I can't find a job with 21 years of experience

30 Comments

1. AnonymousSeptember 10,2023 at 2:23PM UTC

   It's super tough out there right now. If you haven't age-proofed your resume already i would do that - only list the past 15 years of work experience, do not include anything that would point to your age. If you held different roles in the company list those as separate jobs on your resume so it appears you've had multiple work experiences as opposed to being in one place for so long. For whatever reason employers do not favor people with long experience at one company. Recruiters and hiring managers seem to be hyper-focused on certifications and PMP seems to be a highly favored one right now. Can you reasonably add any certifications to your resume?

   You can try contacting recruiters directly for a position you want to apply to, most won't respond but some will send your material to the hiring manager if you show a lot of enthusiasm. You may also try to reach out and network with people at companies where you want to work - ask for a 20 minute chat to find out about the company and their position. Not everyone will oblige a conversation but some will.

   You may have done all these things already - I know I have and I'm still looking like you!

   I've had some success with consulting/contracting work to keep money coming in and it does help build my resume. Maybe there's something with that for you? I also plan to look into some part time temp work with an agency to keep me going financially and perhaps make more networking connections. With your HR/Admin skill set, you may be able to find something through a temp agency that could lead to a permanent position.

   I'm in a similar boat and indeed 'at my wits end' is a familiar sentiment.

2. AnonymousSeptember 10,2023 at 3:14PM UTC

   I'm in the same position.
   I HAVE a bachelor's in one field and midlife, I returned to school for an associates in another (I was a franchisee accountant, laid off and returned to school after to validate my experience. This was 10 years ago) I HAVE the experience yet "just not what we are looking for". They tell me my background is what they want, but find others.

   Employers want bookkeepers with a masters, senior accountants with a CPA (I've held that role without one successfully- organization laid off many when company bought)

   It feels like you almost have to beg. This is a job, not acting as God.

   Employers need to chillax and stop with the nonsense especially when they are routinely 'urgently hiring '

   One place called me and said I have exactly what they want but refused to interview because I was too smart. Fine. They can hire an idiot that will quit or won't work and start over

3. AnonymousSeptember 11,2023 at 1:32PM UTC

   I have a master's degree and have lost out on jobs that went to people with Ph.D.s even though the M.A. was all that was required.

4. AnonymousSeptember 11,2023 at 3:08PM UTC

   I get your delima. It never seems (to employers) that you are good enough.

   Again, you are applying for work, not to act as God!! It's unreal the unrealistic demands some organizations want

5. Sue ColerickSeptember 10,2023 at 3:20PM UTC

   The best advice I was given was to add a section to the top of my resume called career accomplishments. You will list your accomplishments in numbers. For example, instead of saying experienced with hiring talent. You could say, hired X amount of new talent in X amount of time with a retention rate of X amount of years. By bringing the focus to your accomplishments, they maybe able to forget you don't have a degree.

   Another great piece of advice was to join LinkedIn and make connections. An old colleague of mine from years ago saw my post about being laid off. She reached out to me about her company and even told me a few people at her company to follow. Whenever these individuals post, I try to reply with thought provoking comments. I recently submitted my resume for a job with one of these individuals and I was bypassed the initial interview process and put on the top of the candidate pile. I am keeping my fingers crossed that I get the final interview and hired.

6. AnonymousSeptember 10,2023 at 3:23PM UTC

   Research certifications that are related to your field. Most, if not all, are accessible online and affordable. It generally takes 90 to 180 days to land mid to higher paying jobs. Use that time to sharpen your skills. Also, it isn't shameful to have a resume professionally written (150.00). During interviews use hiflghlited phrases that pin point the interests detailed in the companies employment add. One should never stop evolving. Career enhancing education, work place habits and characteristics that emulate why you are a better pick. I wish you the best of luck.

7. AnonymousSeptember 10,2023 at 4:06PM UTC

   I'm sorry you are having such a hard time. Please don't go for entry level work. That appears desperate, though I understand where you are coming from - you need a job! I think it would be a reason why someone may not want to hire you though. People like confidence and positivity. You can FIND that in your experience, even if you are in a low period right now. Think about what you are proud of and love about yourself. Talk about what you've learned and how you can apply that to your new role. Please know it is a tough market right now and you are not alone. It may feel that way, but you are not. You will get a great new job. Just keep trying and it will happen. Pulling for you and thinking of you.

