Career change at almost 50!

corcaigh1

tringle wrote: »

I agree...if you can. I list all jobs from leaving college and details of my study...I don't say I was a mature student and left college at 35. But now lots of companies have full disclosure competency based forms looking for all dates, details, employers and locations from leaving cert including details of periods of non work. Totally unfair I think and a way of getting around discrimination laws.

Hi "tringle". Can i ask how you have found your job hunt after leaving college with a degree at 35, do you find employers are slow to take on older graduates?

Mrs OBumble

Avatar MIA wrote: »

. Being 50 shouldn't be a barrier to getting an office admin job.

Shouldn't be, but is.

Midlands Minnie

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Shouldn't be, but is.

It very much is l'm afraid. I am finding it impossible to get any interviews and l have vast experience with excellent references.

AndrewJRenko

Midlands Minnie wrote: »

It very much is l'm afraid. I am finding it impossible to get any interviews and l have vast experience with excellent references.

At risk of generalising, public sector employers are often less ageist than private sector, though I appreciate that those opportunities may be limited in your area

JennyZ

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

At risk of generalising, public sector employers are often less ageist than private sector, though I appreciate that those opportunities may be limited in your area

I agree with this completely. I'm a slight bit younger but found myself in a very similar position. Public Sector are far less ageist. I secured a permanent PS position which I am happy with. I think it's the absolute right of any private sector company to employ or choose to interview who they see as a fit and especially where there is a younger culture they may think a younger person would be a better fit. It's unfortunate though and especially in the area of work that you are searching for OP there are less opportunities for older workers. Keep at it though, and take a broad picture of organisations in your area you think might be a fit for your skills and keep an eye out for opportunities, especially those that may have a mid/older profile, look at any temp opportunities also. I wouldn't focus on agencies too much.

Midlands Minnie

Thanks Jenny, I applied for a PS library assistant position 2 weeks ago and am hoping to get even an interview from that as I have experience with the book trade. Fingers crossed.

AndrewJRenko

JennyZ wrote: »

I think it's the absolute right of any private sector company to employ or choose to interview who they see as a fit and especially where there is a younger culture they may think a younger person would be a better fit.

It is explicitly against the law for businesses to discriminate when recruiting on grounds of age, gender, sexual orientation, disability or several other grounds. It can be difficult to prove discrimination, but that doesn't make it legal.

Smarter businesses are starting to see the value of diversity. They've worked out that businesses full of hip, cool, white, middle-class 20-somethings tend to build products and services that work for hip cool, white, middle-class20-somethings. This tends to be not a great business model, unless perhaps you're running a niteclub/eatery in the 'batter.

Businesses with diverse teams build products and services that reach wider audiences, which is generally considered to be a good way for a business to make money. Here's what Bank of Ireland are doing to bake diversity into their HR practices;

https://careers.bankofireland.com/bank-of-ireland-inclusion-diversity-parents-and-carers?_lrsc=5ef62c69-2ff1-43d2-b36c-9cd608d4cc9f&utm_source=elevate&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=LinkedIn

https://careers.bankofireland.com/bank-of-ireland-inclusion-diversity-multicultural?_lrsc=88f9b179-a9af-453d-b2a1-0b26b7b6d5cd&utm_source=elevate&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=LinkedIn

https://careers.bankofireland.com/bank-of-ireland-inclusion-diversity-accessibility?_lrsc=93fdf314-9bbf-4613-8a92-0857b6a33109&utm_source=elevate&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=LinkedIn
https://careers.bankofireland.com/bank-of-ireland-inclusion-diversity-with-pride?_lrsc=4cd45425-b2d4-4f32-b2ab-0bbd995d0c7f&utm_source=elevate&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=LinkedIn

Avatar MIA

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Shouldn't be, but is.

From my discussions with employers (mostly female) what they don't want is a female late 20s early 30s if they can avoid it. You've guessed the reason why. BTW, don't anyone shoot the messenger.

tringle

corcaigh1 wrote: »

Hi "tringle". Can i ask how you have found your job hunt after leaving college with a degree at 35, do you find employers are slow to take on older graduates?

