I guess I am now unemployable

[itsallamysterytome]

I am late 50s, worked for one company in various roles for over 30 years, since my early teens. Absolutely loved every role I have held and progressed through the company from shop floor to head office.
I was made redundant just over a year ago and since then applied for 60+ roles.

I am first to admit I am of a large build, mature in years and have not had much interview experience. Any, or all of these could be putting prospective employers off I guess. I am working on the large, attempting to hold back the mature but struggling with the interview technique.

I have had a handful of interviews and have prepared well.
The interviews seem ok, feedback is not consistent and minor points are given, but no one issue. They always say they like me, but I am not experienced enough or too experienced. I am nervous, and it shows and this is getting worse the more important getting a role becomes.

Minimum wage roles don't even reply to my CV. I feel they are interviewing me to tick the inclusivity and diversity box.

It is never going to happen is it? How do I manage until I retire?
I am so fed up that I am putting off applying and sending out less and less applications, which is just stupid as it then becomes a self fulfilling prophecy.

Has anyone managed to start again in their late 50s? Has anyone taken over a year to do it? I feel like such a failure and don't want to keep pretending to friends and family that I am fine.

Of course you aren’t unemployable. You’ve had a perfectly successful career for 30 years. You didn’t suddenly morph overnight

Have you tried working through some temp agencies to start with. You have loads of experience, you can slot into an HQ temp role smoothly without any big drama, and it will allow you to get to know some potential employers.

Have you contacted your ex-colleagues on LinkedIn and told them what you are looking for? Update your profile with all those skills and flag yourself as looking for a new challenge. Get an ex-boss to add a recommendation.

I hope it works out soon

Sorry to hear about this, but try to keep your chin up.
It is possible, my mum did it recently after being made redundant from somewhere she'd been for 20 years and then being out of work for just under 12 months.
She got knocked back a few times and ultimately ended up in the role completely different from what she did before, it's lower paid but it's in something she enjoys.
Possibly going into something new at the bottom-ish of the scale meant that the interviewer didn't think she was too qualified for the job. Especially after she explained that being made redundant made her rethink what she really want to do.

I was made redundant at age 60 and did make a few half hearted attempts to get another job. Luckily I had a smallish pension fund, enough to keep us going, and I only had to wait 17 months before I was eligible for the state pension. I don't suppose that applies to you, although you might have a private pension to draw on?

Yes I was in this position a year ago and felt like you. I did get a job, but I did have to take a pay cut. I understand how you are feeling, but you do need to keep applying. Ageism is alive and kicking, but thankfully not all interviewers are ageist.

Whatever stats the government trot out, the employment market is hard at the moment. You're going to have multiple applications for any role, and it only takes one applicant to be a better fit and you're unsuccessful.

What kind of roles are you applying for, are you limited in what you can do for health reasons? Sixty applications in a year is not many at all, and jobseeking is a numbers game.

don't aim too low, aim for a similar level as your last job.

or maybe the same sort of job, but free-lance or in a consultancy role?

Don't go for the lower end jobs, there is much more competition and you'd be over qualified

Can you use any of the contacts you have outside your old employers? Lots of jobs go through word of mouth, recommendations etc.

I would aim a bit lower than your last job, but not entry level. Getting a job at the same level is tough after a certain age.
Also the networking thing really only applies to certain kinds of jobs.

A temp agency is a good option, perhaps look for maternity cover for instance (if they don't return you could be made permanent) employers tend to get far less applications than permanent roles

Thank you all for replying. I had a wobble there. Sometimes I just want to hide behind the sofa.

I think I will sign up for temp work through the agencies.
I haven't really explored that area and it could lead to something good.

Your kindness has given me a boost, I am going back into battle.

Wish me luck won't you.

Good luck!

Do you have a linked in profile? It would be very much work getting one set up and connecting with all the colleagues you have worked with previously, ask them for recommendations and build your network from there. People look there for candidates through recommendations and works of mouth so this may really help in your case

You are allowed a wobble but you are employable and there will be the right role out there for you :)