Gold Coast man jobless after 426 attempts

[The Straight Story]

MALCOLM Holt is the face of an unemployment crisis that is affecting many of Australia's experienced workers.

Despite decades working in senior management roles, the 55-year-old from Surfers Paradise on Queensland's Gold Coast has been rejected after applying for 426 jobs across the nation in 14 months, the Gold Coast Bulletin reports.

Mr Holt is so desperate for work he said he was willing to sweep gutters or work in traffic control in order to pay his way.

"I've applied for jobs in the Bowen Basin, searched mines in Western Australia, applied for truck-driving jobs and even did traffic controller courses," he said.

"Once people see my resume, nobody is going to give me a job as a storeman or packer.


Read more: http://www.news.com.au/money/money-matters/gold-coast-man-jobless-after-426-attempts/story-e6frfmd9-1225971320174#ixzz18BQJxlHd

[SoCalDem]

1. 55..

That's his main problem.. Unless he creates a job for himself, he's unlikely to find meaningful work.

Many companies (anywhere) would rather hire three 20 yr olds than one 55 yr old..:(

[dmallind]

2. took me 400 exactly last year too. Have to keep trying - only needs one in the end. NT

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

3. If he feels he is "overqualified" for a position he should change his resume.

It sounds like, at this point, that he is getting turned down for being overqualified.
He should cut some of the job experience and superfluous qualifications out of his resume to avoid this problem.

[The Straight Story]

4. Problem with that:

Last 16 years now I have done computer work - programming, data center mgt, etc - If I leave those items off the list I would have a huge gap in employment. What is someone supposed to do, not mention that they worked somewhere?

I finally got a full time job, but I kept running into the same thing 'over qualified'.