Age Bias...
What if a recruiter tells you that you made the small pool from a much larger search of people to be interviewed for a job, however, the client has made a conscious decision to only interview younger people from the pool? The recruiter stated that my credentials were at least equal to everyone else. Yes, I am 55, and I have been out since February. I have my MBA, tons of client, people and managerial experience, and my technical skills are above average for someone in my age bracket. I have sensed ageism during this search more than ever. I could go on, but I wont. I can't seem sell myself up, and I am overqualified to settle back down into entry or mid-level positions. It is extremely frustrating. I predict those in their 40"s will soon start feeling the same pinch based on what I have read and experienced. Always open to thoughts.
I am 52 and had a recruiter tell me if you are over 45 they just toss the resume in the trash. She was a friend and told me that in confidence. This was in the finance and accounting fields
I'm feeling the same way and I have a simple philosophy. If they come back to me, then I say to them " what makes me better now, if I wasn't then". You could've had me and never worry about the posting of the position again until I'm ready to retire.
Phil, experience is being replaced by youth, no matter how you look at or feel about it. Why have a 1964 Plymouth Valiant on staff when you can have a 2016 Toyota Corolla? Answer that one and you will understand the new marketplace.
Phil, Unfortunate but seems to be the trend, I know where you are coming from. I gave almost 20 years of loyalty, dedication, hard work, good work ethics to a company and just put out to pasture so to speak. I wasted those years I thought would be appreciated and now just considered as old. Have you ever noticed that companies list themselves as E.O.E.'s but never list age as one of the issues they do not discriminate against, even though it is against the law. Heck even recruiters cant, (not supposed to) ask what year you were born. Companies just do not get it, they do not want to pay what you've "Earned", instead they pay a younger grad. less. they will however be paying for the lack of experience in one way of another, (i.e. you've learned how to avoid, go around, deal with)and the new will learn from experience and the companies will have to clean up any mess. Then when they are put out to pasture the companies will just start the cycle over again, rather that keeping the old (wise) to show the younger, (consulting isn't it) - not necessarily how count beans, draw a line or whatever the case, but so they can gain from experience. (Excuse any grammar mistakes, sometimes I get too involved) Phil stay focused, somebody will come along, (probably an experienced individual) that will value what you can offer "for His/Her Gain". I too, have had to look at entry level, been told overqualified, but will accept what I can tolerate only for a season, while I am still watching for something better. Best Wishes
It is actually one basic reason why employers disdained employing mature workers, salary and longevity. Salary is obvious, if someone 20 years younger has my experience and wants to be paid 40% less, then it becomes a valuable financial investment. Longevity, most employers assume that if you are over 50, you are looking to retire soon and will not stay long, and if you are under 50, that you will spend decades with them. The sad part is that workers are seen in the same light as buying a piece of equipment and employers want to get the most financial benefits (squeeze is the best word). And the hysterical part is that the tenure of younger workers is much less than older ones. If companies did their homework, and very few do, they will realize that older workers can not only provide higher productivity but longer tenure / stay thus helping not only maintaining but increasing profit margins. In few words, older workers should be seen as shares in well established companies such as Coca Cola, IBM to mention few that although they are old, they still deliver better margins / profits in the long run. I am not advocating for people to be considered as trading commodities but more of long term valuable investments. Industry's logic needs to change where long term and not short term profits should be the norm and not the exception. Unfortunately, we are decades away from seeing this and I can see the Catholic Church admitting women as priests before industry looks at mature workers as good long term investment assets.
There is a large age bias out there, no one wants to talk about it in those offices, but is is real. I'm a displaced tech junkie and I have been for a long time, and at 52 getting a job in this field is impossible. Yet I have worked with programs I would NEVER allow to be used by anyone because things are difficult for for users, and in places that make no sense. But we are older than our supervisors so we are at the mercy of the younger generation who thinks we are old and way behind everything.
wHAT IF YOU APPLY FOR A JOB IN NURSING, ARE A REGISTERED NURSE IN GOOD STANDING
What if ou/re
what if you're a
registered Nurse with a 3-page resume and have been working for forty years. It is 8 years since I've had a job, and I can't tell you all the jobs, local and otherwise, that I have applied for.NO RECENT WORK HISTORY began to apply almost 7 years ago, and the refusals to hire have proceeded unchanged to date. How can I have a recent work history if they've all refused to hire me? What if I scored high on their exam and passed the interview? And have CPR cert? What of 35 years experience? Graduating Summa Cum Laude from nursing school ? Reply: "We will not be offering you a position at this time" Am I to work at Walmart for $10./hr? Will my biolls go away? Will I ever be able to move, or travel to see faraway dear friends? LOOKING FOR ANSWERS
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I have kind of the same issue. Although I do not have a degree of any kind I do have over 37 years of field experience as well as having been in Managerial positions for over 15 years. I have applied for positions with the same company that I worked for with the same title that I held prior and have been told that I do not qualify since I do not have a degree. I have also applied to several different companies and have been told that I was truly over qualified for the position I was applying for. My comment back at thatching was I realize that I am over qualified for this position but I do not have a problem taking a lesser paying position. I knew what the position was but applied for it anyway as I need work. Doesn't seem to matter to the employers or the onterviewers. The was even asked " Off the record" if my intent was to go back to work just so that I could retire in Five or so years? What the hell difference does that make? Truly at our age we are being selectively discriminated against but excuses are coming through to make it sound as if we just are not qualified for the positions. Nothing we can do. Spend all of our retirement money paying lawyers to prove age discrimination? Face it folks if you are over 55 and do not have a degree your chances of getting a good paying job are practically non-existent. I have a lot of good years left in me and I truly cannot afford to be retired right now. I need the work by I also know it is a losin battle..
I have actually had interviewers tell me they are looking for someone that will last more than two or three years! I'm 63 and will probably work at least ten more years. Sadly the only alternative is to dye my hair.
I know your pain friend, I'm signed up with a Temp. agency who sent me to a company for interview, went so well they accepted me....until....the young girl training me asked my age! As I don't Lie, I told her...that was on a Friday, I needed her to sign my time card and asked her to check the box if she was having me back Monday, she said , "well YeAh" on my way to work Monday the temp agency called saying not to go to that company! Said I just wasn't grasping excel....I NEVER did any excel the two days I was there!