Thread regarding Wells Fargo & Co. layoffs

Job Market is Horrible Right Now!

Let me share my story and would welcome advice from any of you. I am 50 years old with a background in risk, compliance and audit. I have been searching for a new job and I am getting nowhere. I updated my LinkedIn profile and resume to align with modern standards. I posted a youthful professional photo on LinkedIn, removed my date of college graduation from LinkedIn and resume, kept my resume to 2 pages going back only 10 years. I have been searching for months and received one phone interview that went nowhere. I looked for a job a couple of years ago and although I encountered age/experience discrimination along the way, I was able to land a job. Any suggestions, or am I being forced into early retirement? So discouraged... thanks for your help.

by
| 4989 views | | 36 replies (last January 20, 2021) | Reply
Post ID: @OP+18Xp0R7A

36 replies (most recent on top)

@3isc+18Xp0R7A

I'm older too I've learned couple of things along the way. Tech skills supersede age. If your skills are relevant you can get work. And a lot of people will tell you a lot of stuff about resume writing, I take it in and like you, do what feels best for me. I decided to limit my resume to 10 years because of brevity and relevance not to "hide" (such dumb thought) anything. Last 10 years makes my case.

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @3jpx+18Xp0R7A

I am an older long time IT professional. I was told to cut off the first 15 years of my work experience on my resume and not put my year of college graduation. I left it in and did get the internal job at Wells Fargo due to, I was told, the experience from the first 15 years that I was told to cut from the resume but did not. I am leaving all of my job experience in my resume and my year of college graduation. I will not try to hide my many years of job experience. Like they are not going to figure it out anyway. Take me as I am. I get lots of requests to apply for IT jobs via email and phone calls, that I did not even apply for. They have me on their "desired" list still from prior postings on job sites, or prior IT contracting jobs. Will stay with Wells Fargo as long as they still wish to employ me there.

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @3isc+18Xp0R7A

My father had a high school education and worked in a trade all his life. He always used to say “a piece of paper lies still, you can put anything on it.”

Smartest man I ever knew.

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @2djt+18Xp0R7A

There are lots of banking compliance jobs on LinkedIn – many remote.

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @2klg+18Xp0R7A

I don't know whey @2pla is getting so many downvotes....

Oh, wait, yes I do.

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @2dbh+18Xp0R7A

"Investments in risk management infrastructure and remediating legacy regulatory issues are excluded from efficiency initiatives and are critical for our success”

at +50yo life should have taught you that paper will accept anything you put on it. and that these reports are honey pots aiming to lure investors in.

In the meantime, risk teams have been re-orged multiple times and the the smartest and most capable managers are long gone.

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @2wvc+18Xp0R7A

I hope to God I won't have to disclose my s-xual preferences to apply for a job. That should be nobody's business, unless you apply for a position in a house of ill repute.

As to all the checkboxes - remember, in most circumstances you won't even be seen by anyone. Unless you push you photo out there you can claim heritage, color and preferences you like. How would anyone be able to determine the truth anyway? all this D&I is BS. The real thing that matters is biased behavior and ways to enforce accountability for it, when someone in a workplace is affected.

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @2drm+18Xp0R7A

no. you need to learn how to apply for jobs in the time of ATS. I can teach you how to be in the top pick of the applicants but I don't work for fee. Drop your email if interested.

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @2hgl+18Xp0R7A

"Lots of old women in Risk with no skills of value and a insane sense of self worth that are grossly overpaid."

This describes a former SVP in ICS who suddenly "retired" this month after 20 some years here.

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @2uwd+18Xp0R7A

It's amazing how many people here openly advocate discrimination. And the irony of the proximity to MLK Day is not unnoticed. Guess that whole 'content of their character' thing isn't going to be happening any time soon.

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @2mty+18Xp0R7A

Oh, poor put-upon male, white, over 50 heterosexuals...

Cry me a river.

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @2pla+18Xp0R7A

also keep in mind there are more stimulus checks coming

They will get it back from you by taking more tax out of your paycheck!

