I fear I will never work in my profession again.

[LipstickLou]

Just before covid hit I had interviewed for some senior roles in my industry. I wasn't offered any of the positions and on reviewing the new post holders I found them to be 'hipster' men at least 10 years younger than me. Covid then put us all in lockdown and all my contract work dried up.
If I approach any recruiters I am 'not a good fit'. I think my age (55) is being used against me. I work in fashion and beauty so I am frequently told I look younger.
I miss working and have a great track record of success. I have been working for a local charity but they have nothing to offer me at a senior level. They also recruit career charity professionals at director level and appear not to want transferable skills. I have been self employed and hated it. I feel on the scrap heap.

Why wouldn't you want to work for yourself, OP? It sounds as though you'd be great at it.

Some great advice. Plenty of 'chin up Britain'. I became a consultant because my father was ill and my children were still at school. My father had been my Manny. It was pro quo. I thought it was just me but it obviously isn't.

@LipstickLou

Some great advice. Plenty of 'chin up Britain'. I became a consultant because my father was ill and my children were still at school. My father had been my Manny. It was pro quo. I thought it was just me but it obviously isn't.

I don't know if that means he was Manny to your Bernard, I need one of those 😂

Thank you all, you have cheered me up. Most of my friends are happy to retire so they don't get it. I have a diary of my interview exploits on my Facebook page and looking back you could write a newspaper column from them. Some are very funny others just sad. I have just asked my 17 year old if she could make me a youtuber (it was a no). I am sorry I haven't been able to work out how to do individual responses yet.

OP I went into consultancy 12 years ago, in my 40s, and have had good and challenging assignments since then, especially in my 50s. They have also dried up during Covid. I set up an online side business a few years ago, which has been a godsend and has taken off a bit more now I have more time to give to it.

It is undoubtedly more difficult but not impossible to get high-powered jobs in our 50s. There are some great role models out there though. Like Anne Boden who founded Starling Bank in her late 50s. While it's a business venture not a job per se, she has had to attract a lot of investors, mostly male, mostly younger. She's also quite a mumsy-looking older woman - no offense to those of us who are - but my point is that often women who do make it when they are older have to work harder to look young and fit, so it's refreshing to see Anne Boden look so 'real'.

Bottom line - if you really want a job, keep going. And if you need some inspiration to start your own business as a 50+ woman, this is a good start: www.prowess.org.uk/business-over-50

I'm friends with a lady in the charitable sector, a very professional, skilled lady and colleague who had reached a senior level in her particular charity. She is 59. She was made redundant last year, but they kept the younger staff on. She's since struggled to find suitable employment, despite her knowledge and her experience. She was a Branch Manager, and also a very good creative fundraiser.

When I was out walking with my son last Mon I bumped into a lady at the park. She had a little boy with her. We got chatting, she told me in passing that she was 58, and she had moved into childminding because "who would want me now? No-one wants me, I used to be a Director of a company, but apparently I'm too old for that now."

It's horrible. I think ageism does seem to kick in with certain employers around the 50+ mark. I'm 38, and I work for my local authority which employs a lot of 50+ people so they are a good employer in that regard, as it's also steady work.

But I feel so bad for people in these situations. People who have a lot to offer, who are repeatedly rejected based on their age. It's not right

@LipstickLou

Could you possibly look into work with your Local authority or your local council? As I just mentioned upthread, they're very equality-aware employers and often offer steady employment. Best of luck to you. Don't be too hard on yourself, you do have a lot to offer.

I have just asked my 17 year old if she could make me a youtuber (it was a no)

I think there probably is quite a good market for Youtube beauty aimed at the mum of teens and older who are ready, and have the time and money, to reinvigorate themselves a bit.

Last week I watched a 20 minute video of an elderly Japanese woman's night routine.

I think it’s a really interesting concept @LipstickLou to do an age specific beauty range. It’s done in fashion (ASOS supposedly aim at the under 25’s) when realistically you could wear a t shirt from cradle to grave! Skincare is different, we do need specialist products for ageing skin and make up that works on that skin - all modelled on proper women who are the age the range is aimed at! Go for it, most entrepreneurs just see something that’s not working for them and commit to changing it like Spanx, innocent Smoothies, The White Company. The world is your lobster 😂

@LipstickLou

Thank you all, you have cheered me up. Most of my friends are happy to retire so they don't get it. I have a diary of my interview exploits on my Facebook page and looking back you could write a newspaper column from them. Some are very funny others just sad. I have just asked my 17 year old if she could make me a youtuber (it was a no). I am sorry I haven't been able to work out how to do individual responses yet.