8. AnonymousSeptember 11,2023 at 1:18AM UTC

   Take any temp or part time position you can find and keep looking. The job market is horrible right now so it's nothing you are or are not doing. It's simply a very rough time right now. There are truly no magic answers . You sound as if you're doing all you can

9. AnonymousSeptember 11,2023 at 12:49PM UTC

   I'm on LinkedIn weekly and every time, I see people posting about being downsized...and it seems that the HR/Admin industry is being hit hard. Like, almost every person posting, having lost his/her position, worked in HR or marketing. So...that arena is hurting right now. And as much as they "say" that the economy is rebounding- it's not. The stock market is simply looking better because corporations have slashed expenses and increased workloads...that's it. So, what to do? Well, sadly..you don't have a "degree", which is an issue right there. So many others competing will have this. And yes, you can and should tweak your resume...work the system any way you can. Yes, networking will be an asset...but a limited one when it comes down to other candidates who had a degree--- many companies have descriptions that require a degree. Consider another industry entirely. Sadly, you sound like a great employee with tons o experience but you can't get a toe in the door...Again, consider banking/working in schools-- they need subs--tax work, something else that uses some similar skills ....I'm sorry this is so tough. Change your goals a bit; get in somewhere and prove yoursel. Have you considered the insurance industry? God bless and good luck to you. you sound like a potentially great employee...

10. AnonymousSeptember 11,2023 at 1:30PM UTC

    Good point. My previous employer eliminated all its training programs, including staff and LinkedIn Learning subscription. Ironically, this was a university!

11. AnonymousSeptember 16,2023 at 3:15PM UTC

    so sad that the UNIVERSITY didn't encourage nor provide addl training. but you've got this...i sense you're an asset but you'll need to pivot....THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX. sounds cliche but this will work. Godspeed to you.

12. GirlBossanova934974September 11,2023 at 12:58PM UTC

    3 things come right to mind. IF at all possible, limit your resume to the last 15 years max. More than 20 years implies higher cost employees. Second, focus on your skillsets and what you accomplished. Third, make sure you go after smaller companies. INDEED.COM is much better for finding smaller companies than LinkedIn these days. You can get a daily tailored job feed from Indeed and get interviews fairly quickly. In fact, LinkedIn frankly has too people looking for jobs these jobs vs. the number of jobs that they offer. August was a very slow month for hiring and interviewing. September has picked up. PS: On SAT, 9 SEP, I applied for a job on Indeed. The company recruiter answered right back. Interview was set up for this week. I had to push it to Friday as I had 3 other interviews already lined up. And I am 60 years old. So with a little luck and applying to the right places, it can be done.

13. AnonymousSeptember 11,2023 at 1:06PM UTC

    Agree. Indeed has been a great resource. But, go directly to the companies website and apply if you can determine what the company is. Also research companies on Glassdoor. Sometimes the ads can be on both.

14. AnonymousSeptember 11,2023 at 1:29PM UTC

    Your experience is worthy of a LinkedIn post or article here!

15. AnonymousSeptember 11,2023 at 1:28PM UTC

    If you can get some training certificates to add to your qualifications, that would show that you're keeping your skills up to date. Employers are training for the future, so what you did 21 years ago isn't impressive unless you can point to the ways you've been innovative during that time.

    One way to demonstrate your competence would be to create training videos, post them on YouTube or another platform, and add them to your resume. Your competition likely has a portfolio online that employers can look at in the review process.

    If you're currently unemployed, consider finding ways to continue your training activities as a volunteer. Public libraries sometimes offer training sessions for job skills, as well as shelters or the Y.

16. Mara Jevera FulmerSeptember 11,2023 at 2:05PM UTC

    It may not be a bad time to also add a college degree to your qualifications, even an Associates from a community college. In Michigan, tuition is free at your local community college for those 25 and older who don't already have a college degree. You'd be surprised how valuable we find those with life and prior work experience when they're in our classes. And many of these are remote which makes for more flexibility while still meeting course deadlines.

17. AnonymousSeptember 11,2023 at 3:50PM UTC

    I am also without a Bachelor's Degree; but have over 25 years of experience to my name. Getting an Associate's Degree is something that I am seriously considering. Thank you for mentioning that. I will be looking into what offers my community college has for me.

18. AnonymousSeptember 11,2023 at 5:58PM UTC

    What for? She’s already got all the learning she would get taking those classes.

19. AnonymousSeptember 21,2023 at 1:34PM UTC

    Degrees matter! She'll be competing with people who have those degrees.

20. AnonymousSeptember 11,2023 at 3:27PM UTC

    I'd consider going to work for myself in an area that you can work for yourself and uses all or at lest the vast majority of the kills that you have from working for a traditional employer.

