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Original poster

Can I just have a job hunting whinge?

21 replies

originalmavis · 01/06/2016 17:19

Applied for job. I could do every single thing on the spec, and have qualifications in them all and lots of industry experience.

I got a 'fuck off' email from the recruitment agency within a couple of hours.

I think it's because I'm so old and decrepit.

Bollocks.

That's all...

OP posts:

StealthPolarBear · 01/06/2016 17:20

:( how annoying

Zampa · 01/06/2016 17:21

Do you think age discrimination might be at play?

Could you rewrite your CV to exclude dates and re-submit?!

Original poster

originalmavis · 01/06/2016 17:22

I've had to sit on my hands to not email the 12 year old recruiter and ask her if it's cos I is old?

OP posts:

MagicalMrsMistoffelees · 01/06/2016 17:25

Part of my husband's job involves recruiting staff and he told me if a job applicant fulfils all the points on the job spec then he has to offer an interview.

I always assumed this was law and applied to everybody. Now I'm wondering if maybe it's just who he works for (a university)?

Good luck with the job hunting!

katemiddletonsnudeheels · 01/06/2016 17:26

I normally wouldn't advocate this, but can you ask for an explanation?

GraysAnalogy · 01/06/2016 17:27

I'd fire off a quick email and ask if they had any feedback for you.

StealthPolarBear · 01/06/2016 17:27

Magical thay isn't the law, no.

Original poster

originalmavis · 01/06/2016 17:29

I reread the spec and unless there's something I'm missing, it's an industry I've had lots of experience inand, can do (and have demonstrated on my CV) everything on the list. Salary isn't listed but knowing the industry, I'm not pricing myself out of the market.

I might do a sneaky look around and see who the employer is and apply directly.

OP posts:

Chorltonswheelies422 · 01/06/2016 17:32

I'd contact them for feedback - don't put words in their mouths tho

VimFuego101 · 01/06/2016 22:16

I would definitely apply direct to the employer. Make sure if they offer you an interview you reply back to the recruiter and say 'I feel like I have a lot of experience in this industry - can you tell me what I need to improve on/ add to my CV' so that when they come back with a load of rubbish you can tell them you already have an interview for the job

BeatricePotter · 01/06/2016 22:44

Well, I hate to say it but not every ad is a genuine job. Agencies 'fish' for info. So, if you are gainfully employed they may just invite you in to 'register' you. This will involve asking you lots of questions about your current employer, who you work for and what's going on there. It's highly likely that they will think you are a perfect fit for the role but something untoward will happen and the company will change their mind and fill the vacancy internally.

You're been rejected because you can't give them any useful info.

Always apply direct if you can.

EBearhug · 02/06/2016 00:20

Trouble is, agencies don't always tell you who the employer is until they've decided you might be worth putting them forward.

I would contact them and ask them if they can give any feedback on what would make your application stronger in future. You might get ignored or told a lot of rubbish, but I have in the past had a couple of recruiters who have given useful feedback.

Original poster

originalmavis · 02/06/2016 07:52

I have found another agency with the job. We shall see...

I've asked for feedback. I suspect I won't get any!

OP posts:

OllyBJolly · 02/06/2016 16:03

It's a very competitive job market. Unless the job is very specialist, then it's likely you were up against a lot of people. The initial sift is often quite random when there is a lot of applications. Don't take it personally - in many cases it's the luck of the draw.

If the job is with a number of agencies then it's possible that a/ the agency don't really have the job but picked it up by ad chasing b/ every agency in town is recruiting for it and not one of them will have a fair picture of what the client wants.

It's illegal for agencies to advertise jobs that don't exist. It doesn't go on as much as is reported on here. The last thing an agency needs is to have to close their doors to be audited by the inspectorate.

scarlets · 03/06/2016 17:29

When I dealt with recruitment agencies years ago (we always used 3 "preferred" ones) we'd occasionally get speculative CVs for our advertised roles from other agencies who'd figured out who we were, and had generated applications by putting a very similar job spec on their website. Despite their resourcefulness, we always rejected these. It wasn't common practice in fairness, but maybe this agency has done it. It will be interesting to see if you get an interview via the other one.

On the other hand, the agency may have been asked (naturally, off the record) to restrict applications to candidates under a certain age. It's awful but it happens. Friends of mine who are letting agents have landlords do this from time to time in respect of foreign tenants - they say quietly that they only want "British" viewers.

EBearhug · 03/06/2016 22:26

restrict applications to candidates under a certain age. It's awful

Not just awful, but illegal. (But that still doesn't mean it doesn't happen, of course.)

Original poster

originalmavis · 03/06/2016 23:30

Yes it's odd - I've had 3 very fast knockbacks from 3 agents for 3 jobs from that one agency (all very quickly -within a clue of hours) but no feedback when asked.

Another agency have me good feedback for a 4th job knockback.

OP posts:

Hiddenaspie1973 · 12/06/2016 21:58

I have the same issue. I'm in my early 40's so apparently have nearly 30 years of employment left. If only!

I've taken my dob off the CV, have changed my email to a non year address.
Not much more I can do. Ridiculous.

Original poster

originalmavis · 12/06/2016 22:05

I'm now looking at kiddie jobs with shit salary and fuck all holidays.

OP posts:

EBearhug · 12/06/2016 22:35

You shouldn't have your DoB on your CV anyway. They can probably work out roughly how old you are from your qualifications and so on, but there's no reason to highlight it for them, especially as they shouldn't be taking age into account when recruiting. (Shouldn't...)

How is your CV arranged? Is a traditional one with more recent job first? Have you thought of redoing it to focus on your key skills, and then just list the jobs after. If there are any keywords in your industry (skills, qualifications, whatever) - make sure they're in there.

BlueberrySky · 14/06/2016 22:52

My advice for 'older' job seekers is:

Take dates off your education
Take off any jobs prior to 1995
Do not mention how many years you have been working, eg 25 years experience of...
Don't use Times New Roman, it looks dated and will make your cv look too

However, it is often easy to read a JD and think that you have the perfect skills and background for the job. Though there maybe another 10 who have more. The agency has to put together a short list based on the companies requirements, so sometimes candidates who think they should be put forward don't.

Good luck with your job search.

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