Too old to use a recruitment agency?!

[Gandoline]

Just wanted to vent really. Is 59 really considered too old to find a job?!

I worked full time, fairly basic office roles, last one being a Receptionist, up until August 2022 when I had to leave to care for my DM (she has since passed away).

Yesterday I had an appointment with a local recruitment agency, the consultant was really friendly and mentioned there was plenty of work out there BUT her attitude completely changed when she looked at my paperwork and said "oh, I wouldn't have put you at THAT age". I kept the conversation professional and replied that I had a solid work history, was reliable and flexible etc but her attitude towards me definitely changed, I'm not imagining it.

I'm trying to not let her comment bring me down, I was so looking forward to getting out there again, but I have to admit she has knocked my confidence.

I've seen other related threads on here, folk have mentioned the NHS recruit mature staff but I have a kind of medical phobia so that's not an option!

Is there anyone out there who has started a new job later in life, say 55+, that can give some positive advice on this, please? What job do you do, what type of company do you work for? I'm determined to find something, even if it's two part-time jobs instead of one full-time role.

We've just recruited two business administrators through an agency who are both 50+. I only know there age as I need passport copies for background checks. Commercial real estate in London.

I'd take it as a throw away comment.

I've just been recruited into a company because of my great age - I bring experience and don't get overwhelmed or cry in the loo if I'm having issues.

I'm the oldest - including the partners - by at least 15 years.
Most of my colleagues are similar in age to my grown up DCs.

The recruiter is being daft

Sorry didn't answer the question. Project Management in business consultancy is my thing

Thank you, time to pull up my big girl knickers and get on with it!

Good luck

The recruiter is guilty of ageism, and her comments were shameful.

Terrible comment from the recruiter - but these days it's considered perfectly acceptable not to put you DOB on your CV. And only include your last few roles, indicating X+ years experience in roles including blah, blah and blah. Making you a little harder to date age wise.

Not quite the same but I took an MA in a completely new subject in my mid-fifties. That was just a handful of years ago - so I’m still shaping my new career …

@Gandoline you could have a look at the Mature Study and Retraining board - to see if anything prompts new thoughts?

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/mature_students

The recruiter was being unprofessional and ageist.

As a pp said there is no need to put your DOB on your CV. Good employers don’t look at age they look for the best person for the job.

The public sector is open to candidates of all ages.
https://www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk/csr/index.cgi

https://www.jobsgopublic.com/?ga_client_id=5db7ef76-13a0-462b-84aa-c1770fb3f26f

Take your DOB off your CV. It's irrelevant.

I'd put it back on her skills.
" anybody can find work for a 25 year old, but you have good contacts I believe".

Give it time. Ask if her clients have specified that they want young candidates (they can't).

I always found being prepared to temp, exhausting though it is kept me paid at least.
I was in my forties and felt they'd have preferred a younger version of me so you are not imagining it.

I work in finance (payables) and I last used a recruitment agency to find me a job aged 63 (I'd been temping for years and an assignment went permanent). Now several years later (69) I'm going back to them to start temping again. Age has never (as far as I'm aware) been an issue in all the years I worked for them. The last time I can recall a comment like that was in the 90s when I was late 30s and told 'you're too old for us to take on.'

Having said that, I'd not use that agency after a comment like that and I'd be telling them why and being blunt about it. I'd always be wondering if I wasn't getting assignments because of her ageist prejudice. Some people do tend to assume that admin jobs are for younger women just starting out and that older women are looking for more senior jobs.

Re the CV - take your age off and limit it to the last ten years' work experience.

Age is a protected characteristic under The Equalities Act 2010.

I was recruited by a recruiter when I was 58. My age was on the online CV he found, as I wrote it years ago before I knew you no longer need to put your d.o.b. on your CV. I was previously a teacher in EBD schools and started working with children in residential care. I wouldn't have been able to do the job when younger as I needed school holidays off.

I've never found local recruitment agencies to be any help, TBH. I've always gone with the big companies because they have a much wider pool of jobs and employers (and a better grasp of discrimination legislation).

Thanks again for the support. I definitely won't be using that particular agency although a friend has recommended another so I may give that a try. Just to clarify, my age isn't on my CV but I have included "7 O'level passes including Maths & English". That's what set her off, she frowned and said "O'levels" very slowly and then asked my age! I don't have any other qualifications so it's that or nothing.

If I were you I would scrap the O levels and just state educated to level 2 including maths and English. This modernises whilst still being correct.

How many employers are familiar enough with national qualification frameworks to understand what that means though?

@user1846385927482658 I would hope most, and if not it takes seconds to google.

We use two agencies on a very regular basis to bring through a lot of staff. A high number they provide are in a similar age bracket to you. For internal applicants we’ve found that, despite ingrained opinions, the over 45 bracket are the higher performers, despite the higher time spent helping them set up to work remotely. They are a better investment long term and we’ve actively adjusted our recruitment spec to fit the skill sets they usually possess.

Basically, please do not discount yourself. Find a better agency and have faith in yourself, you’ve got this and are an asset.

The recruiter was a fool. I’ve just hired two guys well past retirement age. I have complex highly skilled work that needs doing. Their experience and poise is like gold dust.

I started my present job at 59 and my previous one at 56 and I'm looking around for my next one. I'm working until 67 so I shall continue to try and progress

That's what set her off, she frowned and said "O'levels" very slowly and then asked my age!

Don't tell me, she'd never heard of them before, had she? and was faced with a wholly unfamiliar qualification in a candidate she's expected to place.

Learning curve for her, if nothing else.

Do make a complaint about her

blimey, i could have written that!

TBH I'd leave the education off completely. In your 50's you have a solid work record for employers to look at.