Finding a job in your 50s

[ilovebrie8]

Anyone in similar situation of have any advice at my wits end.

Professional, loads of experience and can't get a role, I could wrote a book about all the shenanigans with agencies and I am getting nowhere.

I'm looking at temp/perm etc so not being fussy. Looking at all sectors too so private/public/charity.

Last week had an interview the guy came on very late no apology nothing ....no attempt to sell the job or anything was a very strange interview. He saw me and 3 others and didn't take anyone. His people skills were appallingly bad.

Few days later due to have another Interview but client changed the goalpost at the last minute and said its it is just to January.... pointless really as they had recruited a perm person to start and now only needed a few weeks help. So taht was a non starter.

This week I found out that one I was keen on and had put a lot of effort into the application just got an email from agency "oh they've gone with someone internally recommended not looking at any of the external candidates."

Did another application to see on the job ad that they are actively recruiting to increase diversity and are keen to see applications from black, asian and minority groups...so I don't feel at all hopeful about this either as I am not in these groups!

It never ends and seems like an impossible task...anyone else finding this?

It is so disheartening!

DH has just landed a permanent job at 62. I can’t lie, it took nearly a year. He had to change his cv to hide his age, removing a lot of his earlier jobs. He took on a succession of temporary roles, even if they were just for a couple of weeks, they were often extended, and at least two offered him permanent but the pay wasn’t what he wanted. In the end the job he accepted head hunted him on linked in! I’d go for the short term contract until January if I were you. You never know what it could lead to.

Agree I'd definitely take the short term contract, they may just be sounding you out, you never know what it might lead to

Long term temp in my 50s and early 60s here, backing up the posters saying go with the short term assignment. You'll be earning, establishing yourself with the agency and giving them time to find you something else and you to job hunt. Last temp assignment I did ended up with a perm place and I was there for 4 years.

He had to change his cv to hide his age, removing a lot of his earlier jobs

Remove your age from your cv if it's on there and keep jobs to the last 10 years. I don't even have my degree on my CV because it was so long ago.

Thanks all.

I've only got the last 10 years on my CV, age thing hard to hide as they can see when I qualified under my qualifications and they usually do check qualifications.

That role is gone they have a perm hire in place for January and only wanted a temp to Xmas so I declined to go forward...I am open to temp jobs I am not ruling them out at all.

Just need to do something as I feel very frustrated and worn down at the moment...

Took me two years to find a part-time job. Got interviews and good feedback but there was always someone whose experience fit ' a little bit better'. The job I got my similar aged manager had also struggled to move job at my age, so that probably helped. Plus, I was a very good fit for the role.

I need another job to fit around this one but no luck at the moment.

Firstly, I just want to say that I know how you must be feeling and it’s so disheartening. I hope something turns up soon! I was recently in the same position. One recruiter told me that I wouldn’t be attractive for temp roles because they usually still want to interview and would probably want a minimum of 3 months commitment. The concern would be that, if I was looking for permanent, which I was, I wouldn’t be worth their time investment. 2nd piece of advice - consider getting your CV and LinkedIn revamped professionally. I finally did this after a frustrating 5 months and really started to get quality responses to applications. Nowadays so many recruiters use software to filter. A professional CV writer can help. I started a great new role within 6 weeks. Last bit of advice, check to see if they’re advertising / interviewing internally. If they are, just take yourself out of the race. And if they’re not, ask why, they could just be benchmarking. Don’t waste your energy on those roles. Good luck!

Sorry your finding it tough. Best thing I can suggest is that as a professional you make sure your LinkedIn is top notch, most recruiters will look there, both internal and external. Get your profile top notch and have plenty of testimonials on there too, my last few jobs have all come from LI and I've not needed reference checks, they have taken my recommendations as references. Have a look at John Esperian or LinkedIn Lea if your profile is a bit lack lustre they both gave GREAT resources to help you stand out. I am 54 by the way and moved from sales to marketing this year through a post that went viral, you never know where the next opportunity might come from.