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....

Is the desire to WFH the issue? Take the contracts - they may lead to something amazing. Agree to photo, last 10 years on CV and qualifications but no year needed.

Don't bother with Michael Page/Robert Half etc. They're staffed by youngsters who think 35 is past it.

I've worked with Robert Half on and off (mostly on) 2004-2017. Never had that problem.

@OakCat I agree with you, it can be pretty soul destroying!

I got made redundant in June when the company went into administration and have had some really low points over the last few months when I've really doubted my own abilities and questioned if I have the skills companies are looking for. But in the last fortnight, I've had 7 job offers, 1 of which I applied for in the first week after I was made redundant and I am thrilled to have gotten.

I tried to tailor my cover letter and CV to match the job description of the role I was applying for, so I used similar wording to highlight the skills I have that are relevant to the role. I also attended a number of recruitment fairs in my area, they were great networking opportunities, a chance to meet potential employers in a much more relaxing setting and I actually got quite a few interviews off the back of that.

Keep going, the right role will come along. There will be a company out there who will value the skills and experience you can bring to them. At the end of the day, do you really want to work for a company who judges you on your age anyway. I know I wouldn't.

Good Luck 😊

Signing in as I’m likely to be back in the market soon.

I was made redundant early 2020 just as it was all kicking off and it took a while because for the first few months there were no jobs. When it picked up I had loads of interviews and I do think I was discriminated against a couple of times, but I got an offer in November and I’ve just accepted a new role, more senior, much more money, as a result of a recruiter approaching me. I’m 66 now, definitely not ready to retire and not on the scrap heap. I’m on LinkedIn and I did have outplacement support which helped with CV and interview technique. Sometimes it’s a numbers game, I did feel down at times whilst looking but decent organisations value experience and avoid discrimination so don’t give up.

Thanks everyone for the replies/input. Currently on holiday trying to 'reset' especially as had another rejection come through whilst at the airport grrr.

In answer to a few questions. Last role was Financial Controller and I have only last 15 years on my cv so already tried to take the decades of history out. I'm trying to apply direct when I can via LinkedIn and indeed.

Hoping the market comes back to life in September.

Accountancy used to be a real sought out profession but really not sure any more as it does seem to be more cut throat.

Weird market atm. The same 5-6 roles being advertised over and over (I'm looking, also an accountant) and the same 10 people being put forward for all of them. Employer wants way more than they are paying for. Recruitment unsuccessful. Role goes back out.

I was made redundant last year and took an interim role after some time out, was really helpful to see a different culture (had been in last org for 8 years) and get back into a work mindset which helped with permanent role interviews. Got a great job after 3 months of temping.

The right agency can be a godsend, but yeah not Michael Page. Hays fractionally better round here but the bigger independents are best.

Good luck and you will find something soon!

Fake being 40.
Get a haircut.
Wear something modern.

Yeah right @Bacon88 it's not your age!!

Of course the OP will work again and she's had reassurance here- but let's not minimise just how ingrained the ageist misogyny is.

Age will definitely be a factor, but is it misogyny? There's another thread running about a man who can't get offers in his 50s. I know DH was very worried about his job when he got into his 50s, knowing that the liklihood of getting another at the same level, if he needed it, was slim.

I have a male friend who worked in decent jobs all his life until he was made redundant at 54 and has really struggled to get even casual work since.

@ismu

That was because you said it is age. So I said if you think so fake being younger!!

HOWEVER I am saying it is not age therefore faking being young is not going to work when women who are later 30s late 20s are having the same job hunting experience. I am saying it's not her or her age but the jobs market and the finance industry as I have had this for 10 years.

You are the one dimishing other womens experiences as you have a bee in your bonnet over menopausal women not getting jobs.

Do you understand??

It may be worth giving the (right) temp roles more thought. You presumably have lots of great experience and gravitas which you can lever as a senior “hit ground running” and look for a good rate.

@Pebblepaint

I am 29 and in the same industry as this lady. I am having the same experiences. I use to walk into jobs last year but since about October 22 the phone hardly rings. Use to ring every day. I am lucky it rings twice a week.

I am sat here a 29 year old unemployment chartered accountant since may this year and I have had 2 interviews in that time. So I am getting fed up of its AGE. A later 30s year old said the same thing and another person as well.

IT IS CLEARLY NOT AGE.

If all other aspects of the 3 month roles are suitable I'd go for them.

I started somewhere on a 3 month contract and ended up being there for 3 years.

