Two thirds of older jobseekers say they feel discriminated against ⁰

Over a quarter (27 percent) of jobseekers don’t research the role when preparing for a job interview and 60 percent don’t even bother to update their CVs for each role applied for – a basic and key component of any job hunt. And more than a third (37 percent) of jobseekers don’t research the industry when preparing for a job interview, claim new research from totaljobs. It should come as no surprise, then, that the research also reveals that 76 percent of jobseekers are finding the job hunting process difficult while 81 percent have job hunting fears. Fears include not being invited for interview (28 percent), never finding a new job (16 percent) and not having the right or enough experience (13 percent). For the older generation, a huge majority are worried that their age gets in the way of progression as almost two-thirds (63 percent) have said they have felt discriminated against by a prospective employer because of their age.

Yet the over 55’s often being the most prepared for an interview with a third of the over 55’s (32 percent) spending 1 – 2 hours prepping for an interview compared to just a quarter (25 percent) of 16-24’s who spend the same time.

The research also found that jobseekers are spending up to a staggering £1.44 billion a year on their job hunt. Each jobseeker spends on average up to £852 a year on interviews, which includes new clothes, courses and training, transport and haircuts.

On average, jobseekers spend £146 on every job interview they attend, including £33 on a new outfit, £20 on new shoes, and £24 on transport. 16-24 year olds spend the most out of any age group, spending up to £167 on average for every interview.

John Salt, Group Sales Director, totaljobs, said: “It’s concerning to see the amount of money that jobseekers are spending to get themselves noticed, when they are not preparing in some of the most basic, low cost, but effective ways they could be. Simple things like researching the role and the industry will obviously count for a lot at interview stage, as will the way jobseekers come across generally to their prospective employer in interview.

The majority of jobseekers don’t get a good night’s sleep (58 percent) and nearly all don’t eat well before an interview (85 percent). The research also reveals 6 percent have a manicure, 28 percent shave, whilst only 6 percent bother to polish their shoes.

Fear, a lack of self-belief and a defeatist attitude can come through in physical appearance, so it’s important that jobseekers aim to look and feel confident. One in four jobseekers (24 percent) said that getting body language coaching would make them feel like a million pounds when applying for a job.