    I was wrongfully terminated and had to fight to even get any unemployment because my former employer lied and said I was fired with cause. What they did majorly backfired on them, because I had filed a complaint with the EEOC. I made my state's unemployment office aware of the situation by filing an appeal to get my unemployment benefits on a Friday morning and by the following Monday I had all of my backpay and my regular check for the previous week in my mailbox.

    I also happen to be disabled and I'm now considered unemployable by traditional employers, and not disabled enough to qualify for social security disability. So, I work for myself as a bookkeeper, primarily working with other micro-business owners. I work entirely from home, which is possible with what I do and it helps me keep my costs down. Since, I can keep my costs down, I'm able to help at least 1 or 2 struggling micro-business owners, and when I get them to where they need to be for them to be successful, then I move them to the same category as my regular clients, which allows me to have the ability to help another struggling small business owner to become successful. I don't charge as much for the slots that are specifically for those that are struggling that would also benefit from my help to get them into having a successful business.

    I come from a family where my parents were self-employed in a different industry from myself, so I know what does and doesn't work to get a business to be successful, despite the challenges that they may be currently going through. I also know that there will be downturns in the economy, and how to best prepare my clients for those once I'm able to help them get their small business back on solid ground.

    I have an associate's degree that is heavily concentrated in business courses, and with my life experiences due to my background; doing what I'm doing now just makes good sense. Not to mention I love it, because it allows me to work and take care of my medical needs and help out with my family and friends when I need to.

    So, seriously, think about going to work for yourself, it may end up being the right fit for you, like it was for me. I went through the same problem as you not being able to find work and I was looking for over 6+ months, before deciding to go to work for myself, and I now realize it was what I was supposed to do all along.

21. AnonymousSeptember 11,2023 at 5:20PM UTC

    It's a very rough time for HR/Talent/L&D people right now. The biggest problem is that many companies are cutting their budgets and since those depts are non revenue generating and instead are cost centers it's a flooded market. Don't take it personally you know your value, apply everywhere, especially larger entities where there is a developed dept and small startups where they might need just one expert who is willing to work hands on. In the short term how about teaching a class in something you know to others and use that as a means to self promote say on linkedin. It might get you the audience you seek.

22. Maegan, Nike Sales Rep & Career CoachSeptember 11,2023 at 7:03PM UTC

    Hey anonymous - have you worked with a career coach? If you want an outsiders POV, here's my link to sign up for a consult call where we can talk about your job search approach and identify things you can do differently : https://maeganmillercoaching.as.me/consultcall

23. Krystin MorganSeptember 11,2023 at 9:37PM UTC

    It's a challenging time to find a job in anything HR-related right now with all the layoffs, hiring freezes, and budget cuts going on. Also, while 21 years of experience is certainly impressive, I would recommend cutting some of that from your resume. The unfortunate truth is that ageism exists, but even aside from that, a lot of employers may have a bias against someone with "too much" experience - they might worry you will be set in your ways, less flexible, old-school, or any number of things. It's not right or fair, but it's something you can help mitigate by only keeping the past ~10 years of experience on your resume.

24. AnonymousSeptember 12,2023 at 7:12PM UTC

    im going through something similar but with only 10 yrs of experience. It’s been a year for me now. My writing skills are excellent so i’m sure my cover letter and resume are fine. I don’t get it either.

25. AnonymousSeptember 12,2023 at 8:56PM UTC

    The job market is in the toilet so I don't think it's you. Everyone I know is experiencing the same.

26. AnonymousSeptember 13,2023 at 6:06PM UTC

    Bit of a difference between a (likely) dictated comment on an advice site and a résumé don’t you think?

27. AnonymousSeptember 14,2023 at 6:16PM UTC

    Yes, because I *absolutely* critique my writing on an online discussion board that I wrote with my thumbs on a mobile device to the same standard that I critique my resume and cover letter. Literally *never* said that my writing was perfect, I said it was *excellent* but leave it to someone who needs to project their own insecurities onto some rando on a job board simply looking for support. You win, babe!

28. AnonymousSeptember 14,2023 at 11:46PM UTC

    Well, your question mark belongs inside the parentheses so I don’t need to be told anything by you. ;-)

29. AnonymousSeptember 17,2023 at 6:37PM UTC

    excellence and perfection are not one and the same.

30. AnonymousSeptember 21,2023 at 1:33PM UTC

    Creating a "relevant" resume means including currently valid skills. I left my earliest jobs off my resume (in an education field where people often include prizes won in high school!), I also took out the dates of my degrees, and took some of the older publications and activities off my c.v.. Miraculously, when I did that I got an interview and a job!