never that issue in the past, so I think age is definitely a factor, in addition to a tough job market.

I think employers these days have so many biases: they don't want to employ young people who just finished their education, disabled people or older people.