I am astounded! My husband and I have recently sold our second pub and have decided not to go back into business again. So, in the last month, we have started looking for a job.

We have applied for various positions advertised in Caterer and at Caterersearch.com. However, once you have e-mailed off your CV to an agent or directly to the employer you hit a brick wall. Receipt of your CV is not acknowledged, phone messages we have left are not replied to, and we have experienced a general lack of enthusiasm and communication.

My husband has been a chef for 32 years and I have been in sales and catering for the past 20. So, in an industry that is always claiming lack of skilled staff, what is going on?

Name and address withheld

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