Discussion
I'm currently updating my wife's CV.
I'm her toyboy, and she is just the north-side of 50. She is well experienced at what she does, but feels that she has been written off by some because of her age.
She is a active and modern 50, rather than an old and mumsy 50 if that makes sense. I would not normally put a picture on a CV, but in this instance my suspicion is that it helps offsets the age thing...
Grateful for any views, contrary or otherwise...
I'm her toyboy, and she is just the north-side of 50. She is well experienced at what she does, but feels that she has been written off by some because of her age.
She is a active and modern 50, rather than an old and mumsy 50 if that makes sense. I would not normally put a picture on a CV, but in this instance my suspicion is that it helps offsets the age thing...
Grateful for any views, contrary or otherwise...
surveyor said:
I'm currently updating my wife's CV.
I'm her toyboy, and she is just the north-side of 50. She is well experienced at what she does, but feels that she has been written off by some because of her age.
She is a active and modern 50, rather than an old and mumsy 50 if that makes sense. I would not normally put a picture on a CV, but in this instance my suspicion is that it helps offsets the age thing...
Grateful for any views, contrary or otherwise...
Take her age off the CV, don't add a photo.I'm her toyboy, and she is just the north-side of 50. She is well experienced at what she does, but feels that she has been written off by some because of her age.
She is a active and modern 50, rather than an old and mumsy 50 if that makes sense. I would not normally put a picture on a CV, but in this instance my suspicion is that it helps offsets the age thing...
Grateful for any views, contrary or otherwise...
No photo on CV, but put Linkedin profile link or even maybe enough information to find her on Facebook, and then post a good photo there instead.
Employers increasingly look up candidates social media accounts, so it's important to show a good face and check your public posts to make sure they show you in a good light.
But sadly I agree, age is going to be a problem in certain roles, for example admin/office roles in any company where there is a middle aged male hiring manager, women over 30 are going to struggle, and anyone married or evidently in a relationship is going to struggle as well regardless of age. In an all female environment it usually comes down to whether a person will "fit in" with the existing staff, and so can be a bit of a lottery.
lyonspride said:
But sadly I agree, age is going to be a problem in certain roles, for example admin/office roles in any company where there is a middle aged male hiring manager, women over 30 are going to struggle, and anyone married or evidently in a relationship is going to struggle as well regardless of age.
Couldn’t be further than the truth for me - over 40 is perfect, less chance of having to pay maternity leave! For a company where the hirer isn’t paying the wages though I suppose that could be the case.In my first retail management role I was looking for sales staff. I had a woman in her 50s provide a photo with her CV.. as a keyring! She didn’t get an interview, but the keyring went on the shop keys
You can quite simply 'de-age' a CV. For example don't lost dates or school names. Simply put the grades achieved or omit altogether. Similarly for work experience review what is necessary to demonstrate the skills and competencies for the job in question. For example you may only add details of dates and companies for the last 10 years and any prior work experience might just be titled as 'earlier career' with no dates.
edc said:
You can quite simply 'de-age' a CV. For example don't lost dates or school names. Simply put the grades achieved or omit altogether. Similarly for work experience review what is necessary to demonstrate the skills and competencies for the job in question. For example you may only add details of dates and companies for the last 10 years and any prior work experience might just be titled as 'earlier career' with no dates.
This is very good advice!jakesmith said:
edc said:
You can quite simply 'de-age' a CV. For example don't lost dates or school names. Simply put the grades achieved or omit altogether. Similarly for work experience review what is necessary to demonstrate the skills and competencies for the job in question. For example you may only add details of dates and companies for the last 10 years and any prior work experience might just be titled as 'earlier career' with no dates.
This is very good advice!anonymous said:
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I can only speak from experience, I've worked in proximity to far too many young dumb pretty faces who treat work as a fashion show (to including clubwear, ripped jeans and skin tight animal print onsies), who stomp around with a clipboard pretending to look important, and whose only merit is that of flirting with some sad middle aged manager whose stay at home wife is shagging the milkman.I mean people talk about a "pay gap", but if genuinely intelligent women were given a chance over the above, there would be more mentally stable women making it into higher level roles in business. There is only so far a dumb pretty face can go before they reach a point on the ladder beyond which they'd only cause severe damage to the business.
lyonspride said:
I can only speak from experience, I've worked in proximity to far too many young dumb pretty faces who treat work as a fashion show (to including clubwear, ripped jeans and skin tight animal print onsies), who stomp around with a clipboard pretending to look important, and whose only merit is that of flirting with some sad middle aged manager whose stay at home wife is shagging the milkman.
