'She boasts stringent journalistic standards, an acute sense of precision, and is highly cherished by her team members.'
These words from a former boss – which hold prime position at the beginning my CV — should theoretically simplify landing a job, correct? Incorrect.
At 67, I've honed my skills over several decades, but in the past three years, I've applied for 38 jobs and got absolutely nowhere.
This is largely due to the fact that factual TV is currently experiencing a significant decline, causing everyone to feel the strain. However, this doesn’t affect women differently. Over 50, it becomes more challenging. The market has never been more challenging to break into.
We are disappearing from the workforce due to our age, and this needs to change.
My initial role in television was working as a researcher for the current affairs program, Nationwide, during the 1980s.
At the time, I was in my twenties and thoroughly enjoyed the thrilling ambiance. Additionally, I was determined to pursue a career as a film director.
Maybe that's why I barely registered that, back then, senior females were quite scarce on television. Alternatively, perhaps I simply dismissed the impact since I was young, brimming with optimism, and filled with ambitions.
In either case, the distinguished gentlemen in suits who appeared to thrive whether they were in front of or behind the camera did not bother me.
Slowly but surely, I climbed the career ladder, and by the start of the 20th century, it genuinely seemed like progress was being made for women.
I served as a Series Producer at the BBC, overseeing programs such as Crimewatch UK and the nation's inaugural Holocaust Memorial Day observance. During this time, individuals like Lorraine Heggessey and Jane Root held positions as Controller of BBC One and Controller of BBC Two, respectively.
It appeared as though the glass ceiling had been dented, if not broken altogether.
However, by the age of 51, I grudgingly decided to take voluntary redundancy From the BBC since the parts I was getting started to feel repetitive.
It proved to be a tough choice. Although I was saddened to depart from a role I cherished, I believed it was the sole path forward for me.
Given that I seized this chance to achieve a long-held dream by obtaining my master’s degree in creative writing and completing a novel, a portion of my heart remained devoted to television.
Afterward, for some time, I crafted a diversified professional life integrating television work with print journalism and established myself as an author, eventually seeing my novel released. The delightful aspect of the literary realm is that one’s age doesn’t matter; authors can continue their journey indefinitely.
Over time, though, I've found that opportunities for television work have entirely evaporated.
I value how our sector operates as a project-driven industry primarily employing freelancers who get brought onboard. ad hoc To meet the requirements of each show ordered by television channels and streaming platforms.
This brings about brief agreements and an ongoing cycle of chances, yet older women are just being pushed away by those centrifugal forces.
I had applied for a position where my resume aligned perfectly with what they were looking for, yet I felt crushed when they subsequently reposted the same job listing without altering the description at all.
It seems either my performance was remarkably poor during the event, or the executive producer realized she would be overseeing someone two decades older than herself. While I believe I could have managed the situation, perhaps she found it difficult to accept.
Perhaps it’s my grey hair That threw her off. I began graying in my thirties – a genetic trait I embrace rather than resist – yet although I aim to appear as a stylish senior lady with a trendy silvery haircut, I likely resemble some folks’ moms. Maybe even their grandmas.
However, I'm also more fit than numerous younger individuals. I practice yoga, running, and swimming, and since my three children have become adults, I am able to put in long working hours whenever necessary. Though, I never seem to get the opportunity to demonstrate this.
Undeniably, women feel the impact of these beauty biases more intensely; however, men do experience them to some extent as well.
After facing a dry spell in his filmmaking career, my husband chose to pivot into becoming a psychotherapist. In this new field, however, his wisdom, distinguished silver hair, and somewhat Freudian look turn out to be advantages rather than drawbacks.
Moreover, our expectations are failing us not only in appearance.
I've come across a situation where over 50 applicants were vying for a Head of Department role and one of them was told to cheat her CV age By omitting the educational timelines and reducing her experience by a decade.
Or consider this instance where an executive job seeker, after mentioning she was 52, was informed by the Head of HR—who was nearing 50 at the time—“You're too old; forget about it.”
Those candid and unguarded casual instances fill me with disappointment.
I've never misrepresented my age for a job, yet here I am facing the consequences.
In my past three years of interviews, the one position I applied for had me overly qualified yet I still didn’t secure the job.
I'm certainly not alone; in 2022, the Film and TV Charity determined that at least 23,600 older workers were absent from the overall workforce, which represents approximately 12%. The situation hasn't gotten better either.
Although the screen time for individuals aged over 50 has risen during the last four years—from 21.5% in 2019/2020 to 23.5% in 2022/2023—it remains lower than their share within the overall workforce, which stands at 32.4%.
According to Diamond — an organization tracking industry-wide diversity — individuals aged over 50 are currently contributing less frequently as producers and producer-directors compared to the period from 2019/2020.
This issue belongs to the entire industry. It includes broadcasters, streamers, production companies, PACT (the Producers Alliance for Cinema and Television), along with the trade unions.
In our sector, we already have mandated ethnic and disability diversity with financial repercussions for non-compliance. I believe similar regulations should be implemented regarding the recruitment of individuals aged 50 and above.
Currently, I've redefined myself primarily as a writer—a forthcoming book of mine will focus on the non-fiction analysis of Hitchcock’s film Psycho—but I yearn for the excitement of television, which will forever remain a significant aspect of who I am.
Our generation shouldn't be dismissed too quickly. We should have our moments captured on-screen or our voices heard commanding 'action' from behind the scenes. It's high time we get these chances to shine.
The article was initially released on March 2, 2025.
Would you like to share your story? Reach out via email for more details. jess.austin@Axofa.co.uk .
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