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @2jri+18Xp0R7A

Technology Skills are needed in this market. Your background in risk is often no longer what people just look for.

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @2nam+18Xp0R7A

Loving these posts...nearly everyone is a HR expert with professional skills at coaching people on how to update their LI profile and resume (talking only about the posts/people who always seem to be rude in their responses to anything anyone ever posts - every. single. time. as any good self-absorbed narcissist would do, of course).

Take your pic OP. You got a room full of experts leading the way. SMH

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @2hjo+18Xp0R7A

It's a bold assumption to suggest that the only reason you haven't found a new opportunity is she discrimination. I'm not saying it's not possible, because it certainly is, but what evidence suggests it other than the fact that you haven't found a new role yet? The current job market isn't exactly fantastic. Lots of people haven't been able to find a decent job without relocating or switching fields. It's tough out there!

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @2dho+18Xp0R7A

Hey OP, if you spent the last two months waiting on calls you probably should have been eating turkey and wrapping presents instead.

Because that's what all the hiring managers were doing.

The end of the year is a bad time for a job search, depending on what you do for a living.

And 2020 didn't do anyone any favors.

Q1 should open up, Q2 should get even better as the world gets vaccinated and companies start to feel better about their futures.

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @2dhb+18Xp0R7A

@1wph+18Xp0R7A You said it perfectly bubba

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @2yhl+18Xp0R7A

If you work in audit/risk/compliance I’m not sure you could find better job security than WF which is under 10 consent orders from various regulators. With Democrats taking control of DC those regulators will have even more teeth than they did in the past 4 years. Read pg17 of the Q4 2020 10Q which states:

“Building the right risk and control infrastructure to strengthen our company continues to be our top priority. Investments in risk management infrastructure and remediating legacy regulatory issues are excluded from efficiency initiatives and are critical for our success”

Are you concerned about job security? From reading WF strategy it reveals a lot about the directions they are heading in.

https://www08.wellsfargomedia.com/assets/pdf/about/investor-relations/earnings/fourth-quarter-2020-financial-results.pdf

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @2xiy+18Xp0R7A

Seems like another joke post but here goes.

Despite the alternate reality position espoused by @1wph+18Xp0R7A it aint your age or race or gender or linkedin picture. No one here can help you or predict your future but jobs are out there. If you're not getting interviews you either aren't marketing your skills to the right opportunities or your skills are not desired. Happens. You're responsible don't blame circumstances.

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @1ewm+18Xp0R7A

If you are male, white, over 50 and a heterosexual, you are now at the very bottom of the totem pole. You really have to understand this new dynamic. Every problem that was ever created is now blamed on you. Power and decision making has been taken away from you, thus removing many smart competent people. One of the reasons why this country is falling apart.

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @1wph+18Xp0R7A

Your not likely working again, or your taking a massive pay cut after this. Lots of old women in Risk with no skills of value and a insane sense of self worth that are grossly overpaid.

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @1maj+18Xp0R7A

There are jobs out there, but you might have to be willing to move where the jobs are.

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @1jqk+18Xp0R7A

The market right now is highly competitive... lots of people looking and fewer positions since the economy is weak, so you really have to up your game in terms of how you present yourself... and how you search.

Modernizing your linked in is a good first step that is necessary but not sufficient. It might be worth investing in a career coach to pull apart your resume/LI profile, and help you develop a structured plan for how to get yourself out there. It takes time, persistence and a strategy.

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @1nam+18Xp0R7A

I heard if you get rear-ended by semi, insurance will payout well.. but you now the risks better than I.

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @1dou+18Xp0R7A

Try Walmart?