At the time I was studying in an area that I was working in, in fact it was a subsidised course and you had to be working in that sector to do it. So I had that job anyway.
But I've since left it (short contract hours and I need a PAYE job) and yes did see the look of surprise at one interview when I walked in and they where expecting someone younger.

tringle

Midlands Minnie wrote: »

Thanks Jenny, I applied for a PS library assistant position 2 weeks ago and am hoping to get even an interview from that as I have experience with the book trade. Fingers crossed.

Best of luck with it. I'm now in a 6 month summer job but it is a long and expensive drive. I have an interview next week for Public Service temp contract.

asuna_cpl

Go for it! It's never too late.

madrabeag

Thanks to everyone for their comments and words of encouragement. I have applied for loads of Receptionist/Clerical positions and the majority of them have not even acknowledged my application let alone even mention interview. I am fully convinced it's my age even though I don't have my date of birth or the date of my Leaving Cert on my C.V. but as someone else pointed out a lot of the application forms want a detailed employment history since you left school and of course they are going to know how old I am from that. As I mentioned in a previous comment I did get called for two interviews one of them contacted me after to say I wasn't successful but to date I have had no contact from the other one. Best of luck to you "Midlands Minnie" with your library job I hope you get it.

Avatar MIA

madrabeag wrote: »

Thanks to everyone for their comments and words of encouragement. I have applied for loads of Receptionist/Clerical positions and the majority of them have not even acknowledged my application let alone even mention interview. I am fully convinced it's my age even though I don't have my date of birth or the date of my Leaving Cert on my C.V. but as someone else pointed out a lot of the application forms want a detailed employment history since you left school and of course they are going to know how old I am from that. As I mentioned in a previous comment I did get called for two interviews one of them contacted me after to say I wasn't successful but to date I have had no contact from the other one. Best of luck to you "Midlands Minnie" with your library job I hope you get it.

Well done on the interviews - it really is a numbers game. At least 4 people were called for that job, and you were not lucky those two times. Keep the chin up

madrabeag

Midlands Minnie wrote: »

Thanks Jenny, I applied for a PS library assistant position 2 weeks ago and am hoping to get even an interview from that as I have experience with the book trade. Fingers crossed.

Hi Midlands Minnie, just wondering if you had any luck with the library job?

Midlands Minnie

madrabeag wrote: »

Hi Midlands Minnie, just wondering if you had any luck with the library job?

I'm afraid not. In total l have applied for 7 jobs and not one reply. Its heartbreaking as a couple l would have loved. I need to get out of this job l am in now, my manager has reported me to HR because l am not fast enough and making a few mistakes. Which is bull.

beauf

Midlands Minnie wrote: »

I'm afraid not. In total l have applied for 7 jobs and not one reply. Its heartbreaking as a couple l would have loved. ....

7 is a tiny number of applications. If you apply for 20-30 and get no reply then I change something. Until then this is normal.

Midlands Minnie

beauf wrote: »

7 is a tiny number of applications. If you apply for 20-30 and get no reply then I change something. Until then this is normal.

That's all that is available in the Midlands. But l get your point, I'll keep applying and will update if l get any acknowledgements.

beauf

You should try everyone you know, family and friends aswell. Not just job applications.

madrabeag

Midlands Minnie wrote: »

I'm afraid not. In total l have applied for 7 jobs and not one reply. Its heartbreaking as a couple l would have loved. I need to get out of this job l am in now, my manager has reported me to HR because l am not fast enough and making a few mistakes. Which is bull.

Yeah I know the feeling it's very disheartening. My biggest problem is not having the required experience. Hopefully something will turn up.

tringle

madrabeag wrote: »

Yeah I know the feeling it's very disheartening. My biggest problem is not having the required experience. Hopefully something will turn up.

I applied for about 20 and am in one now, turned one down and will be changing to a better one soon. Surprisingly the Ines I didn't even get an acknowledgment from let alone an interview were all lower skilled jobs. I was getting desperate an applied for everything.

Avatar MIA

tringle wrote: »

and will be changing to a better one soon.

tringle wrote: »

Surprisingly the Ines I didn't even get an acknowledgment from let alone an interview were all lower skilled jobs.

Can you see why now?

_Kaiser_

madrabeag wrote: »

Thanks for the replies-have two interviews lined up for Hotel Receptionist. Surprised at being called for interview as I don't have any experience but we'll see what happens.

