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been forced to look for voluntary work


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just got back from joke center.where i was told to start looking for charity work ,i did the mandatory 4 weeks work trial a few month back now she says i need more recent experience on my cv . even though i have a 35 year reocord of working. im nearly 60. i told her i think its my age why im getting no interviews ,she said its nothing to do with my age being nearly 60. what will happen if i dont get a voluntary job ,why should i be forced in to it at my age.:-x

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Of course your age is a factor, ageism in employment is rife. If you remove some of your job experience from your CV it looks like your inexperienced and if you don't its easy to work out your not in your 20s or 30s, especially if you want to put a number of qualifications down. And of course, if its an application form you have to put down relevant dates. Iv actually been asked my age by agency staff and during a couple of interviews and guess what, no job offers.

 

They talk about young people not being able to he jobs, and how the government can help them, but experienced older unemployed are being ignored. The country as a consequence is wasting a lot of experienced and well qualified people who have been thrown on the scrap heap. In addition, many older unemployed don't appear on the unemployment statistics because their partners work and therefore cannot claim income based JSA.

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They shouldn't be asking you to do that, haven't they heard about age discrimination. If you think it will help you secure employment put the job in all applications. If they try and sanction you then they are effectively asking you to lie on applications and are in breach of discrimination law. What's next, delete your qualifications?

 

 

 

 

my adviser asked me to delete my first job even though i worked there 12 years.whats the point if i get an interview they are going to guess my age, shame we cant roll back time,
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my adviser asked me to delete my first job even though i worked there 12 years.whats the point if i get an interview they are going to guess my age, shame we cant roll back time,

 

 

Your CV is your personal, private property. You are not obliged to even show it to anyone you choose not to show it to. Any attempt by anyone other than yourself to alter it or force you to alter it against your will would be a breach of your human rights.

 

I was put under pressure to find some 'voluntary' job. I was given a list of local sites on which I could register as a volunteer. I had a look at them but found nothing appropriate.

There was an idiot girl from the council who held a sort of open house for volunteers twice a week in the local library. I arranged to see her. She showed me a long list of jobs that I could volunteer for. Most of them required qualifications that I didn't have, temporary teacher, carer, hospital assistant, etc.

She gave me a form to fill in to say that I was registering as a volunteer. I was expected to pick out preferred jobs or fields of work, I wrote on the form that I was prepared to consider anything for which I was qualified and that there was nothing specific on the current list for which I felt I would be eligible.

That was over a year ago now and I haven't heard a word about it from anybody since.

 

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Its free labour and nothing to do with securing a job. Plus its taking paid work off someone who wants to be a temporary teacher, carer, hospital assistant,

 

 

 

 

Your CV is your personal, private property. You are not obliged to even show it to anyone you choose not to show it to. Any attempt by anyone other than yourself to alter it or force you to alter it against your will would be a breach of your human rights.

 

I was put under pressure to find some 'voluntary' job. I was given a list of local sites on which I could register as a volunteer. I had a look at them but found nothing appropriate.

There was an idiot girl from the council who held a sort of open house for volunteers twice a week in the local library. I arranged to see her. She showed me a long list of jobs that I could volunteer for. Most of them required qualifications that I didn't have, temporary teacher, carer, hospital assistant, etc.

She gave me a form to fill in to say that I was registering as a volunteer. I was expected to pick out preferred jobs or fields of work, I wrote on the form that I was prepared to consider anything for which I was qualified and that there was nothing specific on the current list for which I felt I would be eligible.

That was over a year ago now and I haven't heard a word about it from anybody since.

 

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Of course your age is a factor, ageism in employment is rife.

 

They talk about young people not being able to he jobs, and how the government can help them, but experienced older unemployed are being ignored. The country as a consequence is wasting a lot of experienced and well qualified people who have been thrown on the scrap heap. In addition, many older unemployed don't appear on the unemployment statistics because their partners work and therefore cannot claim income based JSA.

 

The fact is that if you are over fifty, your chances of gaining employment are greatly diminished. I am nearing the age of fifty and know that realistically long term employment is unrealistic, even if my health was not a factor. The JCP lackeys know this, however they will never admit it!

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im sure ,after so many weeks after you have finished a course they will find you some thing else to do either another cv course or back to work skills ect. but i find they dont listen,only spout nonsense,which we have to listen to or get the threat of a sanction.

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I do agree.

 

I am highly qualified with years of working experience with many transferable skills but no ones interested.

