<p>So would you say it is rare that an employer prefers experience over youth?</p>
<p>^ I think it depends on the hiring manager.</p>
<p>Tom1944… We talk about money a lot on this board…but money is not everything. Once you have a certain amount there are other variables that may be more important.</p>
<p>It will be interesting to see if hiding an age works. It is kind of hard to analyze this because each person’s experiences vary and it can be very difficult to figure out why a person did not get a job. </p>
<p>We are all guessing on which tactics work best… :)</p>
<p>“Well, my graduation dates are on my resume too but an interviewer going by those would think that I’m ten years younger as I received my degrees in my 30s.”</p>
<p>That…in addition to the way you are taking care of yourself can… be a positive. :)</p>
<p>I am finding all these posts most fascinating… Thanks for sharing what you are all up to in this sector of your lives. Li look forward to hearing more.
Any stories about SAHM’s with NON-tech careers re-entering the work force NOW, after 15 plus years out?</p>
<p>H is out doing a 5k on the local mountain.
He turns 56 next week. All his clothes are getting too big.</p>
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<p>Does he work in a field where showing off status symbols is important for job status?</p>
<p>Because downsizing reduces expenditure of mostly after-tax money, it can have a bigger impact on household finances than a raise of a similar amount of pre-tax money.</p>
<p>ucb,
It is not about showing off, at all.
It is about not looking old or defeated or obsolete. In a highly energetic, competitive business.
A man going through his mid-life crisis, being shelved at work is probably the most likely to think this way, but , hey, that is where all his managers are, too, just a bit younger, probably quaking in their boots- in their mid-to late 40’s, fearing becoming my H, in a strange way.</p>
<p>You know, I am just a more practical sort- but this is his game. He is good to me, and I am a supporter. It will take time for him to relax and find himself/see himself in a new way after being (and being very successful) in the same industry for 31 years!</p>
<p>Even is a good economy, there is no retirement program in this industry. It is highly competitive. We moved around the world for his career (making it impossible for me to work).</p>
<p>Ironically, H switched to a lower beta (lower pay/higher security) version of his job about 15 years ago. Made a lot less money in exchange for job certainty- HAAAH!
Gave up his “line” work to be in management, and now is being pushed back to the line, where he is no longer so current.
If the merger (bad luck) had not happened, he would still be the top dog, even in this bad economy. Certainly the income would have taken a hit, but the real issue is the sudden shortening of his work years.</p>
<p>Your suggestions and questions are all good.</p>
<p>MY question is: Would it not be great of there were a way to put all these well-educated oldsters back to work, to pay their own way, to defer retirement, to stay healthy, to pay some taxes, to increase US productivity?</p>
<p>Enough of this story. Although, I am glad to share a different perspective here. Hope it is illuminating.</p>
<p>It is a national cause. Having too many of us sitting around from 55 on does not sound good for ANYone or the USA!</p>
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<p>I have the same problem.</p>
<p>It’s not a bad problem to have.</p>
<p>I just keep wearing the stuff that is too big.</p>
<p>And replacing with smaller stuff a little at a time.</p>
<p>It’s a lot better than the reverse problem.</p>
<p>My rule of thumb is if you “feel” like something negative is happening or going to happen it probably is. Hopefully your H is looking. Are you employed? If so, then he might be able to wait it out. Things have a way of equalizing after about a year after the actual merger occurs. Mergers are the worst for crazy politics and lots of angst. Generally you can’t even count on your manager or team mates or anyone because they are also going crazy and filled with angst. Mergers or acquisitions are not for the faint of heart. I’ve lived through three or four of them in my career and ended up OK but I hope never to go through one again.</p>
<p>performers mom, if I was in your shoes, I would be out looking for a job, any entry level job, especially one in an organization that I might be able to work my way up in. Temporary work would be fine, since I know that some times temporary workers who do a great job can move into more permanent jobs, and that “temporary” is a way for employers to try you out in the position. Barring any major health issues or outside responsibilities such also full time care taking, I would be actively looking for work, or working, to help cushion the financial blow if husband looses job, and also to make myself more hireable for the next job in my future. I would also be hunting for cheaper real estate - rented if a move is in my future, purchased if not, and I would be meeting with a financial planner and husband so that he could hear an outside view on why selling house in this situation is a good thing. You can’t change what will happen to husband at work, but you can help what happens outside of work. I strongly urge you to take steps so that a job loss won’t be as financially devastating to you both!</p>
<p>Merger happened three years ago. Never expected his division to be to taken over by the merged co, but it happened. H spent the better part of the first year and a half taking care of his workers, trying to save them, helping them get placed elsewhere: captain of his ship. He did not feel great about his own prospects, but he has survived, which is HUGE accomplishment. But he was demoted, and has no real job delineations, causing the performance reviews to be weird. Uncharted territory!
Since the demotion back to the line he has been productive, has brought in business, assists/consults in managing, but is in never never land.
