Constant rejections...on the scrap heap...early 50's

[OakCat]

Made redundant from mid senior accounting role I'd been in for 3 years due to wide spread redundancies in company.

Cannot seem to find a perm role (South East). Never had a problem before. Latest rejection email today. I thought I had a good cv and experience and have excellent references. Clearly on the scrap heap. Agencies only interested in getting me 3 month contracts or put me forward for perm roles clearly no one else wants (pay is awful or no WFH at all).

Any words of wisdom....Will keep plugging away but really soul destroying....

No advice just wanted to add my sympathies. I was rejected for 3 roles last year which I was more than qualified for, I suspect because of my age. 50 something professional women with experience don't seem to be valued any more.

Don't give up, and good luck.

Thanks @Floofydawg it's so depressing as I'm a really hard worker and flexible....which has always carried me through before.

No idea why employers don't embrace our generation who have a great work ethic and experience.

Could you do freelance / self employed? Maybe until you find a permanent role? You'd probably get more money for it.

I was also going to suggest the freelance/self employed route - also - don't disregard the 3 month roles the agency send you. Use them to tide you over - you can always leave if you get a better offer.

Keep at it! Have someone review your Linkedin page. Register with more agencies.
Things will pick up in a week or 2. Ppl are still in holiday mood. I was looking for a job this time last year and only started seeing responses to my applications during the 3rd week of August. Everything picked up early Sept. Not the same job type as yours but I think at summertime hiring slows down.

Not as easy as you might think. It is actually quite hard to get started, I thought about doing it about ten years ago, when I was early mid 40s but had to give it up as a bad job. I had about twenty years of pretty senior accounting experience but I wouldn’t have even been able to use my credentials in my marketing as I had no way of getting a practising certificate. And there is a lot of competition for the work.

OP keep plugging away, something will turn up. Try and build up a good relationship with an agent, meet a couple in person and hopefully they will work for you.

I am interested in your comments about age, as I am same a 53 year old accountant. I had some self funded time out over the pandemic and went back to work last year, I was snapped up very quickly, but only because I decided to take junior level roles that I was hugely over qualified for. Not sure how I would have fared if I had tried to go back to my previous level.

Are you actually on LinkedIn?

I would actually like to step up to the next level but most of the recruitment agencies who contact me for a role they have are job descriptions I did 15-20 years ago. Clearly 50 year old women accountants are not allowed to be ambitious grrrr

Yes on LinkedIn and profile up to date. No photo so do need to add...but will that mean I get less approaches?!?! as they will see I'm no spring chicken.

Try taking some project/change/interim roles where you can make demonstrable improvements. Then you'll be able to highlight your high level of impact later on in more permanent and senior role interviews.

Go for the three month contracts, and see where they lead.

I don't think employers turn us down, I just think you don't realise how few permanent jobs are advertised.

Hi, don’t get disheartened, I don’t know the market where you are but it is slow at all levels where I am too. It is possible to make the move you want, I’m the same age and did it in the same field recently. Ensure you are connected with recruiters on LinkedIn (contact one or two to act for you). I gave in and stuck a photo up on linkedin( urgh!) and log onto indeed.

best of luck, never sell yourself short! ( remember our competitors won’t).

Try being 61 and applying for roles that I'm perfectly qualified for. I'm stuck in a job I don't enjoy purely because I can't get another .

Look up Bill Brace on LinkedIn, he is an accountancy specific recruiter and has found me some great jobs. He does very reasonable CV rewrites and LinkedIn profile rewires too.

Rewrites obviously

@OakCat do you obfuscate your age as much as possible on your CV? This is perfectly acceptable this day and age, as it does at least get you through some doors if you remove that element of biase. It shouldn't be necessary but we live in the real world where it happens, so doing everything possible to showcase your relevant experience and qualifications rather than giving clues as to the year you happen to be born is worth doing.

have you tried public sector roles, as the Cvil Service is really excellent for welcoming diversity and doing everything possible to eliminate unconscious and conscious bias

Was going to say this. I temped for years, had short term, long term and several permanent job offers off temp assignments (and I was 50 when I started temping). If they are only offering your short term ask why - it could be that they want to evaluate you as a candidate before offering you anything longer term.

Things will pick up in a week or 2. Ppl are still in holiday mood

Plus this. Temp for a while and you know the times not to job search are July/August and December.

What agencies are you talking to? Robert Half and Michael Page are leading agencies in the financial area.

I believe there've been studies showing a much lower response rate for profiles without pictures - although that may have changed with all the automated harvesting of job sites unless it's built into the algorithm.

Maybe look at getting a professional photo taken possibly with some subtle filters?

Ive got to start again with job hunting at the age of 52. Not looking forward to it at all.

Best of luck with it all 🤞

This is an arse.

Might any of these 3 month roles get you into a company you can progress in? Can you target companies directly? Is there a bespoke placement agency that might be better, and a women accountants organisation that might at least make you feel heard?

Also, can you manipulate your CV a bit so you could read as mid 40s? Like take the dates of education and slim the first few years of your career? You shouldn’t have to but worth a go

A professional photo is a great idea -

Im in the same boat!

Im 50 and finished a history degree in 2022. Cannot get past application stage, despite strong cv and 30 years experience.

Keep plugging away, this won't be forever. Some good suggestions already!!