Age discrimination
Do you think age discrimination still exists for older workers?
Celtic it is interesting to know all of this!
27 days ago
Wait! Stop! Hold the phone on "volunteering to get a job". I started volunteering in 2001, after being unemployed/not finding a job after 4 months. I have now been a volunteer with my local fine arts museum for 7.5+ years. They never offered me a paid job. My applications for a paid job were not even acknowledged. But as a volunteer, I've gone from Greeter (2002) to Training Facilitator for new volunteers (present). I've never been offered a job. I've only been asked to do more as a volunteer, for the same pay - nothing. But I enjoy going there and helping museum visitors, the discounts, the free access to all exhibits, and the prestige of being a "go-to", dependable volunteer.
27 days ago
The following are three of the latest "explanations" I received after submitting my resumes &/or interviewing for three different positions:
1.) You're overqualified.
2.) They hired someone else at a lower level for far less money. (as told to me by a professional recruiter).
3.) Again, as told to me by, yet, a different professional recruiter." The company did not question your qualifications and wanted you to assure you that they saw absolutely nothing wrong with them. You met every requirement for the position. However, they have a "bad taste" in their mouths for your most recent employer and will not consider ANYONE (the recruiter's emphasis) who has worked there".
Folks, like most of you I'm sure, I have wondered "Is it me?" "Did I have spinach between my teeth @ that interview?" "Are my resumes as skillfully crafted as they could be?" "Did I dress appropriately?" "Did I come across too aggressively or too defensively during my interview?" "Did I communicate too much or not enough?" "Did my body language express something that didn't set right with the interviewer?" So you do as I did. Attend workshops on using age to your advantage; workshops on building a better resume; workshops to improve your interviewing skills through role playing; seminars on appropriate wearing apparel. You listen to professional recruiters and their tips. You begin to apply these lessons & tips and "helpful hints"-for most of them Do have merit. You even go out & spend money-that you don't have-to buy one or two outfits.
Yet if you're real lucky you get an interview that ISN'T just a pre-screening phone conversation (thereby precluding you from wearing those outfits you bought-thereby helping you to feel a bit better about yourself, too-or the interviewing skills you worked so hard at). Otherwise, you get the perfunctory "do not reply email" confirming receipt of your resume etc...and you never hear another word. Do you, perhaps, followup? I sometimes do. Being an ever-eternal optimist-I am hoping that maybe, they either didn't get it & please send another one; or, Yes, we did received it and was just about to call you". And your hope soars! But alas, that's NOT the case most often.
After a year or better of this, it really begins to attack your self-esteem & self-worthiness. Then. after awhile, it begins to take more & more effort to keep seriously searching. Then you find yourself making excuses for NOT searching; all the while saying to your self: "But I've GOT to keep looking!"; for many reasons. First & foremost the fact that your unemployment is running out which-because you have no other income to fall back on due, in large measure, the economic tsunami that erupted in Q4 of 2008-and you STILL have to put food on the table & purchase oil heat; desperation and real concern starts to seep in. But still you keep plowing forward. Have I described more than just my situation? I think so.
Is age an issue? It sure as hell is! We "baby-boomers" et al. have a lot left to offer. And we have the grit, determination, tenacity, stability, experience & the wisdom of our years. And we also understand what Vice President Biden once said: "There's a dignity to work". And I, for one, refuse to give up my dignity. Now, if we-perhaps as a group even-could make employers see and APPRECIATE and recognize the value of what we can "bring to the table". But, then again, we're all ever-eternal optimists, aren't we?
Thank You for allowing me to vent. Sorry for "carrying on". I best get back to the :job hunt".
1.) You're overqualified.
2.) They hired someone else at a lower level for far less money. (as told to me by a professional recruiter).
3.) Again, as told to me by, yet, a different professional recruiter." The company did not question your qualifications and wanted you to assure you that they saw absolutely nothing wrong with them. You met every requirement for the position. However, they have a "bad taste" in their mouths for your most recent employer and will not consider ANYONE (the recruiter's emphasis) who has worked there".
Folks, like most of you I'm sure, I have wondered "Is it me?" "Did I have spinach between my teeth @ that interview?" "Are my resumes as skillfully crafted as they could be?" "Did I dress appropriately?" "Did I come across too aggressively or too defensively during my interview?" "Did I communicate too much or not enough?" "Did my body language express something that didn't set right with the interviewer?" So you do as I did. Attend workshops on using age to your advantage; workshops on building a better resume; workshops to improve your interviewing skills through role playing; seminars on appropriate wearing apparel. You listen to professional recruiters and their tips. You begin to apply these lessons & tips and "helpful hints"-for most of them Do have merit. You even go out & spend money-that you don't have-to buy one or two outfits.
Yet if you're real lucky you get an interview that ISN'T just a pre-screening phone conversation (thereby precluding you from wearing those outfits you bought-thereby helping you to feel a bit better about yourself, too-or the interviewing skills you worked so hard at). Otherwise, you get the perfunctory "do not reply email" confirming receipt of your resume etc...and you never hear another word. Do you, perhaps, followup? I sometimes do. Being an ever-eternal optimist-I am hoping that maybe, they either didn't get it & please send another one; or, Yes, we did received it and was just about to call you". And your hope soars! But alas, that's NOT the case most often.
