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Original poster

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

119 replies

OakCat · 18/08/2023 14:52

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....

OP posts:
Sortmylifeout52 · 22/08/2023 15:28

@BoneyEm1972 what field of work are you exploring?

52 here and need to completely overhaul my job path. Very nervous!

talknomore · 22/08/2023 15:43

Tbh Ibwas advised to only have last 10 ueqrs of experience (or so if those are in any way relevant to my applicatuons) and no dates on education. This infor came from different sources. Not many .anagers will be interested in what you were doing many yeqrs ago.

caerdydd12 · 22/08/2023 15:46

What salary and job title are you looking for? Mid senior obviously means different things depending on the size of the business etc. The company I work for has a few vacancies, we work from home full time but not sure whether they'd be south east appropriate salaries as I know housing etc is much more expensive down that way.

PacificState · 22/08/2023 15:59

Another one saying take the three-month contracts. I don't work in your field but I can tell you that in my sector (media) this is how an awful lot of permanent roles end up being filled without ever getting advertised. Good luck - I think it can just be tough job hunting when you're 50+ whether you're a man or a woman tbh, we don't tend to be cheap and younger managers are sometimes nervous that we're going to throw our weight around. Get in there and show them your value.

BoneyEm1972 · 22/08/2023 17:52

@Sortmylifeou52 any office administration really. Worked for smaller companies so a bit of everything!!

BoneyEm1972 · 22/08/2023 17:54

@Sortmylifeout52 any office administration really. Worked for smaller companies so a bit of everything!!

Grr crack in the screen!!

SheriffofRottingham · 23/08/2023 20:33

This reply has been withdrawn

Withdrawn at poster's request

Livinghappy · 23/08/2023 20:40

What industry are you in? Would you consider 5 days a week role? I think there is reluctance to take on new staff on hybrid contracts as you're they are an unknown entity. Happier to give flexibility to established employees.

SheriffofRottingham · 23/08/2023 20:47

This reply has been withdrawn

Withdrawn at poster's request

Pebblepaint · 23/08/2023 21:07

I've definitely found it more difficult since I turned 50, but I've just secured a great role at 53 after c. 7/8 applications in 3 years, so don't give up!

Bacon88 · 24/08/2023 02:31

Hi,

Chartered accountant here. Qualified young around 6 years ago. First time pass rate. Top employer experience. Only every had 2 perm jobs. I have had around 14 contract roles since I qualified. Some have been good, others rubish. There is something weird around accountancy in the uk. No matter how hard I try I cannot get anything for more than 18 months. I have found that it is not unusual among my generation of accountants (I am 29).

Do not beat yourself up even at 29 I am treated as disposable. Finance is a brutal industry.

I got married last year and they litterally hung up on me when my name was different to my passport even after offering contract roles... I am now pregnant and basically no wants to employ me even to post invoices for a few weeks.

ismu · 24/08/2023 09:56

Hi, nothing to add except support and utter disgust at being advised to retire at 56, after an 18 month senior role where I got great feedback, reviews etc. I think the menopause publicity has really backfired on us with younger people seeing women in their 50s as ditsy and a liability ( and possibly a K*n). That and the idea that over 50s are in the old/ at risk group for covid which we heard repeatedly for the past few years- ironically risk doesn't increase massively until you're well over 70.
I also think they are scared we will hand their arse to them, frankly!
Good luck with your job search OP.

Bacon88 · 24/08/2023 13:38

@ismu

Well you didnt read my comments. It has nothing to do with the menopause. Women in general struggle in business. I am 29 and struggle. Fyi it's not men either. I have found other women to be the worst bosses to get hired from. If they are 40 up to about 55 they can be jealous of children and husbands. Younger women its about looks. Men do not care.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 24/08/2023 13:39

A lot of this is actually the agencies, not the employers.

Try going direct as well.

DoodlesMam · 24/08/2023 13:44

do a 3 monther, and see where it goes. could end up permie. Good luck. Try to remain positive, I know its hard. xx

MaybeOneAndDone · 24/08/2023 13:44

It may not be your age. The job market is tough and extremely competitive at the moment. I am late 30s and after quitting a new role earlier this year when it turned out to be a nightmare, I was surprised how tough it was to find something compared to my previous stint on the job market just a year earlier. I did eventually find a good role, but it took 5 months.