 

For example my daughter was applying for a cleaning/ kitchen assistant job in a pub. Zero hours and not what I wanted, but a job is a job so I decided to go for it. Got through the 1st interview stage (with the land lady) and was being interviewed for the 2nd stage at a table next to my daughters interview table. I was interviewed this time by the landlord, who was about my age, and also by the head chef. They said they needed someone early in the morning to clean and in the afternoon as a kitchen assistant. Extra hours would also be available. They asked when I was available and I advised any time they wanted me as I had no family responsibilities and could walk to work in 10 minutes. They both told me that I would be ideal.

 

My daughter, on the other hand ( I could hear her interview) said the hours didn't suit because of 2 children to get to school and pick up from school, couldn't work in the evenings, weekend or school holidays. All the hours I said I would do. Her interviewers actually told her she wasn't what they had in mind.

 

Guess who got the job. The land lord was very apologetic, said himself and the LL wanted to employ me as I was ideal, but head office who weren't at the interview, over ruled them,

 

 

The fact is that if you are over fifty, your chances of gaining employment are greatly diminished. I am nearing the age of fifty and know that realistically long term employment is unrealistic, even if my health was not a factor. The JCP lackeys know this, however they will never admit it!
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just got back from joke center.where i was told to start looking for charity work ,i did the mandatory 4 weeks work trial a few month back now she says i need more recent experience on my cv . even though i have a 35 year reocord of working. im nearly 60. i told her i think its my age why im getting no interviews ,she said its nothing to do with my age being nearly 60. what will happen if i dont get a voluntary job ,why should i be forced in to it at my age.:-x

 

 

I am the same age as you (60 next week) and I have worked for 44 years

 

 

The JC advice to cull a few years from your cv is actually a sound one, in 2000 my Husband then aged 51 was made redundant and as part of his package his employer sent him to a company that specialised in helping older people find work, as well as changing the layout of his cv one of the first things they advised him to do was to remove some of his earlier work record, and it worked he got a job within a couple of months. I myself have done the same and have never had any comeback from an employer

 

 

You seem to think that just because you have worked for 35 years you should be given special treatment ( the old I have paid in and am entitled nonsense?) and that's an attitude I don't really understand after all I have worked far more years than you and should feel 'entitled' myself.

 

 

As for being angry that you are being 'forced' to volunteer at age early 60 again that's an attitude I don't understand, I had to take a year out mid 2013/2014 due to various reasons, during that time I volunteered in a Charity shop, last June when I was able to apply for jobs again, I applied for a full time paid Charity Shop Managers job, and got it based on the voluntary work I was doing, not bad going getting the first job I applied for at age 59 in an unemployment black spot.

 

 

If you at the age of nearly 60 applied for a volunteer role in my shop you would in fact be my YOUNGEST volunteer, even my 66 year old Husband who himself worked for 45 years does 3 days, the rest are 65 plus my oldest volunteer is 84.

 

 

You really are going to have to do something soon as you will still have 6/7 years before you get your pension

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The JC advise to cull a few years from your cv is actually a sound one.

 

+1

 

I'll only ever put jobs on my CV that I feel demonstrate how I'm suitable for the job I'm applying for and currently only go back to 2006 providing plenty of details of what I was doing and how it's relavant.

 

Like Lapsed says, your CV is personal property so make it the best possible reflection of yourself.

My views are my own and are not representative of any organisation. if you've found my post helpful please click on the star below.

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As for being angry that you are being 'forced' to volunteer at age early 60 again that's an attitude I don't understand

 

I think it is the being forced rather than the actual volunteering that is the real issue. Being required to take up an unpaid role under the threat of sanction is not volunteering ! If it displaces a paid worker in the process, then there is something fundamentally wrong in the role, the business providing the "opportunity", and the outfit arranging the provision.

 

I've done voluntary stuff, things that held an interest and provided a challenge, but there was no "requirement" nor threat of sanction.

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I think it is the being forced rather than the actual volunteering that is the real issue. Being required to take up an unpaid role under the threat of sanction is not volunteering ! If it displaces a paid worker in the process, then there is something fundamentally wrong in the role, the business providing the "opportunity", and the outfit arranging the provision.

 

I've done voluntary stuff, things that held an interest and provided a challenge, but there was no "requirement" nor threat of sanction.

 

 

I suppose its my attitude but I really cant see why people like the OP who obviously needs more recent experience is not prepared to do anything about it until they are 'forced to'.

 

 

I don't agree with CWP in charity shops and my charity does not use them, however I would do my best to help any volunteer of working age to get a job, including providing references or a set of interview clothes completely free from my shop.

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I think the key word in all of this is 'volunteer' rather than compel.

 

There's no doubt that appropriate volunteer work does enhance employability but for it to have any real value it needs to be voluntary.

