To think job market for those 55 and over is dire

[Bettyfordtoday]

At 55, and recently made redundant from a highly paid corporate role I am struggling to get another role or even an interview.

I'm wondering what others do at this age point, too young to retire but seemingly too old to interview ?

Have a mortgage etc to pay and don't want to get in debt , redundancy pay will last if I am careful to the end of the year at most

Yes, and lots of online application forms REQUIRE dates to be entered for qualifications etc and won't let you press "next" unless you enter the dates.

The modern recruitment methods, especially for larger employers or via agencies, don't work on a typed CV and hand written covering letter anymore, they require applicants to type in data in boxes on the screen and each box is self-checking, thus not allowing applicants to progress through the system unless you comply with it's programmed requirements for each box.

I got a new job last year at 51 after a long career break. I took all the dates off my CV, just listed the edited highlights of my job history and was very glad that CVs now are only a page long. I got DH to help me write a punchy personal statement, I didn't include any A levels or GCSEs, but ultimately I got a job because someone I know could put in a good word for me with 'the boss' who just happened to be hiring. Work your contacts, is my best advice to any middle-aged person looking for work.

Yes. I know. I said most jobs, and we already know from a pp telling us that teachers don't fit into the 'most' category and I imagine there are others. But, as I said, most jobs do not require this.

They can work out roughly how old you are based on your timeline of education and employment etc, so leaving off you dob won't make a difference. It's always been best practice to omit your dob anyway.

Edit your CV - do not put dates on education. Only put last 20 years on employment history (anything prior is irrelevant anyway).

So you would know about overtime and sleep-in shifts?

The only people getting shed loads of money in care are some care home owners

I don't know about that. A monthly take-home pay of £3.2k is pretty good going for a job that you don't need any qualifications for.

Yes I would! I work in this field so know all about it. Sleep ins are less than £40 hardly going to make you a millionaire. O/time is paid at hourly rate where I work so again not gonna make you a millionaire and due to working time restrictions it's limited. I actually get paid to look at pay elements as part of my role, is there anything else you'd like to know?

Sleep-ins at my company pay £80 each, this is on top of working there all day so that total shift would earn you £280.

£4k monthly gross is hardly in the millionaire realm.

I don't need to know anything from you since if I have ay queries I can go to my HR department, but if anyone reading and who wants to get work in this field and wants more information then please feel free to PM me.

But that’s the point they’re making. They’re saying they’re not. The typical take home pay of someone working in care (apart from the owners) is not - at least according to pp- 3.2K a month.

I’m not familiar with this field but the salary my friends who are full time nurses make I’d be surprised if care workers are taking home 3.2K a month.

I usually hear it’s an underpaid job.

Everything I’ve found online in a quick google search seems to support what I’ve said in my previous post above.

https://www.qcaregroup.co.uk/latest-news/the-uk-private-care-industry-pay-crisis-enough-is-enough.

“In the UK, care workers are often paid just above minimum wage, despite carrying out some of the most essential roles in society. Meanwhile, in other countries such as Germany, the US, and Australia, care professionals receive significantly higher pay and better working conditions. This discrepancy raises an important question: why does the UK undervalue its care workforce?
The consequences of low wages in the sector are severe. High staff turnover, poor morale, and difficulties in attracting new talent have created a workforce crisis. Care workers often struggle to afford basic necessities, with many forced to leave the profession for better-paying, lower-stress jobs. If we want to fix the social care system, we must address its biggest flaw: pay.”

It is underpaid in terms of the hourly rate, but can be a nice little earner. I tell people about it and they too are slightly incredulous. It does seem bizarre I get paid than qualified band 5 nurses (who don’t do overtime) but hey ho.

No. Take dates off qualifications. I also took the first five years post uni off too. Who cares what I did 20 something years ago?

I’m now editing my CV and only showing last 10 years of work and not going back any further…maybe that is too short …but feel it’s worth a try

Oh, a public service announcement. How kind...

Not wishing to derail..my son is supported in his own home by a care company - sleeping is 11.00pm-7.00am so thats £10 per hour @1975wasthebest - when you could be woken up, there could be an issue etc. People are not making big money in the care sector.
Wishing you success OP with your job hunting.

I think it is dire for everyone right now, but ageism has always been a thing anyway.
DP is 56 and if he lost his job, I know he will never get another.

I work in IT security.

I’ve got nowhere doing my own CV and I’ve made hundreds of applications. Is it better to use AI I’ve tweaked it but not gone down the AI re write route?
How are people finding using an AI generated CV for getting interviews?
I’m at my wits end after 10 months of searching. 😕

Use AI to write different versions, see if you like them, tweak them, or hoback to your own thing. If you try AI and don't like it, you don't have to use it. But it might be worth looking at what suggestions it has.

Upload the job description and ask it to score your CV against the JD. It’s really helpful to tell you what you’re missing.

if you get through to interview, I also ask it to run a mock interview with me.

ive had plenty of jnterviews and have been second place many times. Just can’t land the offer.