Blackbyrd · 24/08/2023 13:52

This thread is a sad reflection of the times. Ageism is rampant and nothing is ever done about it. Disguising your age by omitting mentions of O'levels etc. is pointless as the first thing interviewers ask for is ID such as a driving license or passport.
The Civil Service are a joke, we are finding that if you tick a box you're in and even the lowly, basically minimum wage positions, are an extremely lengthy and frustrating process. Same applies to the NHS. There needs to be a serious Government push on this because an awful lot of talent is being wasted, even a scheme like Kickstart but for people over 50 would be helpful

ismu · 24/08/2023 13:53

Bacon88 · 24/08/2023 13:38

@ismu

Well you didnt read my comments. It has nothing to do with the menopause. Women in general struggle in business. I am 29 and struggle. Fyi it's not men either. I have found other women to be the worst bosses to get hired from. If they are 40 up to about 55 they can be jealous of children and husbands. Younger women its about looks. Men do not care.

I couldn't believe it would be the menopause either, when I was your age. I didn't believe this could still happen but it does.
It's honestly like someone has flicked a switch and you and all your peers absolutely disappear. At first you just feel like it then suddenly all the women with knowledge and experience are retiring or leaving while men are respected as seniors.
It's absolutely poisonous ageism and misogyny, and employers are losing so much talent as a result.

DinnaeFashYersel · 24/08/2023 13:58

If you are not getting interviews then the CV is the problem.

Are you tailoring it for each application to match the person specification?

Don't add photos.
Remove dates from education
Focus on your achievements and don't just list responsibities.

Bacon88 · 24/08/2023 14:27

@ismu well what is your answer for me not having a job??. I would say it is professional roles. I am 29 and really struggle. I am a chartered accountant so not unskilled either. I think the jobs market is just strange at the moment. I have only worked 14 weeks since december of 2 short term contracts!

Bacon88 · 24/08/2023 14:30

@MaybeOneAndDone agree. I am an accountant like this persons and 29 years old. I have worked solid for 10 years and bam last year couldn't get any work. I thought it was because I got married. I have worked 14 weeks since December on 2 short term roles. I am just not even getting any calls when the phone would ring maybe once a day last year. People seem to be ignoring my comments and going straight for it's the menopause or ageism. Well 29 and female here not having any luck. 🙃

Pebblepaint · 24/08/2023 14:35

I don't think it's menopause. At my last job all the leadership team were menopausal women which does bring it's issues and at this one 4/6 people on the board are women in their mid 50s.

That said these both appointed me so may not be the norm.

I think there's discrimination against young women too. Being of childbearing age doesn't help you het recruited either.

Datafan55 · 24/08/2023 14:42

Pebblepaint · 24/08/2023 14:35

I don't think it's menopause. At my last job all the leadership team were menopausal women which does bring it's issues and at this one 4/6 people on the board are women in their mid 50s.

That said these both appointed me so may not be the norm.

I think there's discrimination against young women too. Being of childbearing age doesn't help you het recruited either.

Agree about childbearing age and for the PP who is pregnant - same sort of misogynistic attitudes, just at the 'other end'.

Plus a tough job market all round.

ismu · 24/08/2023 15:00

It's interesting to read this thread as the title is referring to ageism. The OP @OakCat feels she's on the scrap heap in her 50s.
Why would so many women come on and deny that this happens?
It's really really bad dealing with misogynistic discrimination including due to childcare @Bacon88 @Pebblepaint and I know recruitment is weird at the moment.
But it actually gets worse when you're older! I used to think this couldn't be true because there were one or two senior women.
Turns out they were a bit like Margaret Thatcher...not exactly members of the sisterhood

Bacon88 · 24/08/2023 18:09

@ismu are you for real love. Litterally you have just trashed 2 women saying it's not just age and trying to reassure the poster to keep going yet you are saying yes it is your age and you will never work again because of ageism. How is that helping?? Also from my experience lots of older women reach the top of business. She in her 50s she not an OAP. 50s is not old. Put some make up on, have a hair cut and wear something modern. Fake being 40s then if you think its ageism.

I only replied originally because I am a chartered accountant and she was made redundant for a senior accountant role. I was giving her experience of the industry from perspective over the last 10 years. I have had 14 jobs. 12 contracts 2 perms. Been there done that got the T-Shirt. If you want to think it is age then carry on but do not trash other women sharing stories of equal hard job searches that are clearly NOT AGE RELATED. The jobs market is tanking at the moment and all the indicates are saying recession so people will struggle to get hired regardless... 🤔