Post redundancy help at 60+

[InFreeFall]

I'm in my early 60s.

I've been going through a long and tortuous redundancy since last summer, which is finally coming to an end this month. Unusually this is the first time in my career that I have gone through redundancy, and I have struggled with my mental health as a consequence.

I am director-level senior, and can't afford to retire. I have been applying for jobs, contacting recruitment agencies etc and am getting nowhere. Again, this is having a knock on effect on my self esteem etc which I recognise is not helpful in how I present.

Does anyone have recommendations for how I can turn this around? I've had my CV and LinkedIn redone by a specialist, but feel like I need to rethink my approach, so looking for advise here.

More details would help.

What salary fo you need to make ends meet?

What are your skills and what kind of job are you looking for?

How many jobs have you applied for and how far through the process have you been getting?

Sorry to hear you're having a tough time. The jobs market can be brutal.

Tricky age. Lots of age discrimination out there. Easiest way to continue working at 60+ is to work for yourself. Not sure what your specialism is? Could you set a business up and do day rate work?

Have you had any interviews or just no interest? It’s a difficult market so use all you have got including your network.

Recruitment agencies can be the worst for age discrimination. So don’t over rely on them.

Energy, gravitas, being up-to-date and confident are appealing if you get to interview.

good luck OP

Do you know how much your redundancy package will be? Will it allow you a break and the possibility of a less senior position where there will be more vacancies? I’d also go to a financial advisor to see how you can best invest the money.

I meant to add, take the dates off your education and remove early career roles completely. Do not allow the possibility of them guessing your age.

There is a Gen X careers page on LinkedIn posting some interesting stuff. Depressing that we are expected to work til late 60s but age discrimination starts in the 50s, for women. I can't get anything either, and I know the jobs are mostly going to men/v young women as it's a small sector so I then have to work with these people.

Agree that working for yourself might be better. Have you considered short-term contract work? At senior director level this could be perfect for you (covering maternities, sick, projects etc).

I'm 54 and was the first year to take GCSE. Change the description from O levels if you are listing them at all.

I was sacked last year and in a more junior job. Yes, it's less money, but I leave on the dot of 430 and take lunch every day

Thanks all. Have already taken anything off my CV that ages me.

I work in marketing/communications, one of the main areas where people (wrongly) think they can replace experience with AI, but while they get cheap content it is the equivalent of Temu.

The other issue that I have that seems to count against me is that I am extremely competent. A lot of the managers that I have interviewed with tend to be mediocre men who apparently struggle with the idea of having a woman working to them who could be doing their job. I'm not sure that I can dumb down though, even if I wanted to.

I did a lot of soul searching over the Xmas break and have told myself that if I don't get a job from anything advertised this month, then it is time to go it alone as a consultant. I've registered with Companies House, and am thinking that is perhaps the most attractive option to me.