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @1xmh+18Xp0R7A

Your problem is real and no two ways about it. It appears that Wells essentially scr..ed your career. But if you are a long standing member , at least you got some extra vacation etc which is a minor consolation. Surprisingly I am in the same age bracket and I am only in my second year here. I am also in the same areas that you mentioned . I do not think O can easily find a better job outside because Wells has tainted me. The drawback is that you truly cannot explain what you did at Wells since most people will automatically assume that you did nothing of substance . Your JPM colleague who may be in the same boat will be given an automatic bump up especially when joining Wells because there is a prevalent notion that “If it is JPM, it must be good”. Wells is happy to continue to discount in-house experience by at least 50 percentage and if Wells does not care about its people why should the world? Your best hopes of getting a better job elsewhere will be quite low. I say with utmost respect that you should go the extra mile in impressing your existing Wells bosses and try to make a lemonade out of this lemon.

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @1uac+18Xp0R7A

Ageism is very real. I'm in the same boat.

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @1jme+18Xp0R7A
USAA is doing huge hiring in risk, but again pay is closer to 150-160k. If you're in Charlotte, there's
also Truist, BOA and Citi that's doing quite a bit. Other than those, look at some of the
regional/smaller banks. They'll be a huge step back in things we've been doing for years so not
sure I'd want that adjustment at 50+, but depends on if you're actually laid off or just looking.

to the person who said above. "they'll be a huge step back in the things we've been doing for years..." uhh, maybe not. Maybe they will be doing things we should have been doing for years.

But agree, have to be patient - especially for the more senior positions. Be patient and set your expectations low and you'll find something. You'll have to adjust your expectations, however but sometimes that can be a good thing.

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @1ben+18Xp0R7A

Citi has to massively ramp up risk mgmt and has been hiring.

On your resume and LI, take off dates of college and remove your oldest experience unless it is really relevant. This will make you “feel younger” and maybe gets you more calls.

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @1hxk+18Xp0R7A

OP here - it has everything to do with Wells Fargo. They are going to be letting go of 25% of 11,000 risk, compliance and business control people. There are not enough jobs in the industry to absorb these people when they get laid off regardless of age or salary!

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @1sdh+18Xp0R7A

What does this have to do with Wells Fargo? Nothing. Nice spam

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @1fyy+18Xp0R7A

Capital One has been hiring strong all through 2020 and continues to too this year too

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @1xcw+18Xp0R7A

it's likely not your age, but your pay. Most of the positions the other big banks are hiring for pay well under $175k with a smaller bonus % so if you have that much risk/compliance background it's a pay cut for you. Some will assume you're wanting a higher-level role and may not even call you. Would reach out to some recruiters who are posting risk jobs and see if you can chat. Personally I've talked with recruiters at the other big banks and I'm just going to sit it out and wait. My pay is just too good and until I'm actually laid off, I'm not leaving. Before someone says something rude, I'm an excellent worker and WFC gets a lot of high quality work from me. I'm one of the few that doesn't mind it here, but of course no company is perfect, and Wells Fargo is far from it, but at least they've got good pay if you're a good performer.

USAA is doing huge hiring in risk, but again pay is closer to 150-160k. If you're in Charlotte, there's also Truist, BOA and Citi that's doing quite a bit. Other than those, look at some of the regional/smaller banks. They'll be a huge step back in things we've been doing for years so not sure I'd want that adjustment at 50+, but depends on if you're actually laid off or just looking.

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @1cgz+18Xp0R7A

Apply outside of Audit, risk, compliance even though that's all you have ever done. Look into operations or management at other financial institutions. Best of luck!

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @1osp+18Xp0R7A

Check out the big credit unions. They are hiring.

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @1mmv+18Xp0R7A

its not your age or color, its your skills; look at the skills and how these job listings have them listed. Also do research into current ways of doing things and what companies hiring are looking for and do training. Problem with WF is no companies do things these old ways and that's what companies dont like. There may be a few that are discriminatory but in my field there are non stop people needing someone to fill their role. Maybe moving to a full time job in a consulting company where you are making the company money vs overhead is always an easy hire with great pay even on w2.

Also having a strong network with people not working at wells fargo will help you a lot too. Join communities of practice, groups on linkedin, etc

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @1npx+18Xp0R7A

Post a reply

: