A recent AJ Bell survey indicates that nearly half of women are finding it increasingly difficult to secure employment. This struggle has birthed the term "doomjobbing," describing the demoralizing cycle of applying for roles into a digital void.
The "polycrisis" making job hunting harder for 45% of women
The rise of "doomjobbing" is part of a larger "polycrisis" of economic and technological shifts that are reshaping the workforce. According to a survey by AJ Bell, almost 45% of women and 40% of men report that finding work has become more challenging. This difficulty is driven by a combination of technical advances that have reduced the number of available roles and a surge in the number of applicants competing for them .
Isabel Berwick, the Financial Times’ workplace expert and author of The Future-Proof Career, explains that this environment is particularly hostile to women over 40. She notes that these professionals often face a unique set of hurdles, including gendered ageism and the unfair perception that older employees might command higher salaries.
The danger of "Botox-ing" your CV to hide your age
When navigating a career transition, many women feel pressured to hide their history to appear more competitive. Lyndsey Simpson, the founder of 55/Redefined and author of The Age Rebellion, warns against the temptation to "Botox" a CV by stripping away years of experience to look younger. Simpson argues that doing so often results in presenting a "smaller version of yourself" rather than showcasing your true value.
While some job seekers fear that pivoting to a new industry means closing the door on their professional identity or previous salary, experts suggest a different approach. Lucy Standing, a chartered psychologist and founder of the non-profit Brave Starts, encourages women to embrace lateral moves. She notes that while giving up a long-held professional identity can be daunting, many find that starting fresh in a new sector can be an exciting turning point rather than an end.
How to use "playground networks" to bypass the void
To combat the feeling of firing CVs into a vacuum, experts recommend leaning into personal connections rather than relying solely on digital applications. Isabel Berwick suggests that midlife women should look to their existing social circles—such as people met at sports clubs, churches, or even the playground—to build professional networks. Because many employers struggle to manage massive volumes of digital applications, a personal recommendation can provide a significant edge.
Building a "tribe" is another vital strategy for those navigating midlife transitions. Lucy Standing advises her members at Brave Starts to form support groups with others in similar positions. These groups can provide both emotional support and the collective intelligence needed to make meaningful professional connections.
What employers aren't dissclosing about their AI screening processes
A significant portion of the frustration surrounding "doomjobbing" stems from the lack of transparency in modern recruitment. While many companies claim to check their AI systems for biases related to race or sex, the degree to which these algorithms are scrutinized for ageism remains an open question. Employers currently do not publicly share the specific criteria or methods they use to screen applicants through automated systems.
This lack of clarity leaves many women wondering if they are being filtered out by invisible, age-biased code. Without knowing how these tools function, it remains unverified whether the difficulty in finding work is purely a result of market saturation or a systemic technological bias against older candidates.
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