To ask how you get a bloody job 😐

[LaLaPoo]

I have been doing temporary work for the past 3yrs after having many years off being a SAHM, yes I was fortunate to be able to be at home!

Now I find myself in my mid 40s and unable to find a permanent job. I apply for so many, rarely get interviews and when I do, I hear nothing back. It’s really starting to get me down. My current job is only seasonal so come the winter I’ll be worrying about how I’m going to pay my bills etc again. I find the pay divide is making such a difference (why employ someone on a higher MW when you can take on a 16yr old and pay them a much lower rate!) seems employers are not bothered about experience anymore? I also wonder if my size puts potential employers off as I’m a size 20 🤷🏻‍♀️

Any advice on what to do would be a great help.

Really?
OK. 🙄

“Indeed isn't the best way to apply. Its good for searching but when we get applications its obvious who has applied via Indeed and who has taken the time to apply directly via our website with a tailored cv/applucation.”

Not sure why you’d discount so many candidates because they’ve used indeed- where the employer has to have posted their advert in the first place? And I’m saying this as an employer. How are potentially good candidates supposed to know they’re screened out by not applying directly?

When so many firms require detailed application processes it’s in the employer’s interest to simplify the process to avoid putting people off.

We value McDonalds experience as a route to entry level positions. Disciplined, well trained and they also pay more than the bare legal minimum for teens.

Thank you all so much for all the replies and advice you have given. I certainly will be looking at a course to retrain with the skills I’ve got.

I was out of work for 13yrs but did a little voluntary work and also did a few months working in admin which I absolutely hated.

Unfortunately a lot of hospitality work around here is zero hours contract so that’s no good for me.

Jobs advertised through Facebook and Indeed tend to skew to low or commission only pay, and low qualifications. For big local employers check their own website. But above all you need CV, application, and interview help. Have a look at how your local library and council can help. Sometimes they offer job clubs, free or cheap courses through the adult learning service, etc. After you've honed this, perhaps you could try LinkedIn - again make sure your LinkedIn page gets reviewed, just like your CV.

E.g. If you don't hear back at all, it'll be because you're not writing what they need to know. What people usually forget is that you need to explain how you match each of the listed essential and desirable skills on the job description.

Agree with the advice above and please put the relevant skills and experience in your opening paragraph so they don’t skim past and dismiss it. Also if the ad has skills as keywords like ‘customer service’ or hospitality make sure you mention those more than once in case they’re using computers to screen applications. Keep your achievements measurable’started this role at x level of experience in x and progressed to advanced/qualified within x months’. Something like that.

OP may I ask if you have a well written CV? I don't mean to sound patronising, but it could be better to have it done by an 'expert'.
You have a lot of skills, customer service, management, voluntary sector, hospitality, and they need to be highlighted.
You are clearly good with people. How about a paid charity job? There are quite a few websites for this.

It is because indeed sends out a standard application with perhaps one or two general paragraphs which are not tailored to the job. The requirements on our website asks for a supporting statement detailing how they meet the essential criteria. That's how we would assess. It's very obvious which applications have come via indeed. If they can't look at our application process and make sure they do what is asked then they wouldn't be suitable.

I had my CV professionally written which highlights all my skills.

i honestly don’t know what I’m doing wrong?

Have you been on to the ‘NHS Jobs’ website?
This is where we advertise and there are all sorts of non-clinical jobs and roles. You apply through the website itself rather than a CV.

This is the website re NHS jobs
www.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/search

I was in the same boat as you OP, nobody wanted a 40 year old woman who hadn't worked in 8 years, who was a size 20 and had a history of health issues. Then the pandemic happened and I stopped bothering to look for work. I went to art school and have a degree in illustration which I never really used but I started drawing again and took some online courses to learn more about modern techniques like photoshop for example and now I work freelance as an illustrator and I also teach adult art classes. I also lost a lot of weight which I think really boosted my confidence and it did also change how people seemed to treat me. It took me 4 years to get here though so it wasn't an overnight change and my husband supported me during that time which was a privileged position to be in.

If you have skills or interests you could perhaps use to become self employed or start your own business perhaps look into that?

