Cpl Resources : 3 Ways to overcome ageism as a jobseeker

In an ideal world, all candidates would be treated 100% equally. No one would ever miss out on a job for any reason other than they weren't the best candidate. However, this isn't an ideal world and there are more challenges for some jobseekers than there are for others. Cpl's latest Quarterly Employment Monitor found that a vast majority, 70%, of employers would hire a person in their 20s over someone in other age brackets, for a role requiring 3-5 years' experience.

When you combine that fact with recent studies that suggest that lifespans are getting longer and that more people are starting to retrain later in life, you can see there is a real problem for jobseekers of a certain age.

So, if you are one of those jobseekers, how can you overcome that potential age issue?

The first place an employer might earmark your age as an issue is on your CV, but remember that you control what you put on your CV. It's more important to create a CV that demonstrates why your experience makes you the best person for the job, regardless of your age. Focus on the parts of your experience that fit the requirements for the role and highlight your successes so they stand out as the most prominent part of the document. Remember also that you don't have to include every little detail on your CV, while simply omitting your date of birth might not be a real solution, you should restrict the jobs you list to those most relevant to the role.

Your CV's main job is to get you to the interview, if you get that far the employer should already be happy to consider you as a candidate. However, an employer considering an 'older' candidate for one of these roles may be concerned that you won't bring the same hunger and enthusiasm to the role as a younger candidate. The interview is your best chance to overcome that and let them know how excited and focused you are on getting this job.

In fact, if you have recently retrained or made a career change, which could work to your advantage. Taking such a big step at this stage of your life demonstrates real passion for the role or the industry, make sure the interviewer can see that enthusiasm for the role.

If you are having trouble getting as far as the interview or if you are looking for an opportunity to change careers, it may be worth looking into a Government scheme. Many jobseekers in their 40's and 50's have found success through government partnership schemes, like Cpl Momentum. Our employment monitor found good news on that front too, with 1in3 employers stating that they had used a government scheme to hire.

When you apply for a job, no matter what your age, you should be judged on your abilities. However, while ageism is still an issue, make sure you make the most of the experience and make employers see that you are the best person for the job.