Is my age (50) preventing me from even getting to interview stage ??

[Weymo]

I’m nearly 51 and despite having A Levels have only ever worked minimum wage jobs.

I was made redundant last month and have applied for over 30 jobs now, none of which have even made it to interview stage.

I’m not signing on for universal credit as my husband is self employed earning £21k so I won’t be given any benefits help, plus the last time I used a job Centre as a single parent, they never told me the town I live in had a sink firm that takes on call centre staff virtually by the hour they have such a high staff turnover, so I’m not confident they can help me.

I’ve had my CV checked my a free online reviewer and she said it’s not very expansive, but I can hardly expand ‘skills’ like warehouse assembly work.
My best jobs were in my 20s but those skills aren’t relevant in my current job search. I used to be a fine art ceramics painter, but I have two young kids and just need any job I can get, I’m not looking for a career.

Do you think my age is putting employers off?? I’m fit and healthy with no vices and do outdoor watersports for a hobby, so it’s not like I can’t carry heavy weight (25kg on my shoulders easily enough).

Admittedly I’m applying for shop work and have no recent retail experience - my last was in my early 20s - but my available hours are limited as I need to fit around school runs.

My husband can’t help as he runs his business from an industrial unit and it’s not a safe environment for kids. He can’t take time off to do the school runs either, and I can’t afford the school care clubs as I owe tax credits nearly £6k because they overpaid last year, so we won’t get any tax credits at all until that’s paid off, which will be in instalments as can’t afford to pay off in one go. Actually sorry we get £30 a month in tax credits until the debt is paid.

My car is also old and about to conk. Tax, insurance due in a month, combined they’re worth more than my car! So I can’t rely on it for work commutes.

I just want to get to interview stage!
I love interviews and am not nervous, and have never failed an interview, always got the job. I’m very shy otherwise but seem to do great in interview. On paper, my CV must be letting me down (insert shrug emoji).

I can’t do office admin either although I’m fine with desktop PCs it’s been years ...again...and I can’t even do basic stuff like Excel. I also didn’t get a maths qualification ...at all...I can’t even do mental arithmetic, despite being top of the class for English. Argghhh!

I’ll even clean toilets for a living, but can’t get to interview stage! I was turned down for 2 Travelodge type places for chambermaiding, and although I worked at the poshest hotel in Cornwall as a chambermaid can’t put that on my CV as, ....it was years ago!

Does anyone have any advice on how I can get to interview stage? I’ve also been into shops the old fashioned way, spoke to manager and given them my CV for the current vacancies advertised, but they always say, ‘I’ll pass it onto head office’ and I don’t hear back.

I’ve tried ringing the head office of one of the jobs I applied for, but they said, ‘if you don’t hear from us, you haven’t got the job’, which is fair enough.

Is there something I haven’t been doing to find a job? I’m on all the job websites, have done profiles and assessment tests online, etc

I still have to register with my local temp agencies which I’ll do later today as I revising my CV this morning, but their current advertised vacancies are all warehouse shift work for hours I can’t do because of the kids (the jobs I’m qualified/experienced for) as I live in the middle of super-warehouse-distribution-hub-central in the East Midlands/Anglia border.

We figured out evening work is best as daytime school hours are too gold dust. So...pubs, family restaurants. I did a free shift in one of those already... can I put that on my CV??

Any help is so welcome! I’m at my wits end. I posted befor I have 15p in my bank accounit and I’m not kidding, I have no income until child benefit comes in on Tuesdays. I also sell stuff online but it’s dribbled down into barely one order a week now so it’s negligible income.

Sorry this is so long. I’m starting to feel a bit down about it and I’m a positive, optimistic person usually, I’m starting to feel embarrassed that I can’t get a job.

I hire a lot (not in retail in care) and honestly the age would have nothing to do with it I absolutely promise (I probably wouldn't even register how old you were unless under 18)

The hours availability would I'm afraid. I get inundated with requests for school hours or limited availability and I honestly just do not have anything that will fit. I am the only person in the services who is able to work school hours and that's simply because my job is not on shift (and even then it requires I work from home evenings and weekends )

It's not personal and I go to great lengths to support childcare for others but as an employer I find limited availability off putting because if someone calls out or is sick I know I dont have any leeway with someone who has rigid availability.

I know it's frustrating but there are jobs out there but they are few and far between for school hours because they are so sought after. Obviously that's not your fault at all but it is the reality. I'm unbelievably fortunate to get my hours but they are totally job specific and I wouldn't get them do ing most other types of job(that I am aware of)

Perhaps look like others have said to up your skills so that you are more attractive to school hour jobs

Sorry I didn't mention evening and night work for us is fast becoming the same as school hours so I lumped them in , again I get inundated with requests and there are only so many to go around

I honestly do sympathise but I think that's the off putting factor not your age

Where I am, at least, you'd be competing with a lot of people for school hours - and retail here is dominated by under 20s/25s who are entitled to a lower minimum wage, so they are cheaper to hire. Anyone older than that tends to be in management, so they'd expect stock taking skills and the ability to use spreadsheets etc.

Is evening work a possibility? I'd definitely try and get your head around Excel and modern office programs. Also tailor your CV to each position - the chambermaid position would have been relevant to a chambermaid position at Travelodge, it would have shown that you've done it before and wouldn't need as much training and hand holding, and that you know what you're getting yourself into.

I hope you find something soon, the job market seems brutal.

You have my total sympathy OP. From my own experience I believe you are 100% correct.

They shouldn't know your age from your CV though...
This is unavoidable. It's amazing how many online application forms want your education history. Even if you don't put the year on a CV putting that your qualification came from a polytechnic dates you.

You simply don’t, currently, have either the qualifications or experience to be competitive in the job market this is unduly harsh when you've said you will take anything.

I've got decent qualifications, have kept up to date with IT and can offer skills and directly relevant experience for the roles I've applied for and still no interview. The only first stage application process I've thought was age blind was the civil service which asks for last 10 years employment history.

I've noticed some pubs have advertised for staff on FB so check there if you haven't?

I've got decent qualifications, have kept up to date with IT and can offer skills and directly relevant experience for the roles I've applied for and still no interview.

But this is exactly what I meant LoveGrowsWhere. If you’re struggling then it’s even worse for the OP. I reiterate, in order to secure decent work she needs to reboot her skills and qualifications. Unskilled ‘light assembly work’ isn’t going to exist as a job for human beings much longer - no matter how many applications she sends out.

The OP really needs individualised career advice.

You said you're applying for shop work early on in thread.
I know it's not permanent but lots of the bigger shops, ie Tesco, Debenhams in my area have started advertising for Xmas Temps. Have you thought about applying for any of these? This would give you some recent experience to put on your CV and sometimes people are kept on after Xmas.
Good luck!

Update

Thanks to everyone who took time to reply to this with advice, I’ve read every post and I’m really grateful for input, more importantly it’s perked me up no end to keep cracking on with job search. A very kind member has also given me some huge advice via messages and has obviously taken some time to do this, so I just want to repeat here to that member how grateful I am.

I have only read the OP but wanted to say the chambermaid experience you got many moons ago should have been mentioned in your job applications for similar work. It shows you know what the job entails. I know Premier Inn near me recently advertised jobs and those were in school hours. 10am to 2pm.

Skimming the thread it looks like you've had loads of other advice so I'll wish you the best of luck.

Update : got to interview using my newly revised CV with advice extracted from his thread and a kind MNetter via PM ; and got the job 😊 thanks for advice everyone 👍

Well done @Weymo