Is it my age? Looking for a new role.

[Sansivera]

I’m wondering if my age might be a factor in the challenges I’ve been facing trying to find a new role; I’m 46.

I’m in a sales exec role (21k) but with experience in NBD, business management, office management and some finance.

Due to the dire pay (and I work antisocial hours) I’m looking for a new role and have been applying since last autumn. I previously earned more but a combination of factors led to me taking the current job …

I think my CV reads pretty well with a lot of transferable skills and I must have applied for a hundred or more roles in the last few months but am getting zero responses (except rejections). I’m mostly applying for roles via indeed but a few elsewhere.

I’m starting to wonder if my age is a factor 🤷‍♀️. I’m just wondering if I’m becoming less employable as I get older. I have tried applying for more entry level admin roles but not even being considered for those either.

Can anyone offer any insight? I’m seriously considering leaving my current job to try temping for a while, but due to the above, I’m quite worried l won’t even be considered for basic temp roles either.

OP - I would remove your D.O.B. from your CV, if you haven't done already.

Have you sought any feedback on your CV / application?

Unfortunately, you can gauge a persons rough age by their employment and qualification history. But I definitely recommend taking it off anyway.

OP - it sounds silly, but have you got a glaringly obvious mistake on your CV as that could impact it?

Also do you tailor your CV and cover letter to each role?

My husband doesn't, and never gets a response, I do and seem to get more responses than he.

Hello there,

Your age shouldn't be an issue two family friends both female one 51 and the 48 have just got new administrative roles. One has gone to work in a local Hospice and my other friend who has just turned 48 has an office Co-ordinator role in a charity. Please don't let your age put you off. Do you have any qualifications as such?

You're not being paranoid about your age being a possible factor at all, there's discrimination everywhere. However, if you were 25 you might say the same because you'd be considered child-bearing age. There's no way to guess what an employer is thinking unfortunately.

My CV doesn’t contain my DOB or any dates of qualifications or early roles (which are now irrelevant) so it’s not clear how old I am, only that I am experienced.

How long is your CV?

Agree with tailoring to each role, make sure the specific person requirements are clearly identified in your CV.

What level of roles are you applying for? Perhaps with your skills and experience, if you're applying for similar level roles your CV is coming across as too qualified? Instead of applying for sales exec roles can you apply for the level up, £30-40k? It might just be that you're not pitching yourself at the right level. And yes, take your age off if it's on there, and only put the most recent relevant jobs on your CV.

We regularly employ people over 50 in my place. Can't put a price on their experience.

OP as @Chewbecca posted make sure your CV doesn't include your age/DOB (equality act) and dates of your qualifications.

Also if you are looking for sales roles just put indepth info about your last sales roles not about the other stuff you have done.

I heard a recruiter on his 50s say very clearly on the radio this week that those mid-40s onwards should definitely drop dates of qualifications from their CVs plus drop irrelevant roles from earlier on their careers from their CVs.

Is your CV readable by software? I'd highly recommend using the LinkedIn in CV builder rather than your own template.

I got a new job at 44, so I don't think it's an age thing. I applied for loads of jobs and had a few interviews but I don't think my enthusiasm was there until I applied for the job I got. You also have to click with the person interviewing you.

I actually put effort into changing my cv etc for this role, put time and effort into the supporting statement. I think when you're applying for loads of jobs because you're desperate to leave (which I was) you're not really thinking too deeply whereas if there's a job you really want you pay more attention to what is in the job description.

Thank you so much for all the responses - lots of really good points.
My DOB isn’t on my CV but as many of you have pointed out - other dates are a give away. I’ll definately be going back to my CV and tweaking it!
Also - great tip about linked in CV builder which I will look at too.

@HelterSkelter224 you make an excellent point which had crossed my mind from time to time if maybe I was aiming too low. I have a certificate of higher education, having completed part of my business studies degree, but due to finances and family unable to finish. I think I lack the confidence to go for the big roles.

I've read on here before that indeed isn't much cop. Not sure why. But maybe try applying direct.

I removed dates such as uni etc from cv. I'm 52. No one asked my DOB until I'd signed my contract. But I paid to redo my cv because with ATS the use of keywords is so important.

New cv > got offered the job. Worth spending a bit I think. Also I'd aim up at 46 not just a horizontal move.

I've been offered four jobs in my 50s. So don't lose hope 🙂

I can totally understand why it might be daunting but if you have the skills and experience behind you that will speak for itself. You'll be much happier and more comfortable doing a job that fits your experience and skill set and hopefully you'll find the perfect role for you if you look in the right places. Sounds like the roles you're applying for just aren't the right fit for you, or the employers.

Maybe speak to a recruiter who might help you focus your search? They get paid for placing qualified candidates so they're often quite good at preparing you for interviews etc. I quite like Hays.

My manager employed two new starters recently and purposely went for two people who were older

One fifty five and the other sixty five. He said he was fed up of younger people not staying for very long and phoning in sick all the time

Also @Sansivera don't let not having completed your degree hold you back. The honest truth is experience is worth 10x more than qualifications, especially in a role like sales and bus dev. I believe in you! 🫶

Careers advisor here.

There is no need to put your age on your CV. You can also list your employment and education experience without dates. There may be application forms that ask for this but your age still shouldn't be a barrier.

Don't just look at Indeed. That's where you are going wrong. Expand your jobsearch by using the jobcentre website, charityjobs website, guardian jobs website, jobs.ac.uk for higher education jobs (not just lecturers), reed, cvbuilder, linkedin jobs (create a linkedin profile too and make yourself 'open to work')

Definitely aim for higher salary positions.

Good luck OP

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