I am a Chartered Chemist and Manufacturing scientist- work in and out of perm/contract roles in QA/technical Management within Pharma and Medical Device industries, I am in my 50s and handle recruitment as part of job, so my advice is based on that background:

With only 2 interviews, I suspect your CV is not doing its job. Have you got a modern format, with personal profile at the start, key skills and achievements right up there where a recruiter can see what you can offer right now? A bullet point list is good. 2 pages is ok but no longer. Chronologically based going backwards from right now. When I read a CV I tend to make my mind up with the first half page and then skim through. I haven't got time for a novel. I'm looking for directly relevant stuff that can help me right away. Don't put your date of birth, not needed. Focus on last 10 years, and only briefly mention prior to that, I'm not really interested in what you did back then unless it's pivotal to the job applied for. Don't include irrelevant stuff like temporary van driving as a student, I'm not interested!

Qualifications at the end plus some interests but exclude anything like member of the Communist party, or anything where i can make a negative judgement.

If you want , send your CV to the mods and I'll give you some friendly feedback

Cheers

Baz

That's a really helpful offer from Bazza, so do take it up. Address is moderators@honestjohn.co.uk - I too was involved in recruitment before retiring this year, although in the accountancy profession, so I'd be happy to look at your CV as well.

It's obviously easier in accountancy: I'm still doing a bit of writing and lecturing and there's more work than I really need!

And when you have your CV sorted, network, network, network.

Do you use Linked In? Much derided but useful. Your CV can effectively become your profile. Many recruiters and all recruitment consultants use it and a decent profile will rank higher in their searches. I'm surprised how many hits I get (I'm semi-retired from financial services) and I've had quite a few calls as a result.

I never considered myself a networker but I called up many of the people in my address book (the ones I got on with, and rated) and just told them I had left XXXX and was considering my options. Would they have half an hour for a coffee sometime? None turned me down, several bought me lunch (on their expenses of course!). You don't have to ask them for a job - if they have one, they'll tell you, and the question is a conversation stopper. The whole mood changes from a comfortable chat to "how can I let him down gently".

Just tell them (ideally truthfully) that you are taking the opportunity to talk to a few people you know, and whose opinions you value. Then try and stop the flow of helpful advice!

Ask if there's anyone else they think you should talk to. If they come up with a name, ask if there's anybody else. Follow them up unless you have a good reason not to - you have an introduction now.

You should leave with a renewed and easy relationship, and you can call them anytime to "bounce something off" them.

I started this sort of thing thinking I might fall into another job as a result. As time went on I realised two things - it could be a while before that happened, and I didn't want one! I now hate the idea of having to turn up somewhere every day. I have instead done a number of discrete projects, only things that I wanted to do and where I knew I could add something useful. I am much happier than I was when I was in full time work.

But do get your CV sorted.