How many more weird performance reviews can he get?!</p>
<p>No, I do not work (for money@@). I have followed H around the world to support his career for the last 20 years, raised the girls, been a heavy volunteer, have an out of date MBA and top UG degree. But I am woefully unemployable! In a better economy, it would be a different story- I would think it a good risk to invest in myself a bit, and in something local. As it is, I have no idea where we will live after 2012! My only option is to go back to heavy volunteering, which has some benefits to me, but I am not thrilled about it career-wise, although I do like to do good for others.</p>
<p>I am getting bored with my story. But it may be a perspective others have not seen before…</p>
<p>Performer’s Mom</p>
<p>Regarding your own job prospects I strongly recommend you read the book Back on the Career Track by Carol Fishman COhen and Vivian Steir Rabin and check out their website <a href=“http://www.irelaunch.com%5B/url%5D”>www.irelaunch.com</a>. They have really thought through the whole tricky business of going back to work and have fantastic insight and resources. The book and website are great on their own but they offer other options as options as well such as conferences, “relaunch circles” etc. I think after you review these sources you will be more optimistic about your own prospects and start to develop ideas for a “relaunch.” Best of luck to you.</p>
<p>performersmom, I have a liberal arts degree and worked for about 15 years in technical writing/tech support/marketing type jobs at software companies prior to staying home for ten years.</p>
<p>My youngest started college this August, just after my husband lost his job. I had no plans to reenter the workforce, but circumstances forced my hand.</p>
<p>I looked for a part-time job, and found a temporary job at a university through CraigsList (at a very entry level rate of pay, but I figured it was at least good for a reference). While at this temporary job, I continued to browse CraigsList for part-time job postings, and sent in a resume to anything that looked like a possible fit. (Because I have been out of the workforce for so long, I looked primarily at administrative assistant type positions.)</p>
<p>Personally I believe part-time is a good place to start, because you will not be competing with people who really need to work full-time to pay their bills.</p>
<p>The job posting to which I responded and which resulted in a job specified that fluency in Spanish or German was preferred. Thus my competency in German is most likely what got me in the door, although I most likely will not actually use German in this position. They liked the fact that I was “more intelligent” than other applicants, and therefore have the potential to contribute in roles other than that of an administrative assistant. I am thus positioned to work my way into a full-time job with more responsibility.</p>
<p>I must say that, from the outset, this was my strategy (look for a part-time entry level job with potential for advancement), and it worked out quite well in my case.</p>
<p>Note also that neither job requested any references.</p>
<p>^^ Sounds like your strategy was excellent. My problem is that I need to have a job with benefits- at least after I run out of COBRA, which usually eliminates part-time work. I’m hoping my current contract position, while not ideal, goes perm early next year.</p>
<p>I have been asked for at least 3 references for everything to which I’ve replied.</p>
<p>I am extremely fortunate because this job includes benefits, even though I am only working 25 hours a week.</p>
<p>Since their standard health benefit is 80% of an individual plan, most of my pay will actually go toward health insurance (since we would otherwise be on COBRA), but I have a foot in the door of reemployment.</p>
<p>(Note also that MomofWildChild is in the executive realm of employment, whereas I am targeting administrative type positions, given that my work experience is 10 years old and my education was in the realm of philosophy and German literature. :o )</p>
<p>performersmom, I agree with fendrock that part time is a good place to start. I went back to work after 18 years as a SAHM. I started out as Christmas help for a retailer at the local mall because I couldn’t think of any other job that I would be qualified for. After 2 years I was promoted to a full time management position, with great benefits as well. It’s not a glamorous high paying job, but it is fun, physically demanding (which to me is a plus most of the time), and helps pay for a good chunk of college expenses. Plus I now have current managerial experience to put on a resume, so I’m in a better position if I ever have to be looking for a job again.</p>
<p>My past work experience was with accounting systems on pcs when pcs were just starting to be used in businesses. I did installations, data transfers, training, networking and software support, a little programming, and all kinds of good stuff, but after 18 years of technology advancing, all that experience is pretty worthless, so I was basically starting from scratch.</p>
<p>These are fabulous suggestions, with good stories to back them!
Thank you for giving me some inspirational ideas. And some great resources!</p>
<p>Yes, I have to start from scratch!!!</p>
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<p>I still don’t see why moving to a smaller, less expensive house after you no longer need a bigger, more expensive house is “looking old or defeated or obsolete”. The fact that he cares about what other people think of the house (or other non-work lifestyle spending) does indicate that there is some sort of status symbol type of thing going on (i.e. that choosing a smaller house is seen as a symbol of being “old or defeated or obsolete” even if it has nothing to do with one’s work performance).</p>
<p>I find it hard to believe that anyone would realize you had moved, or would care if you moved. Honestly! :eek:</p>
<p>I have hired “seasoned” employees and new college grads. The best thing about people with work experience and life experience is: good communication skills; emotionally stable; they understand human nature (so they realize “waiting for so and so to call me back” is no excuse for picking up the phone and following up). On the downside, some employees who used to be self-employed would drive me up the wall when they’d pontificate at length with the lecture: “see – you can’t do that – when I had my own shop” bla bla bla. Helpful offering of salient information is one thing if done in a respectful manner. A lecture to your boss who is 20 years younger than you is not.</p>