I mean people talk about a "pay gap", but if genuinely intelligent women were given a chance over the above, there would be more mentally stable women making it into higher level roles in business. There is only so far a dumb pretty face can go before they reach a point on the ladder beyond which they'd only cause severe damage to the business.
Just in case anybody is interested...I mean people talk about a "pay gap", but if genuinely intelligent women were given a chance over the above, there would be more mentally stable women making it into higher level roles in business. There is only so far a dumb pretty face can go before they reach a point on the ladder beyond which they'd only cause severe damage to the business.
Remove it, rightly or wrongly (it is standard practise in Germany to attached a photo), people will make ill conceived judgements about an applicant based on a photo, never mind actually reading the CV.
My boss and I did when we were hiring, we had one chap who looked like Gru from Minions / Despicable Me and I really couldn't take him seriously (yes, yes I know very unprofessional, don't judge, grow up, etc).
Although when my girlfriend was working in a sales role they specifically asked for photos, to ensure you weren't ugly / fat, etc, probably for the exact reason someone said above about sad middle aged men ...
My boss and I did when we were hiring, we had one chap who looked like Gru from Minions / Despicable Me and I really couldn't take him seriously (yes, yes I know very unprofessional, don't judge, grow up, etc).
Although when my girlfriend was working in a sales role they specifically asked for photos, to ensure you weren't ugly / fat, etc, probably for the exact reason someone said above about sad middle aged men ...
If you're on LinkedIn they'll see your picture anyway. LinkedIn is used in conjunction with your CV - in fact it's often LinkedIn where employers and recruiters will start these days.
Ageism does exist. So does being ugly, or fat or having a middle Eastern sounding name or black skin. Good old fashioned discrimination applies to each. The government can introduce legislation but let's be practical: legislation can't stop human behaviour and cognitive biases.
So as a famous 'ugly' speaker once said, you have 10 seconds to make people forget about your face. The same applies here. You need to highlight achievements, your outstanding capability and all the good things needed to sell you as the best person to provide the services. You need to be so good they can't ignore you!
Ageism does exist. So does being ugly, or fat or having a middle Eastern sounding name or black skin. Good old fashioned discrimination applies to each. The government can introduce legislation but let's be practical: legislation can't stop human behaviour and cognitive biases.
So as a famous 'ugly' speaker once said, you have 10 seconds to make people forget about your face. The same applies here. You need to highlight achievements, your outstanding capability and all the good things needed to sell you as the best person to provide the services. You need to be so good they can't ignore you!
Edited by silent ninja on Thursday 3rd January 19:59
silent ninja said:
Ageism does exist. So does being ugly, or fat or having a middle Eastern sounding name or black skin. Good old fashioned discrimination applies to each. The government can introduce legislation but let's be practical: legislation can't stop human behaviour and cognitive biases.
I put two identical applications in for the same job once. One from my Liverpool address and one from my London address. London got an interview, Liverpool didn’t 
craigjm said:
I put two identical applications in for the same job once. One from my Liverpool address and one from my London address. London got an interview, Liverpool didn’t
Not surprise to be honest. People in the 'south' think people up north - that is, anyone beyond Greater London - are thick, or let's say 'less enlightened.' I live in the Midlands and according to some Londoners I'm up North.silent ninja said:
craigjm said:
I put two identical applications in for the same job once. One from my Liverpool address and one from my London address. London got an interview, Liverpool didn’t
Not surprise to be honest. People in the 'south' think people up north - that is, anyone beyond Greater London - are thick, or let's say 'less enlightened.' I live in the Midlands and according to some Londoners I'm up North.DanL said:
Where was the job based? If it was London / south east, then this can’t be a surprise, surely?
It was based from home and it shouldn’t matter where it is based because people relocate for work or building a career. The address on an application form should have no baring whatsoever Gassing Station | Jobs & Employment Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff