Hi Michael

You say you're not very good at networking. This sounds like an opportunity to me. ;-) Could you work on improving your networking skills as I'm sure this will help you in getting a new job. Have you tried connecting with people on LinkedIn? Or going to CIPD branch meetings? Or even getting involved in volunteering for your local branch? Time spent developing your networking skills, definitely won't be wasted whether it leads to a job in the short term or not.

Ibn terms of job hunting, have you tried looking at interim roles? Your experience may be considered an advantage in a short term role and it would get you some up to date experience at the right sort of level for the jobs you're aiming for. When I was transitioning back to HR from IT jobs, I took a maternity cover role in the first instance to build my current HR experience up and before the end of that role, I had secured my next, permanent role.

Hope that helps a bit - I'm sure others will have some great suggestions.

Kind regards

Jackie

Hi

I think it might help to stand back a little and see your self how prospective agency recruiters see you. They are seeing tens or hundreds of CVs for every job and your job needs to be making it easy for them to shortlist you as a credible candidate to put in front of their client (same applies with direct recruiters)

The challenges they face with your CV are (potentially) in no particular order

1. Your age
2. Your previous high level roles (HRDs)
3. Your career gap being three years
4. Being a Consultant 

They see the above and then see you applying for what you s#describe as  "deliberately aiming below level and the salary range I was on before"  and get understandably confused about who you are and what you can/want to do so they either put you on the maybe /later pile or move straight on. Inherent in the description you have given to us is a suggestion that you indeed wont stay and are just looking for a route into HR before moving onwards and upwards

I think you need to recast your narrative and approach making it easy for a recruiter. Being clear what you want and what you can do. This "might" involve reducing downwards some of your experience   or casting it in a different light. 

Chances are your entry may well also be via temporary and short term contracts and I would be targeting these.

In reply to Keith:

Hi Keith. Thanks for the thoughtful reply. What you're saying is very useful and thought-provoking. In fact, I'm not after something as a stepping stone to higher levels, although I do need and want to get back into a role. However, the fact that it comes across that way is revealing. The role that I interviewed for, although at a lower level than some of my previous ones, was ideal in my eyes and I was very keen. However, I must be conveying something that facts as a disincentive in people's eyes. Thanks again for the swift response. - Michael

In reply to Jacqueline:

Hi Jacqueline. Thank you for coming back to me so quickly. I think you're right about the networking. The irony is that I know that networking is vital, and in fact I've advised lots of others to do it, but I'm a natural introvert and this is probably what stops me from getting stuck in. Doesn't detract from your point though and I hadn't thought of making better use of CIPD contacts (my background is Occupational Psychology rather than pure HR), so there is definitely scope for improvement there. I am available for interim stuff too and include this in my searches. Thanks again for your thoughts; they are much appreciated. - Michael

In reply to Michael:

I share your pain, Michael. I'm a natural introvert too and I've always had to employ a 'fake it till you make it' approach to networking. As with most things I've found it's become easier the more I've done it.