AGEISM
The suggestion to keep graduation dates off the resume is good but the reality is...most applications are done online and filling in those dates in THEIR format is a REQUIRED FIELD!!! My resume is loaded with experience but I am almost 67 and I've been overlooked for awesome jobs--I am sure because of my age. Temp jobs as a medical technologist pay well but they are for the night shift or weekends only and I'm sorry, but I've been there, done that, for 38+ years. I used to wonder why the mature ones were the Walmart greeters. Now I know why (I don't even think they have greeters anymore). I know I'm not alone...any suggestions for landing a decent-paying job for a sharp, active, "mature" person? I'm trying to re-invent myself!!
I have been going through a divorce for two years and 9 months and as a mature 60 + experienced adult I have been seeking work since then. With a bachelor's degree in psychology, I have had to take jobs that are $10 to $15 an hour and struggle to live now in government housing. I have been going to food pantries for over two years. Off and on with unemployment. I am grateful for this. Texas is not forgiving with employment. It is a NO FAULT state and employers CAN BE CHOOSY. EMPLOYERS benefit not the employee. Most supervisors that interview me are as old as my daughter. I have found that they can be intimidated by my education and experience because I could take their job. I find it best not to act experienced and change my attitude by allowing them to be the ALPHA. I am still seeking livable employment to pay bills. I am employed as a low income. Still going to food pantries and clothing closets. Now working on Social Security Disability. Aging has caught up with me. You have to settle for less and work with what you have. Survive, and be happy where you are and know that it can get better in time.
I am more than 10 years younger than you and it took me more than 2 years to get a job that I am overqualified for (it is the same kind of job that I had in the 80s coming out of college). I was turned away from multiple jobs based on age. At your age, people think you should be retired and will not give you a fair chance. Only put the last 10 years or so on your resume. With online apps, try to enter some other characters instead of actual dates when those fields are required. I place a period in the graduation date just to put something in there and get the app submitted. Or just put in the current date for every require date field. I have heard your email address can be used against older workers, If you dont have gmail, you are often considered old fashioned. AOL or Yahoo are supposed to now.show that you are so old that you still have the old email providers. At 67, I am going to be looking to see if my money will last me in retirement. I have hated every job that I ever had in life and I dont think I will ever get one that I love. I was actually happier being unemployed for years and worrying about how I would pay bills than I am now with a shitty sales job in a funky industry for a bullshit company.
I am waiting to find full or partime
Nona: Yes, I agree, ageism is alive and well - however, you don't KNOW for sure that this is it. If you continue with this way of thinking you are only setting yourself up for failure. Don't do that. I'm 72 yrs. old. It is hard enough to make ends meet and live in the world today without having to think you know what others are thinking about you or your skills. Keep going and grab onto a more positive attitude - this will show to your prospective employer. Trust me - it works. If someone doesn't hire you - their loss....keep moving forward!