Well, that's interesting in itself. Why don't you sketch out a theme for an article, with a couple of illustrative samples of your funny or sad encounters and try to interest some magazine or newspaper women's editors in doing a feature? There must be interest in the contemporary resonances of ageism and employment for women and men, plus the specific cosmetic and beauty business angle. And how about getting on the radio, say Woman's Hour? In no time at all, you might find yourself invited on to tv and radio programmes, with, hey presto! a new profile and even a new career.

Well ladies you have inspired me.
I have had an idea for years which i had hoped to launch last year. I will be asking a few more questions over the coming weeks.

@LipstickLou

Well ladies you have inspired me. I have had an idea for years which i had hoped to launch last year. I will be asking a few more questions over the coming weeks.

Intriguing....

What area do you live?

Have you looked at companies who cater more for the older market?

Great to hear @LipstickLou - I hope it all comes together. Ageism needs to be called out and tackled head on.

Look at Trinny London - her make-up and skin care range is tailored to older women and its blazing ahead. She's really cornered the over 40s beauty market.

Back to the third sector, try approaching Christian based charities. It doesnt matter whether you're a Christian or not, they're more open to ability and experience (versus youth and enthusiasm). Try your hand as a fund raiser (tap all those London contacts) or apply to sit on the Board as a non-exec Director.

What was your role? purely executive or do you have a background in sales, production, advertising?

What difference will that make… if they are ageist you might get the interview but you won't get the job.

But at least you get your foot in the door with an interview. It might not be much of a chance but it is an opportunity.

How do you not put dates on application forms? The majority of jobs where I am are application form based and have date columns for things like year degree obtained which is a complete giveaway.

I've seen this year a number of friends in their 50s being made redundant and finding it difficult to get interviews, let alone jobs - all of them women.

OP, are you any good at selling?

The problem is not limited to women.

My sector is full of men in their 50s trying desperately to get work and honestly I can tell you it's because they usually ARE expensive. The reality is unless you get to a particularly high tier, 20 years experience doesnt add much more than 10, and it's often offset by less flexibility, poorer technology skills and slower ways of working. The guys in my industry can't accept that they cant command the pay they want, because the market does not need or value their experience.

The only thing that landed me a job was removing management experience and qualifications from my CV.
It pissed me off but the fact is that half my normal salary is better than no salary at all. At 52 I can't retire.

@CoRhona

But if you put dates on your jobs surely they can see how long you've been working for?

Just put the last ten to fifteen years on. I am 50 now and this is what I do.

Thank you all. I was invited to interview on television years ago about the beauty business not being pro age. I declined on advice from a friend (PR expert) that I would never work again. The same advice was given when I had interest for my PhD thesis (Cosmetic companies founded by women, bought out by men)
I have woken up and feel inspired by some of the links given. I thought it was just me. And being the aforementioned 'big girl' that people were discriminating. It is obviously my age not my dress size!

@Porseb

How do you not put dates on application forms? The majority of jobs where I am are application form based and have date columns for things like year degree obtained which is a complete giveaway.

I've seen this year a number of friends in their 50s being made redundant and finding it difficult to get interviews, let alone jobs - all of them women.

Because on most application systems the person doing the recruitment cannot see information like dates, age etc. When I was in recruitment, the team recruiting had a login that stopped them seeing that information even though the candidate had entered it.

Would you consider writing a book? Put together a sample chapter and approach a literaey agent.

Thank you all for the many ideas. I was in sales originally then went up through the ranks. I started consulting as my father was ill and my children still at school. My father looked after the children whilst I travelled the world, I thought it only right I looked after him in return. I was still working 3 days a week whilst he was in his final few months. I love teaching more than anything but again I have found that profession is closed to me although I support a school related charity. I think reflecting on all your responses I was very lucky to be offered senior roles at 53. The offers stopped just over a year ago.

You sound like you have really good experience. Could you guest lecture at universities on business / marketing degrees? Some unis like guest lecturers with real world experience and wouldn't require a PhD.

Or you could approach local government agencies that support small businesses with export programmes as a training consultant?