After a year or better of this, it really begins to attack your self-esteem & self-worthiness. Then. after awhile, it begins to take more & more effort to keep seriously searching. Then you find yourself making excuses for NOT searching; all the while saying to your self: "But I've GOT to keep looking!"; for many reasons. First & foremost the fact that your unemployment is running out which-because you have no other income to fall back on due, in large measure, the economic tsunami that erupted in Q4 of 2008-and you STILL have to put food on the table & purchase oil heat; desperation and real concern starts to seep in. But still you keep plowing forward. Have I described more than just my situation? I think so.
Is age an issue? It sure as hell is! We "baby-boomers" et al. have a lot left to offer. And we have the grit, determination, tenacity, stability, experience & the wisdom of our years. And we also understand what Vice President Biden once said: "There's a dignity to work". And I, for one, refuse to give up my dignity. Now, if we-perhaps as a group even-could make employers see and APPRECIATE and recognize the value of what we can "bring to the table". But, then again, we're all ever-eternal optimists, aren't we?
Thank You for allowing me to vent. Sorry for "carrying on". I best get back to the :job hunt".
26 days ago
Reggie002, Thank You! I've been in the same boat for at least the past 18 months. It's sinking. Yet I continue to look for and grasp at "life preservers". And I've been on the verge of giving up and going under. It's hard to be an optimist 24/7, 365 days a year; to continue to smile in the face of adversity when adversity means losing everything you worked so hard to attain/achieve.
Re: this topic of Age Discrimination - I just completed a survey from RetirementJobs.com about this very issue. Some of the questions were flawed. But in doing the survey, I realized AGAIN, how deeply between a rock and hard place I am: Too young (at 53), too cash-poor to be retired or even consider it; too old to get a job that pays enough for me to live independently.
Re: this topic of Age Discrimination - I just completed a survey from RetirementJobs.com about this very issue. Some of the questions were flawed. But in doing the survey, I realized AGAIN, how deeply between a rock and hard place I am: Too young (at 53), too cash-poor to be retired or even consider it; too old to get a job that pays enough for me to live independently.
26 days ago
Definitely yes. I, most certainly, believe we are discriminated against, but just try to prove it. It's impossible.
I had a thought. Maybe what we ought to do is to start our own businesses and hire older people.
When I was forced into early retirement, at 47, I looked for employment only to be turned down at every interview. Whenever I talked to prospective employers over the phone ( I sound a lot younger than I look) they always wanted to meet with me for an interview. But every time I went in, they gave me some excuse as soon as they saw me. I even took a test, which proved me to be an exceptional choice for a position. When I went to my interview, the young woman, behind the desk was downright rude to me. Of course, I received the typical letter saying they had made another choice.
One thing that has made it tough for most of us is that we have to apply for work on-line these days. I liked the way things were when we would talk to a prospective employer in person. They got to know us then. Now, if you don't have skills or education, kiss the idea of getting an interview goodbye. My 38 year old daughter is suffering from this.
Either way, I gave up looking for a job a long time ago. I just wasn't going to put myself through that anymore. What I've done is get items I can sell on craigslist, which is free, people come to me, they pay me cash and they carry their items out-done deal and everyone's happy. They get what they want, and I have cash in hand, which I don't even have to report.
One thing that is a blessing about the recession is; my husband finally has stopped saying, like an accusation, that I haven't had a job for 5 years. And now, he even realizes that employers won't hire me. That's fine with me. I'm not throwing myself into that ring anymore and be humiliated because I don't have a smooth face.
I'm starting a business shortly, when I get the money to do so, and I know it is going to be very successful. Then I can help others make the money they want and need to keep their heads up, which they so richly deserve. Because I will be recruiting elderly women and men, they will have the opportunity to have a decent income they can count on for their retirement or even during their retirement. There are no boundaries to how much they can earn. And I will feel great about knowing they know how to give it all they've got to have what they want, which is their self esteem back.
I had a thought. Maybe what we ought to do is to start our own businesses and hire older people.
When I was forced into early retirement, at 47, I looked for employment only to be turned down at every interview. Whenever I talked to prospective employers over the phone ( I sound a lot younger than I look) they always wanted to meet with me for an interview. But every time I went in, they gave me some excuse as soon as they saw me. I even took a test, which proved me to be an exceptional choice for a position. When I went to my interview, the young woman, behind the desk was downright rude to me. Of course, I received the typical letter saying they had made another choice.
One thing that has made it tough for most of us is that we have to apply for work on-line these days. I liked the way things were when we would talk to a prospective employer in person. They got to know us then. Now, if you don't have skills or education, kiss the idea of getting an interview goodbye. My 38 year old daughter is suffering from this.
Either way, I gave up looking for a job a long time ago. I just wasn't going to put myself through that anymore. What I've done is get items I can sell on craigslist, which is free, people come to me, they pay me cash and they carry their items out-done deal and everyone's happy. They get what they want, and I have cash in hand, which I don't even have to report.
One thing that is a blessing about the recession is; my husband finally has stopped saying, like an accusation, that I haven't had a job for 5 years. And now, he even realizes that employers won't hire me. That's fine with me. I'm not throwing myself into that ring anymore and be humiliated because I don't have a smooth face.
I'm starting a business shortly, when I get the money to do so, and I know it is going to be very successful. Then I can help others make the money they want and need to keep their heads up, which they so richly deserve. Because I will be recruiting elderly women and men, they will have the opportunity to have a decent income they can count on for their retirement or even during their retirement. There are no boundaries to how much they can earn. And I will feel great about knowing they know how to give it all they've got to have what they want, which is their self esteem back.
11 days ago
I believe we need to organize and share information and mentor/support each other as we all go through our job search! We can overcome this negative thinking however we need to organize first! What do you think?
about 5 hours ago
