I get alot of interview, no offersI have companies call me in all the time to interview but I think what us hurting my chances on an offer is my age. I am 33 but look 25. I have tried everything from straightening my hair, putting on weight (weight makes you look older) but to no avail. I wear suits when I interview. How come I am not getting any offers? I am more than qualified for the jobs I am interviewing for. I want a full charge bookkeeper position but most of those positions are for women in their late 30' s, 40' s and 50' s. I am competing with Bertha for the same job. Help?? Any suggestions appreciated. Don' t give up! Your day will come. I' ve been looking seriously for a year now and haven' t found anything yet. I' ve had tons of 1st and 2nd interviews and to no avail. I' ve had some offers but it was for companies that I didn' t want to work for. I only interviewed with them to keep my interview skills up to par. I know it' s easy to get discouraged but just know that your chance for the perfect job is on the way. I' m sure that I will get a job sometime soon with a great company but I' m just waiting for the right time, right company. For now, I just have to make sure that my job performance doesn' t slip on my current job. I know that I' ll make it out soon. Who the heck is "Bertha?" Is that a stereotypical name for an older woman? Yes! You are competing with Bertha, Hortense, Matilda, Shirley, Esther, Rose, Adrienne, Maxine, Brenda, etc. as well as with Danielle, Lisa, Courtney, Michelle, Adrian, etc. for all the full-charge bookkeeping jobs that are available, so deal with it. That' s life, Hopefully - you will get a good job based on your background and qualifications only. As the song says, "Your day will come and you' ll have everything..." Okay, so you are competing for jobs with people who are older than you. You are also competing for jobs with people who are younger than you and who are the same age as you. It would be and is, indeed, that way for all jobs in all fields. Not just the accounting/bookeeping field. That may have sounded harsh but, truthfully, you sound like my 18 year old nephew. He is constantly saying that other people get to do things that he iscapable of doing just because they are older. That isn' t the reason. First, it is that particular attitude. Whether you know it or not; whether you mean for it to happen or not; that attitude comes through in either the interview or in the lobby when you are sitting waiting for your interviewer to come fetch you and you may happen to see an older candidate either come out of the interview room or sitting and waiting for their interview. That subject, and your opinion of it, need to be put behind you. You cannot ago into the interview room with the preconceived notion that you are not in the running just because you happened to see someone who is older vying for the same job. Remember, also, that the "older" candidate is thinking the same thing about the younger candidates. They are just as concerned that they will not be picked for the job because of their age. Relax. Concentrate on your skills. Your knowledge of ledgers and accounting computer programs. And whatever else you need for your field. Be yourself. Don' t be what you think the interviewer wants you to be. And by that, I mean don' t try to make yourself older than you are. As a matter of fact, that tactic could probably backfire on you. The interviewer could actually think to him/herself and wonder why you don' t have the level of experience, etc that you should have if you were a certain age. One last thing, why even bother trying to hide your age. The interviewer is going to know what it is by the date of birth you put down on your application anyway. (If the company has you fill out an application.) Just a thought - but you might be running into the same problem I am. Companies don' t want to pay for your great experience. They probably find/interview someone who is willing to take a lower salary. It sounds harsh (and it' s sad), but I have run across it many times. They want experience - but don' t want to pay what they should for it. There' s always someone else with the same (or close) experience who will take less money. I work with several agencies and that' s been the feed back I' ve gotten on too many interviews. They loved me, I am totally qualified, but they choose someone else to save a few thousand dollars a year. Some times it' s as little as 5k a year - translation - only 100 a week! Pathetic. Good luck! And whatever you do - don' t give up! Try to look at the silver lining - you' re getting great experience interviewing! It will pay off..... Right away, before you miss another chance, get in touch with either a for-free career counselor or a private career and interview coach who can determine EXACTLY what is going on. It could be a simple matter of the way you are sitting in your chair or the pace of your voice. Some good places to look are Community (2 year) Colleges at the Career Center. Usually the services of a career counselor at a college center are free or very low-cost EVEN IF you did not attend that college. Career services at these career centers are available to members of the community where they are located. Or, you may try the alumni career services from a university or vocational that you DID attend. A private career coach who specializes in interviewing would also be a great fit. It is best if you see one of these coaches in person so that they can actually see your body language and manner of dress (just in case you could use any advice in those areas). It would be unethical, in my opinion, for a private coach ($85-$200 an hour) to charge you for more than one session or two at the most. A good coach should be able to help you clear up the challenge in just one session. Wah, wah, wah, woe is me!!! If you were not being contacted for interviews, I would presume the problem is your poor grammar. Maybe your interviewer, BERTHA, does not want to work with a prima donna who believes that ALL WOMEN over late- 30s, 40s, 50s are obese BERTHAs. Do you refer to yourself as "belloftheball"? Do you have an equally vain-sounding email address? I am over 50, size 0-2, perfectly straight hair. Where are you applying? Maybe I should refocus my job hunting endeavors on bookkeeping positions, since I have a degree in finance, rather than my Juris Doctor. (that means I graduated from law school) | |
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