Mate of mine is in his 50s and moved out of IT to this. Long hours sometimes, but only 20 minutes away (as opposed to driving all over the country in his last job), and he has more time for himself overall.

madrabeag

I have noticed that a job I interviewed for and wasn't successful for has been advertised again. Is it appropriate to apply for a job again that I have been deemed unsuccessful for? Should I just leave well enough alone if they already turned me down?

Avatar MIA

madrabeag wrote: »

I have noticed that a job I interviewed for and wasn't successful for has been advertised again. Is it appropriate to apply for a job again that I have been deemed unsuccessful for? Should I just leave well enough alone if they already turned me down?

No, if you already interviewed they've deemed you're not the person they are looking for that particular role. What you could do is phone them and ask them why they felt you weren't fit for the role.

ActingDanClark

Avatar MIA wrote: »

No, if you already interviewed they've deemed you're not the person they are looking for that particular role. What you could do is phone them and ask them why they felt you weren't fit for the role.

A jobs website I'm.subscribed to frequently readvertises ' vacancies'. A quick check of vacancies on the prospective employers website often suggests no such vacancy exists. Curious

Avatar MIA

ActingDanClark wrote: »

A jobs website I'm.subscribed to frequently readvertises ' vacancies'. A quick check of vacancies on the prospective employers website often suggests no such vacancy exists. Curious

Sometimes employers are lazy and don't advertise all vacancies themselves. You'd think they would, but...

Now, I think recruitment agencies do put up bogus ads to get CV's in, but if they name a particular client (although they very very rarely do even if they have exclusivity) then you'd be fairly sure the job exists.

madrabeag

Well I started a Receptionist and Office Skills course and I emailed loads of places asking for work experience (even though work experience not a requirement for the course) and as I expected most of them either ignored me or said "no" but one place asked me to send in my c.v. and then they asked me in for an interview and offered me a Receptionist job! I was shocked and delighted, l accepted the job and am being trained in at the moment. I am like a fish out of water because it's something I've never done before but I am enjoying it. The money is not as good as what I have been on but I expected that am willing to put up with it to get the experience. I was on the verge of forgetting about it and staying put in my old job so l'm glad I didnt give up I hope this will give encouragement to anyone in a similar position as me

tringle

That's amazing well done. I started a temp 1 year contract 2 weeks ago in the civil service and thankfully they have no problem with age. 30 of us started and are all ages. And I've applied for the full time positions that closed Thursday. I don't particularly want to work in the civil service but its permanent and right now local and the work is easy enough.
The job I had from easter was a long drive away, random hours and quite physical at times. I really enjoyed it but didn't see it as a forever job. They had some very young people and I really felt it was too much responsibility for some of them. At times you had to make instant decisions about things and some of the tight time constraints caused tension and very heated words. I watched people daily go home crying and in one week 3 new starts just didn't turn up at all. Also the unsocial hours played havoc with the younger ones social life, ah, the advantage of being 50... a good Friday night means sitting at home watching TV, not racing around all the bars and clubs.

madrabeag

tringle wrote: »

That's amazing well done. I started a temp 1 year contract 2 weeks ago in the civil service and thankfully they have no problem with age. 30 of us started and are all ages. And I've applied for the full time positions that closed Thursday. I don't particularly want to work in the civil service but its permanent and right now local and the work is easy enough.
The job I had from easter was a long drive away, random hours and quite physical at times. I really enjoyed it but didn't see it as a forever job. They had some very young people and I really felt it was too much responsibility for some of them. At times you had to make instant decisions about things and some of the tight time constraints caused tension and very heated words. I watched people daily go home crying and in one week 3 new starts just didn't turn up at all. Also the unsocial hours played havoc with the younger ones social life, ah, the advantage of being 50... a good Friday night means sitting at home watching TV, not racing around all the bars and clubs.

That's great you got the Civil Service contract-hopefully you will get one of the permanent posts.I have also applied for the permanent jobs and I know I'm up against people with more experience than me but if I even just got an interview I would be happy because it would let me see what these interviews are like. That other job you were in doesn't sound very nice and you're dead right about the Friday nights my- clubbing days are well over!::D:D

tringle

Best of luck to both of us with it.