"Thanks so much for taking the time to apply for the position of …

"In reviewing your application, we'd like to acknowledge the experience you've gained, though unfortunately on this occasion, we won't be moving forward with your application for this role.

"While we couldn't get things to work out this time around, our relationship definitely isn't over and we'd like to keep your details on our files."

I've had 78 of those emails. I expect to go past 80 and slowly work my way to a well-fought, if rather pointless, century in the next few weeks.

While the rejection emails always try to convey some sense of positivity after the "we don't want you" line the irony is that the majority of employers don't want a follow up as it's an inconvenience. It seems it's just too difficult to do that.

Since raising my bat at 50 I've decided to contact every one of the outfits I've applied for roles at. Only a few have come back to me (which is pretty ordinary in itself) and of those that have, apart from a suggestion that a tweak of the CV wouldn't hurt, I've been told "Sorry you're too old."

Of course, these calls are always made "off-the-record" and in "total confidence" with the "I shouldn't be telling you this but …" explanation offered as some sort of softening up preamble to the hit that's coming.

For a spritely bloke (and I do give myself a rap here) of just sixty, it's difficult to take especially when you know you would excel and enhance in the roles you've been applying for.

Perhaps, though, it's probably better to face the indisputable fact that if you're part of the "no hair or grey hair" brigade it's going to be tough nowadays. That's especially relevant if, like me, you haven't got a degree.

"They'll use the no degree excuse but it's just code for you being too old," a former colleague told me.

"It's demeaning but there are plenty of us mature types having the same battle," he said ruefully.

A professional consultant confided that many employers are wary of taking on "more mature" workers.

"It's especially relevant for the 55-60 plus group. Many organisations see these people as set in their ways, technically adverse to new technology, unwilling to look at new ideas and, let's face it, they're not that far away from getting the gold card and being looked after by the Government."

When I replied that it's a cynical way of looking at ageing workers given many of us are technically adept, have a great deal of maturity (finally), wisdom and life experience he told me: "That may be so but it's not the reality I'm hearing about. So you'd better get used to it."

Is that the case? Do we need to face facts and "get used to it"?

I reckon, despite the challenges, despite the knock-backs, we have to battle on. There's the honest appraisal that "there's always someone worse off" and while that can come across as patronising and condescending sometimes it's all you've got to hang on to.

And seriously for someone who didn't make many centuries in senior reserve cricket getting to a hundred could be an interesting experience.

• Doug Golightly is a media professional with more than 30 years of experience in online platforms, radio, television and newspapers. He's a sports fanatic and considers himself an amateur environmentalist.
• Doug writes at "Straight from the Dougout". Republished with permission.

Urging his media colleagues to "red card" references to suicide, Golightly cited an incident from the Ashes Test, when Shane Warne commented that a run-out had been 'suicidal'.

"It's sickening how often the term is used in this context," Golightly, a keen cricketer wrote.

"Our family was devastated by a suicide last year and I didn't want to keep sidestepping an issue that effects at least 10 families a week," Golightly told CathNews.

"We can't keep looking the other way", he said.

Writing on Facebook, Golightly noted in the year to June 2013, sadly, around 540 people had taken their own lives and current statistics suggest a similar number will do similarly this year.

Golightly laments the issue of suicide seems to have been taken for granted in New Zealand, and he says it's not good enough.

Talking with CathNews, he said, "We need to make a difference; we need to highlight this issue and I am searching for a tangible way of making a start; of taking a stand."

Recalling the Steinlager Rugby Awards in December last year, Golightly was surprised to hear referee of the year, Chris Pollock, flippantly say that Ireland coach Joe Schmidt looked as though he'd "hang himself" after the last minute win by the All Blacks in Dublin.

"It showed a lack of understanding, compassion and common sense", Golightly said.

Golightly is appealing to people to change their own language, and when they hear someone use terms such as 'suicide' and 'hang' to ask the person who made the remark to think again about their choice of words.

He also suggests if people hear it on radio or TV then note it on FaceBook, Twitter or some other social media platform.

Golightly says the language restrictions do not only apply to a sporting context.

"The same goes for the term 'political suicide' to describe some indiscretion or stuff-up made by one of our many politicians."

"It's not appropriate or relevant", he wrote.

Asking his media colleagues to make a difference, he received immediate endorsement by comedian Mike King.

TV3 and Radio Live sports personality, Hamish McKay also responded on Facebook, inviting Golightly to open his first 2014 Radio Live show.

Sources

• Doug Golightly Facebook
• Image: Twitter