 

Bcham, you've an opportunity to take control of the situation and find something that actually adds value to your time, leave it to an adviser/coach to find something and you'll simply be allocated the next available slot. You need only look to organisations like the CAB to see that volunteers are a key part of such a workforce. I'd have loved to offer a full wage to everyone who volunteered with us in the 5 years I worked for CAB but there simply isn't the resources to do so. It's not about occupation of an otherwise paid role, but about that work not being able to happen in the absence of a volunteer. This is true right across the third sector and by no means unique to CAB.

 

You never know, you may actually find it really valuable and a great social opportunity. It was always a pleasure to provide references, speak with potential employers and help people in finding work. Volunteering is very much a two way street when done properly.

My views are my own and are not representative of any organisation. if you've found my post helpful please click on the star below.

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I suppose its my attitude but I really cant see why people like the OP who obviously needs more recent experience is not prepared to do anything about it until they are 'forced to'.

 

 

I don't agree with CWP in charity shops and my charity does not use them, however I would do my best to help any volunteer of working age to get a job, including providing references or a set of interview clothes completely free from my shop.

i dont want to do shop work, but would welcome working in the warehouse part ,which my adviser asked me to get in touch with British heart foundation for a voluntary ware house position. do most charity shops have ware house positions.

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i dont want to do shop work, but would welcome working in the warehouse part ,which my adviser asked me to get in touch with British heart foundation for a voluntary ware house position. do most charity shops have ware house positions.

 

They'll certainly have 'back room' roles which is more about sorting out than greeting people but your best bet is to go and ask. Especially at BHF Furniture reclamation shops that deal with more bulky items than a bag of old clothes.

 

Perhaps even look at some of the other things out there, dependant upon where you are there might be furniture / carpet recycling social enterprises/charities. One local one here is a bike recycling centre that gets the used bikes in, services them and then sells them on for charity. Remember that as a volunteer your out of pocket expenses ought to be covered so bus fares etc shouldn't impact on you financially.

 

Good luck in finding something that actually makes it worthwhile.

My views are my own and are not representative of any organisation. if you've found my post helpful please click on the star below.

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Its all very well saying cull a few years of your CV, but if those years are relevant to the job your applying for you shouldn't have to.

 

As for your negative comments about people feeling entitled and therefore believe they should be given special treatment, where on earth has anyone said that. The simple fact is, despite your success, for most people over a certain age, ageism stops them getting a job.

 

Being offered a job should depend on experience, qualifications apnd ability to do the job well NOT ageist attitudes. In any case, it still doesn't always work. I dumbed down my CV by taking off all my university level qualifications and everything but my last job and couldn't get a job in a pub. Read my post at #9 (by the way my daughter had no relevant experience at all).

 

You talk about entitlement, but there seems a general consensus that older well qualified people should stand down and let younger people takeover. Isn't that discrimination? Are these younger people going to pay my bills? I think not. Why is it seen as a crime when older well qualified and very experienced people would prefer to continue a career relevant to their skills and not take a menial job.

 

I know many people who have taken a lower status, lower paid job and their boss with less experience and qualifications leans on them heavily and when they cock up, guess who has to clear the mess up. Its just madness.

 

Quite frankly that's why the country's gone to the dogs. Older people being told they have to work longer and anti ageism laws will protect them, but at the same time the law isnt enforced, and they have to battle this as well as the fact there aren't that many jobs anyway.

 

 

 

 

 

I am the same age as you (60 next week) and I have worked for 44 years

 

 

The JC advice to cull a few years from your cv is actually a sound one, in 2000 my Husband then aged 51 was made redundant and as part of his package his employer sent him to a company that specialised in helping older people find work, as well as changing the layout of his cv one of the first things they advised him to do was to remove some of his earlier work record, and it worked he got a job within a couple of months. I myself have done the same and have never had any comeback from an employer

 

 

You seem to think that just because you have worked for 35 years you should be given special treatment ( the old I have paid in and am entitled nonsense?) and that's an attitude I don't really understand after all I have worked far more years than you and should feel 'entitled' myself.

 

 

As for being angry that you are being 'forced' to volunteer at age early 60 again that's an attitude I don't understand, I had to take a year out mid 2013/2014 due to various reasons, during that time I volunteered in a Charity shop, last June when I was able to apply for jobs again, I applied for a full time paid Charity Shop Managers job, and got it based on the voluntary work I was doing, not bad going getting the first job I applied for at age 59 in an unemployment black spot.

