State of the Market

[Alf W]

I don’t think any of this is down to ageism in the contracting sector anyway. It certainly is in the perm sector and it’s almost understandable although being in the 55+ bracket I don’t agree with it but I understand it.

its pure and simple supply and demand which the low number of contracts even falsely advertised and the crap rates tell you. Lots of older perms made or taken redundancy are finding out contracting is not as easy as it looked from the other side of the fence.

Question is, am I a retired contractor or an out of work contractor? One thing I’m not is a desperate contractor.

[Unix]

I don’t think any of this is down to ageism in the contracting sector anyway. It certainly is in the perm sector and it’s almost understandable although being in the 55+ bracket I don’t agree with it but I understand it.

its pure and simple supply and demand which the low number of contracts even falsely advertised and the crap rates tell you. Lots of older perms made or taken redundancy are finding out contracting is not as easy as it looked from the other side of the fence.

Question is, am I a retired contractor or an out of work contractor? One thing I’m not is a desperate contractor.

Don't put your DOB on your CV.

[agentzero]

It's everywhere
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc...k-66060490.amp
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/b...s-b941600.html

I could find dozens that are published. The same ethos applies in a lot of companies as well.

It isn't everywhere, only the perception of it and it is misunderstood.

You are not facing prejudice as a white middle age male. You are just not as good as certain other people for specific roles/jobs. That might bother you and it's easy to jump down the victim route, but you are wrong to do so. It's a tough market right now and it is normal for people with more skills and wider experience to be picked over and above you for roles.

[gables]

Don't put your DOB on your CV.

Yes, although putting on details of a degree will quite often give away your age roughly.

[GJABS]

You are not facing prejudice as a white middle age male. You are just not as good as certain other people for specific roles/jobs.

But isn't that one and the same thing? That if white middle aged males are not as good as other people, and recruiters believe this to be the case, then it is prejudice. Accurate prejudice but prejudice all the same.

[Sub]

"When you're accustomed to privilege, equality feels like oppression"

I've been working for big multinational once and client of theirs located in Aberdeen rejected my assignment to the project based on fact that I am non-native speaker and will have hard time understanding their aberdeenian accent. And that's without even having conversation with me.

That was rather funny as in our geographically distributed team next best native English speaker was from Portugal.

[ladymuck]

Yes, although putting on details of a degree will quite often give away your age roughly.

As I don't have a degree, what details would you include that would give the game away? Surely it just needs to state the subject and class and where you studied? I certainly don't state the year I got my CPD certs and don't bother mentioning my A-Levels or GCSEs anymore.

[northernladuk]

As I don't have a degree, what details would you include that would give the game away? Surely it just needs to state the subject and class and where you studied? I certainly don't state the year I got my CPD certs and don't bother mentioning my A-Levels or GCSEs anymore.

You did GCSE's? Pull the other one.

[jamesbrown]

As I don't have a degree, what details would you include that would give the game away? Surely it just needs to state the subject and class and where you studied? I certainly don't state the year I got my CPD certs and don't bother mentioning my A-Levels or GCSEs anymore.

You would normally identify the period or year of graduation. Tbh, for degrees, omitting that basic information probably conveys the same thing (that you don't want to convey).

[escapeUK]

As I don't have a degree, what details would you include that would give the game away? Surely it just needs to state the subject and class and where you studied? I certainly don't state the year I got my CPD certs and don't bother mentioning my A-Levels or GCSEs anymore.

As I said to my older friend. Its pointless trying to hide that information. If they only want to employ someone 35 and under, you omitting hints of your age from your CV might get you an interview, but it will be a time waste for all concerned. Its like dating, if a woman wants a 6ft man omitting 5ft 5 from the dating profile isn't going to change her mind when she actually meets you.

Isn't it better to be honest, and those that actually are wanting someone more experienced can get in touch?