I think ageism is a problem for men as well @Pebblepaint. But I don't think we would even consider asking men to fake being 40, dress modern or get a haircut!
Sorry you're finding it difficult to get a job at your age @Bacon88. I know you don't want to hear it but discrimination is a real thing. If you're finding it difficult now imagine you could add on some extra factors like age, disability or caring responsibilities and how much more tricky that could make things.
You can be absolutely excellent in your profession but recruiters are going to choose someone young, white and preferably male or a childless woman every time. There are so many threads on here complaining about this.

@ismu

Well everyone's being discriminated against in your world. Then. So that's 29 year old women late 30s women. A man who is 50. Other people who have not specified age or gender. That discrimination is every industry and ever region of the uk. I live 300 miles from the poster. 😉.

I am personally more inclined to say its the cost of living crisis and the state of the country/ jobs market. As we are all not finding it easy at the moment.

Fyi the only people to ever discriminate against me in the work place are women like you. They actively discriminate to my face. Its the men that tell them off and you need a good telling. 😂

I got made redundant last year age 52. I think the job market was very bouyant then but I had 3 job offers. I'm not at a senior level though so that could be the difference.

All interviews were on zoom and I did make a real effort with my appearance and DH (photographer ) helped with flattering lighting for the interviews. So I think I looked better than irl. I also look younger than I am, mid 40s I get told.

When DH suggested to a recruiter that he was open to taking a sideways step to retrain in another area but still within finance, they were very scornful, and said at his age (early 50s) they didn’t believe him.

Frankly, I would not hire someone who’s had 14 jobs over 10 years unless I wanted to fill a very short contract. You move around too much.

@Pebblepaint a man on that thread is not really trying that hard and is also in a different role/industry.

@Bacon88 there is a significant skills shortage in the UK both public and private sectors, so your point about there being a recession and "people won't get hired" is a ridiculous generalisation and a red herring. For women with good skills and experience, they have every chance of being selected for interview and securing a new role.

In a recession, there is and always has been high demand for good people to, y'know, get the country out of recession!

OAP is nowadays a derogatory and unhelpful ageist term, by the way.

@daisychain01

Oh dear you didnt read my comment. I am chartered accountant and finding the jobs market difficult. There really is not much hiring going on in the sector the OP and I operate in and I am 24 years her junior. So her saying they only want young Financal controllers is not true as I am CHARTERED AND YOUNG AND EXPERIENCED and they dont want me either or several other people. Lol.

I said she was not an OAP so meant it as it is not the time to hang up her career hat. Learn some reading comprehension... Old Age Pensioner is a correct term for someone collecting a pension!

Finally thanks for your high level or patronisations. It really helped me realise why I hate working for people like you.

@Pleasebeafleabite

Well what was I meant to do when all I was offered were 3 months contacts like OP.?? OP has said that she has applied for loads of jobs and got zero of them except short term contracts. I couldn't qualify as a chartered accountant and not work at all. I took the contract!!!

I think you missed the point. The finance world has changed since op got her last job. There really is not much need for full time accountants. Many companies only need you around year end and audit especially at the OP level which is senior Finance.

So thanks for saying I move around too much. It wasnt my choice to only get 3 months work at a time thats the reality of the jobs market. Its very volatile for new hires.

We have had what 6 prime minister since I was 18 11 years ago?? A Brexit referendum. A Scottish independence referendum. Nearly 3 years of a pandemic. Russia invading Ukraine TWICE. So for someone young starting out new that's a lot of volatility in the economy to deal with to find a stable job.

OP I’m in v similar position, qualified accountant and similar age to you and getting nowhere fast. Trying not to panic…

@ilovebrie8

Really depends who you want to listen too. I am also a qualified accountant but only 29 years old, I am having the same experience as op. Been out of work since may so we decide to have a baby. However I really though i could slip one more contract in before next feb. I am hoping if inflation comes down still (its moving) then more business will hire soon. Personally i do not think its anything you, or I or op has done so not to worry about age.

However I have been told today by atleast 4 public sector workers "professional jobs" are easy and there are loads of opportunities so I need to work harder! (On another thread) 😂

@Bacon88

I have worked in accountancy for 30 years at a senior level for much more of that until, as posted earlier on this thread, I voluntarily decided to take a step back for lifestyle reasons. But I have been in Head of Finance roles for years. And I can assure you that your issue is the number of jobs you have had. I would put the CV of somebody who has had 14 jobs in 10 years straight into the bin.

You also show very little understanding of accountancy, only required at year end? I have never heard such nonsense, a majority of accountants in industry will have nothing to do with year end at all. A management accountant will be busy every month, their busiest time of year is probably during budget time!

You are convinced that ageism is not a think and yet you show such ageism towards women yourself. You have said that women aged 40 to 55 are “jealous because of husbands and children” (?), that they need to have a haircut and dress differently, that women in their 50s are villains in the work place and need “telling off by men”.