 

 

If you at the age of nearly 60 applied for a volunteer role in my shop you would in fact be my YOUNGEST volunteer, even my 66 year old Husband who himself worked for 45 years does 3 days, the rest are 65 plus my oldest volunteer is 84.

 

 

You really are going to have to do something soon as you will still have 6/7 years before you get your pension

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Its all very well saying cull a few years of your CV, but if those years are relevant to the job your applying for you shouldn't have to...

 

I think for the most part, it's about knowing and playing the system, regardless of how you think it ought to work. There's a great opportunity to use your covering letter to detail experiences that fall outside of a reasonable time period on a CV, or indeed, not to put dates at all.

 

I absolutely believe that to tailor the CV to suit the role you're applying for is one of the key methods to getting through that first stage of shortlisting. Infact, I expect applicants to at least have shown a bit of interest beyond hitting 'apply' on the website and sending me a wholly generic CV when I'm recruiting even if it's just a phonecall or a few words on an email to accompany their application.

 

There's as many good ways of putting your experience on paper as there are bad ones, and you're cheating no-one by only listing the relavant bits of information, frankly if you want to do X for me, and you've done it in the past then tell me about it. But, I'm not as interested in the 3 years of Y or Z that you did unless you can tell me exactly how it relates to the role I'm advertising.

 

Phrases like: "I spent time doing X, which gave me an excellent insight into the role of Y as we worked closely and often deputised for one another." Yes please, but "I've done Y for 12 years." So what? What does that mean to me as your potential new employer and unless it's the exact same role you're applying for what does it matter? Tell me how you developed and kept up with developments in those 12 years instead, tell me how you grew in your role, that's the stuff I'm interested in.

 

I mentioned earlier about making sure that your CV is this best possible representation of yourself and I absolutely stand by that, and where's the harm in trying something different, especially if the current one isn't getting the results you'd like?

 

Being offered a job should depend on experience, qualifications and ability to do the job well NOT ageist attitudes

 

Couldn't agree more. Some of my most valued colleagues are almost twice my age.

My views are my own and are not representative of any organisation. if you've found my post helpful please click on the star below.

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I do exactly what you have said, only put down relevant jobs and experience and provide examples of how I fit the personal spec/role, expanding on other relevant roles outside a reasonable time period in the covering letter. I play the system, but no matter what you say, ageism plays a role. Iv never sent out a generic CV.

 

Iv actually helped many younger people with their CVs, relating their skills to the actual job etc, and theyve been congratulated on their very good CVs. You cannot simply argue that older people can't get jobs because their not playing the system because its not always true.

 

I can remember years ago it was difficult to get a job if you were a mother. Remember the application forms where you had to specify gender and number of children? Just because discrimination on these lines became unlawful didn't mean it still didn't go on (and probably still does). Its more of the same really.

 

On another forum a poster tinkered with her CV as you have suggested and was interviewed by someone in their 20s. On the way out, she heard her interviewer say to a colleague, the right qualifications and experience but I don't want to work with an old fogey. She was only about 50 as I recall. Says it all really.

 

Anyway I will continue with my efforts to obtain a job and thank god I don't have to put up with the antics of the joke centre(although we could do with the money).

 

 

I think for the most part, it's about knowing and playing the system, regardless of how you think it ought to work. There's a great opportunity to use your covering letter to detail experiences that fall outside of a reasonable time period on a CV, or indeed, not to put dates at all.

 

I absolutely believe that to tailor the CV to suit the role you're applying for is one of the key methods to getting through that first stage of shortlisting. Infact, I expect applicants to at least have shown a bit of interest beyond hitting 'apply' on the website and sending me a wholly generic CV when I'm recruiting even if it's just a phonecall or a few words on an email to accompany their application.

 

There's as many good ways of putting your experience on paper as there are bad ones, and you're cheating no-one by only listing the relavant bits of information, frankly if you want to do X for me, and you've done it in the past then tell me about it. But, I'm not as interested in the 3 years of Y or Z that you did unless you can tell me exactly how it relates to the role I'm advertising.

 

Phrases like: "I spent time doing X, which gave me an excellent insight into the role of Y as we worked closely and often deputised for one another." Yes please, but "I've done Y for 12 years." So what? What does that mean to me as your potential new employer and unless it's the exact same role you're applying for what does it matter? Tell me how you developed and kept up with developments in those 12 years instead, tell me how you grew in your role, that's the stuff I'm interested in.

 

I mentioned earlier about making sure that your CV is this best possible representation of yourself and I absolutely stand by that, and where's the harm in trying something different, especially if the current one isn't getting the results you'd like?

 

 

 

Couldn't agree more. Some of my most valued colleagues are almost twice my age.

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