To think I’m suffering ageism at 31?

[BreastSideStory]

I’m having a compete career change, studying for an MSc and applying for graduate schemes (recommended route to become qualified).
I have applied for around 16 different grad schemes and have been invited to only 1 interview. My CV is impeccable, I have over 10 years corporate experience (in an unrelated field but many of the skills are transferable).
I’m currently top of my class receiving high distinctions in all modules.
Yet I cannot seem to get an apprenticeship or grad scheme place

I went to one assessment day for a well known company, 8 of us there. A mixture of presenting, interviews and group work. I did well in all areas and even went for drinks afterwards with some of the staff. I’m bubbly and sociable so I just dont understand why I am not progressing?

It’s not my personality because I’m being rejected by a lot of companies at the first hurdle (before they’ve met me) and when I’ve requested feedback they’ve all replied saying I’m an extremely strong candidate but not for them right now.

The only thing I can think is holding me back is my age. I’m 31 (though I’m told regularly I look quite a bit younger) and the average grad applicant age is around 23/24 yrs old.
I was the oldest person on the recent assessment day by 8 years.

Does this really happen in this day and age? People discriminating against applicants because they’re a lot older than the others?

I’m feeling so down. Currently working on my thesis in the library and holding back tears

Has anyone else experienced this or has any advice?

She is widowed by the way (8 years ago), not a total lie but maybe better to use that as an excuse than the truth of my children!

@gigi556 thank you for that advice. I’m applying to all the summer internships too, hopefully once my foot is in the door I’ll be fine

I think even if you can get a weeks work experience that will help! I think a lot of the people hired on my course did a week or two experience at a couple firms. Of course they got the experience from contacts! So if you can network with any partners at these firms that is also a way in (Conferences etc)

You could say that you are BreastSide born and bred and don't wish to leave the area. I wouldn't wear an engagement ring at the interview.

Yes, discrimination because of age happens.
I work in a male dominated industry, and from what I can tell there is a tendency to think:
Women in their 20s - totty (ugh!)
Women in their 30s - employers think maternity leave. (I had a colleague come back from maternity leave pregnant three times)
Women in their 40s - menopause
Women in their 50s - past it.

Managers/senior people tend to be identikit. Male, mid-40s to early 50s, tallish, etc.

Managers/senior people tend to be identikit. Male, mid-40s to early 50s, tallish, etc.

I think we may work in the same firm.

Mind, personally I'm mid-thirties and female. But I've kind of got to be at least visually distinguishable, seeing as I'm also our designated diversity show case.

so what do I do? I can’t erase the years

If you’re me... you repeatedly accept temp jobs with shitty pay and conditions in the hope that you can prove yourself and eventually they’ll hire you on a permanent basis. Then after a number of years you give up trying and just marry someone richer than you so you can SAH and not feel like a failure any more.

Some companies like local people. Privately owned ones maybe, or regional ones.
I would approach the organisations directly, or if you have a contact use it.

@BowBeau

Well, not that this helps you, OP, but at least I know now I'm not the only one...

You only need one APC job. Like I've said in this thread, milk any contact you have, even if it's your Uncle Bob's 3rd cousin...go on WiP trips and stuff and get on the phone and in front of people.

You sound lovely, you're better than a paper application.

(BowBeau, yeah...)

@MikeUniformMike I’ve been going to any networking events I’ve heard of or seen on LinkedIn. Matrics have one on soon I’m interested in. Like I said I’m very sociable!

Thanks again to everyone who’s taken time to offer advice, it’s all been taken on board

@BreastSideStory

I had a friend who joined CBRE in an administrative role in her 30s. Decided she wanted to do more. Completed her masters, then APC. She's RICS qualified, and worked at a couple of other large property managers since then amongst others.

I know of other people have gone in as administrators/surveying assistants and have gained there RICS, but not been on the grad schemes. Look at non qualified support roles as well as the grad schemes.

Don't give up!

@TheEntertainerr thank you! X

OP if you think 10 hour days are the exception for a grad, rather than the norm, then you might be in for a shock. In my industry, 10 hr days were normal (8.30 to 6.30 ish), 12 hours pretty regular (a couple of times a month), and 13+ rare but happened. A 9 hour day was short, and doing them regularly was frowned upon. I was in Big Law though, and not in the UK, so appreciate it might be quite different. Have you checked with people who have recently done grad programmes re this? You may need extra childcare once you get a spot. And don't believe what HR/recruiters will tell you, obvs they're generally not going to tell you the truth.

BreastSideStory you say you are on LinkedIn. Have you connected with loads in the profession from many different companies? It’s always worth dropping a message to a connection and ask if you can do some work experience with them. There’s only so many no’s you’ll get, before you get a yes!

Hours can be very industry dependent. I'm an older person on a grad scheme and although I can work very long hours during busy times, at other times the hours aren't bad (8 - 9 hr days).

Best wishes for you in your career. Hope it works out for you.

definitely look at applying in London
I can’t unfortunately. It’s too far to commute and I would have zero chance of working without the amazing support network I have here.

Ah, that's a shame. Will HS2 make a difference?

I think I'd be applying to London schemes anyway and working out how to make it work afterwards - at least you'll know you can get in somewhere. There seems to be so many older chartered surveyors who leave the industry because they never really get a chance.

Best of luck

OP, I’m not applying to grad schemes but am also 31 and applying for jobs and it’s so hard.

I’m self employed and have been for the past 4 years, but I’ve had enough and now want to go back to being an employee.

I’ve honestly lost count of the amount of roles I’ve applied for and heard nothing back from. I too have amended my CV dates slightly. Nothing. In my 20’s, I got interviews for almost every single job I applied for and was offered plenty.

Now though, I literally cannot even get an interview. I lie, I got one which was through an agency and all was going well. They asked if I had any holidays booked and I said ‘I have 2 and a bit weeks booked off in June for my wedding.’ Their faces at the mention of wedding said it all. I almost added ‘But don’t worry, I don’t want children.’ (I don’t) but felt it would be wholly inappropriate so didn’t.

These are ‘just’ mid 20 paying admin/ project coordinator roles FFS (all of which I’ve done before) and I can’t rven get an interview I’m sure it’s because of my age and it’s beginning to really depress me now, as I don’t see a way out from here

Reading with interest (and depression!). I’m 40, also female and currently doing a MSc in an area I have no experience in.

As I have the ultimate baby-face I can’t rely on would-be employers to assume I’m past child bearing age. And whilst one could massage the CV in terms of editing out some jobs, I think removing dates would look weird.

@BreastSideStory we are in a very similar situation so as I am a quantity surveyor. I am based in Ireland though so maybe it is different over here.

Is there any roles you can get with out being charted? I know the company I am with take on people who aren't chartered, so do the last company I was with, and they are both Irish companies but based in the UK also. They also don't require people to become charted, but obviously there is a difference in pay if you are not chartered.

Have you tried ringing HR departments, speaking to them about roles they have available and saying that you do want to become chartered? Rather than doing it all online, you might get a better response after talking to somebody. All the company actually have to do is have a mentor and councilor sign off on your work every once in a while, the rest of your chartership you can do on your own including the CPD hours etc!

Also, have you spoken to a recruitment agency? and I don't mean a general one as all they do is scour the internet and find jobs and send your CV off to companies, but someone who specialises in your area, has relationships with companies and knows where you will fit well?

@ImMeantToBeWorking I hadn’t thought of a specialist agency, that’s a good idea. Thank you

Have you looked at Civil Service roles? The Defence Infrastructure Organisation is in Sutton Coldfield and look after the whole defence estate which is vast and covers all kinds of properties. They employ Surveyors, have a good work/life balance and can sometimes struggle to recruit so I've often known teams to recruit someone working towards a qualification even if the advert says it's a requirement.
It's worth exploring. I'm sure I've seen jobs advertised recently. Have a look on civil service jobs.

@Whatdoyouknowwhenyouknownowt
I still have to pick builders based on their ability to speak to me...as some can't or won't talk to women.

YES! I once had a man tell me that I didn't know anything about xyz because I was a woman!! Excuse me? I totally put him in his place and it made me feel great! lol my DP is a foreman and even he is man enough to ring me to ask me questions at times.

Are you ok, OP?