Will I ever get a job?

[salloh]

I'm 39 and haven't had a job for 6 years due to caring for my mum (who passed 6 months ago )
I have been applying and literally not one interview
Im worried the 6 year gap is the issue
Im not being picky what I apply for either
Anything from admin to hospitality to housekeeping.
I was applying on indeed but wasn't having any luck so now if I find anything on there I apply directly.
I have different cover letters which I amend for different roles.
I have decent grades (from way back when )
I'm just not getting a chance
Even roles like housekeeping which I have no experience in but think I could learn on the job.

Am I too old now to get a job ?

Can't even get a reply 😂🙈

No, you're not too old - I'm in my 50s and recently started a job after 16 months out. It's a tricky job market at the moment.

Have you had anyone review your CV, to see how it could target jobs better?

Does the blurb at the top of your CV make it clear you are looking to return to the workplace permanently?
What was your job/industry up until 6 years ago?

It's highly unlikely anyone will care about grades from exams you took 20 years ago, probably better to remove these.

If you're feeling brave, hide the personal details on your CV and share it here for advice.

Are you making it clear the gap was for caring responsibilities rather than just leaving it as a gap?
also check out your local council, mine has a program that helps people get back into the workplace after a gap. They hire people for 6months in various council roles, it’s hidden right away on their website and not massively advertised.
what were the roles you were in prior to the 6 year gap? Also have you looked at temping? A lot easier to get your foot in the door to begin with.

As you have 6 years experience of caring for your mum then perhaps you could apply for carers jobs. I often see signs outside care homes saying that they are recruiting. Maybe ring round some local ones and have a chat with the manager. Once you've got a job and some work experience then it is easier to get a different job. Good luck OP x

The care sector is desperate for good carers OP, if you can face it after looking after your mum for so long.
Apply to care homes, a hospital or care agencies. You’d get an offer very quickly.
Good luck!

Could you look at retail opportunities in the next few months?

I suggest that because stores look for extra staff to cover the run-up to Christmas. It would give you a foot in the door when it comes to applying for something permanent in the New Year. Tesco may have something.

www.tesco-careers.com/search-and-apply/?

There may also be possibilities with the Royal Mail.

https://jobs.royalmailgroup.com/

Sorry just had another thought...you could apply to residential care homes that look after vulnerable children and young adults who have learning disabilities or complex needs. Your previous caring skills with you mum give you some of the skills that they are looking for. Most will train you to work towards a professional qualification. Often it is free and done through an apprenticeship. Even if you are in your 50's you'd be fine. Good luck x

If you arent getting to interview then your application/CV is the problem.

You need to make sure before you hit submit that that you have made it easy for the recruiter to sit down with the job description/person spec and just tick each line item off from what you have put in your CV.

Lots of companies use automated sifting now so the software has a list of keywords/skills that it's looking for from the job description. It searches for those words in your CV and then gives your application a score.

You need to play that game. If the JD says 'Experience of working in a care setting following xx procedures' then you need to get those words into your CV.

One trick is to write your CV in word, insert a footer, in the footer write as many keywords as you can think of in small font, change the text colour to white so it can't be seen, then save the word document as a pdf. The software picks up the keywords and you get scored for them.

I had a gap in my CV due to caring responsibilities and no proper recent references for jobs.

What I did was start volunteering at a local charity where there were a mix of employed staff and volunteers - think local theatre, Citizens Advice, Mind, Stroke Association - there will be many more places.

I'd only been volunteering for a few months when a paid job came up there and I got it! Honestly, volunteering was the best thing I could have done because it's opened so many doors for me.

I did the paid job then progressed to another role with the same organisation and then with that experience, I was able to get a higher level job somewhere else.

It's highly unlikely anyone will care about grades from exams you took 20 years ago, probably better to remove these.

It depends what you're going for - jobs in education will care, and you should list grades for them (but most seem to want you to do an application form rather than CV anyway.)

Most others won't care. My CV just says "10 GCSEs including English and Maths" because many organisations care that you have English and Maths, even though I have at least 3 formal qualifications I wouldn't have been able to do without English and Maths GCSE...

I only put my grades as a lot of job specifications ask for grades and qualifications
I've just applied for a jet 2 work from home job
Not optimistic but you have to try don't you
It's just getting that chance

I have also applied for a age uk volunteer role to hopefully gain some experience

I know some social and market research companies, you work from home asking surveys to people on the phone. They send you all the kit. One I know pays London living wage, wherever you are. You don't need experience and you can pick your shifts each week, days and evenings.
That might be something you could try? If you don't mind talking to people and listening.

Other than that have you tried call centre, care work? Those type places often have vacancies. Some carer jobs might offer training on the job?
Can you drive? If so, delivery work?

My DSis has been looking recently and says Indeed is just no good for the type of jobs you are looking for. She's says she gets no responses.
Try Gov.uk job search. If you go onto browse all jobs, you can then narrow it right down to your town. Don't put any filters on (like distance or part/full time) or you might miss something. They almost always say which company it is or a postcode and you can then apply direct.
Good luck

Is it normal to just get no response?
I have been out of the game for so long

Yes, completely normal.

Sometimes you'll get an automated 'no'. Mostly you'll only hear back if they are interested in taking you forwards.

Are you tailoring your CV to each application? Read the info and highlight your skill set in that area. Look for voluntary work to keep your CV ticking over.

I have an interview for Monday !
At Hilton hotel
Housekeeping
Full time
Fingers crossed

Aww that's great news. Best of luck OP. Let us know how it goes x

I’m finding the job market awful at the moment, I have a bigger gap than you and a bit older. I paid someone to update my CV for me, my CV hasn’t been the issue it’s the lack of vacancies. My husband even had to take a much lower paid job in a completely different industry too. I can’t find anything within my profession, I’ve even started looking at retail which I haven’t done since having a Saturday job as a teen, but there just isn’t anything.