Recruitment agencies aren’t interested unless you fit their narrow profile

I have read with interest your articles on recruitment agencies, and disagree with some of their views.

I have approached five recruitment agencies over the past 12 months; I have been interviewed by them all, but not one job interview has been forthcoming. Out of these five, only one has kept in touch.

The latest agency I saw told me I had no chance of getting a new position, they couldn’t help me, and that my only alternative was to go freelance. The reason for this – I am 36 years old.

I read in your magazine that senior staff willing to move are hard to find. That may be so, but when they are willing to move, my experience shows that agencies are unwilling to try and find them employment. It appears they concentrate on middleweight designers/Mac-ies, because they tend to move more often, which obviously means more business for the agency.

I have more than 15 years experience behind me, but apparently this counts for nothing. I feel frustrated and let down by their seemingly uncaring, and sometimes rude and ignorant, attitude.

I enjoy my chosen career. Now all I want to do is find a new job. Maybe now, being so old, my only option is to find a new career.