I’ve been at my job 16 years, I’m a Customer Service Representative.

Anonymous

March 11,2024 at 5:37PM UTC

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I’ve been at my job 16 years, I’m a Customer Service Representative.

The job is so toxic,I’ve never been in such a toxic environment. The management is so unprofessional and shows such favoritism . I don’t want to be in Customer Service anymore, but that’s the dominant position on my resume. So, when I submit my resume online all recruiters contact me about customer service positions . I’ve had several phone interviews, but never heard back from them. How do you change your career path at 55 years old? Every job I apply for, I receive a rejection letter stating they found someone more qualified than me. Sometimes I feel it has something to do with my age. What position should I apply for? I’ve got to find something soon, it’s effecting my mental health.

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AnonymousMarch 11,2024 at 7:18PM UTC
I definitely know what it's like to get pigeonholed due to bulk of career in a single field. You could try to get another job for now in the same field and take classes or a certificate course in something else so you can get that on your resume.
Paulla Fetzek, MSEdMarch 12,2024 at 12:57PM UTC
Hello!
Sadly, ageism is a real thing and impacts those of us over 50 more than it should. I've been at my job for nearly 21 years. If I ever get let go - I have serious concerns about finding work just anywhere.
However, that's not to say all industries think this way. As it so happens, I work in the Hardware industry. Ageism isn't as much of an issue. Your time in CS may have set you up to pursue positions in Project Management or Account Management. Take a look at all of the facets of what you do - and highlight those.
All the best!
AnonymousMarch 12,2024 at 6:07PM UTC
Thank you so much!
AnonymousMarch 15,2024 at 1:47PM UTC
I pivoted at 50, but it required getting my master's degree and going in a completely different direction than my first career. It also meant a significant cut in income, as I was starting over from scratch. I know customer service is challenging and toxic, if not from the company, then from the customers, as most of them are angry, and a "thank you" is few and far between.
Consider continuing education in the industry in which you provide customer service. Consider any transferable skills. Suppose you are somewhat tech-savvy and have used Salesforce extensively (for example). In that case, you may want to look toward becoming a Salesforce administrator, so look for classes online that can help you gain a certification. If you don't want to go that direction, you may want to look toward non-profit jobs that provide case management, as many of the customer service skills are also needed there, and you are working with people in need rather than people constantly angry. The skills transfer well.
A job coach might also be an excellent investment to help you sort this out.