I sympathise op. I have recently been looking for a new job after working p/t and looking after my children. I kept hearing on the news that there was a shortage of workers but this is not my experience. There were an insane amount of applicants for each position. I had 2 interviews and thankfully got a f/t job. One of the jobs was filled internally and they had over 100 applications for that one 😳.
My friend is also looking atm and is getting very despondent as she is not even getting to interview stage.
It doesn’t even seem easier for the kids, as my son applied for so many jobs before eventually landing a retail position.
Doing courses is a good idea, really selling yourself on your cv and making sure it stands out as much as possible. It’s not easy out there and retail is the worst as they are nearly all zero hours or very p/t and just add the hours as they need you, meaning they don’t have to pay when you are on leave etc 😡.
What about airport jobs? I noticed quite a few recently like check in staff etc.
I really hope that if we do get a labour government, they will get rid of zero hours contracts. Workers rights have been seriously eroded over the years.

shortage of female taxi drivers. The only one in our area is never available when I need a taxi but it doesn’t stop me trying in case I’m lucky.

Ive spent the last 20 years working in hospitals and care settings and there has always been jobs going everywhere I've worked for both temporary and permanent care staff, with no previous experience required.

Would you consider care work? I'm sure you would be able to find somewhere if it was a job you were interested in.

If you’re often not hearing back after interviews, you need to look into your interview skills. It’s not uncommon to lack in that department after a long career break, and if you get rejections consistently, it’s definitely something to address. You need to look both at content (what you say) and delivery (how you say it) - there’s something in either or both of those that isn’t working. I work in the careers space - feel free to DM me for some (free) resources.

High rejection rates when applying online aren’t uncommon at all, unfortunately, and for the sorts of jobs you’re applying for you indeed might be losing out to those who are less qualified but seen as ‘easier’ or cheaper staff. With your prior experience, you can get a better job than what you’re targeting atm so second all the advice above re retraining. Your past experience will be more of a strength if you’re able to show up to date and relevant training and skills.

When looking for a job - especially if changing careers, you really want to try and get referrals as much as possible vs just applying online. Networking is what gets you a better job.

This. Indeed is good to see what’s available but once you see what is available go to the company website and apply direct.

Google jobs is a good place to find jobs, just type the job you’re looking for then add job it should then bring up a light blue band with a list of jobs local to you and where you can apply. Always apply directly if you can. Have a master copy of your cv but tweak it so it uses the key words from the job description which will get picked up if they’re using a computer to sort through cvs especially.

Sometimes you need to get past the gatekeepers. I moved away from London and I struggled to get work in my profession. It was a shock to me that I couldn’t even get casual work because the agency/bank weren’t recruiting (I’m a v.well qualified nurse). I had a friend take me around a local hospital to meet the ward managers, they couldn’t believe I was trying to work there and couldn’t get in. It was only because of them that I got into the nurse bank.
once I got known to people through casual work I was able to look out for jobs at the right level and after 3 years they got pretty much to where I wanted to be.
good luck

I went from working in hospitality to working for the local authority as an early years worker. Love working with 3-5 year olds.

Can you train cabin crew?

I don’t live near an airport anymore and also been out of the industry too long to be able to do that.

Lots of recruiters use AI to screen applications make sure you use the key words from the advert in your application, machines don't read between the lines.

Work on the STAR format for interviews and your body language etc

Lose weight, I am a similar size and unfortunately it is often a factor either consciously with doubts of your physical ability to do the job or concerns of potential health concerns or unconscious bias.

Train up, do you want to stay in that industry? If so get related qualifications, if you worked in management before did that come with professional qualifications? Do you have extra work related quals that are in date like food hygiene, H&S at Work, first aid, cocktail making, silver service waiting or whatever is relevant to your industry to put you a step above the rest.

Have you tried pharmacy? I'm a dispenser and there are always pharmacies desperate for staff. You don't need experience usually as you train and do the course while you work. Pop into the independent ones as they usually pay a bit better!

I signed up for agencies and both times got the job. The first one was in a Building society and I was there 3 years. My manager asked for my help with interviews a lot and the majority of the time we’d agree on staff being 30+, one lady we took on was nearly 60. It was what the branch needed after the young ones left at a drop of a hat.
I now work as admin in a private school and have been there 7 years, term time only and I got this job through an agency too. I enjoy it, but most of all it works for us as a family. I earn more than NMW and get regular pay rises.
Good luck with your search 💐

Lots of care work jobs near me, chronic shortage of carers. However you would have to be prepared to work shifts and the pay is rubbish.