I had lunch today with a friend whom I first met more than 30 years ago – we worked together at a couple companies, and between us know several women, like us, “of a certain age.” Many of these women are accomplished and have kept up their skills razor sharp. Yet they’re having a hard time finding work, even contract projects, heck, even getting interviews for jobs they’re very qualified for.
It’s clearly the age thing. (And I realize this affects men, too.)
Have you seen this happen in your milieu? Have you experienced this? How did you – or the people you know – deal with age discrimination/prejudice?
We moved from the Midwest to the west coast in January for my husband’s job. I had to quit a job I loved in order to move here. It was hard to say no to this job for my husband, it is 3/4 time but pays as much as the two of us were making together in the Midwest.
I have been sending out resumes almost daily since mid January. I have had 1 interview and did not get that job.
I’m in a similar position, bajamm. I left a job (my decision) and am currently doing contract work. But I HATE how much I’m paying for health insurance since I’ve gone off an employer-subsidized plan.Just to “test the waters” I sent out a few resumes/online applications. The silence has been deafening!
I was downsized at age 47. I was fortunate to get my current job fairly quickly, but a dozen years later, I don’t think I would have the same luck. I plan to stay where I am until I retire as long as they keep me. Although I am in a profession where I could sort of freelance or be out on my own, I need health insurance.
Happydad was laid off at 54 and it took 13 months before he got a job offer. He wasn’t happy in that position, and when the old company began to rehire, he jumped at the chance. He’s pretty much, well terrified would be the right word, that if a new layoff would come he would have no options at all.
I went through a similar thing although I took the buyout but I switched jobs at 59 and that was terrifying! I got plenty of interviews but heard very interesting adjectives to describe why they chose a younger person. Ageism is very much alive in corporate America.
My friend was hired recently by a large utility company in her late 50s. They decided she was cheaper as an employee than a contractor. Her H has had a lot more trouble switching jobs and getting hired. He’s in his late 50s early 60s as well.
H was always concerned about being downsized but fortunately never was! He was able to stay with his employer >45 years!
I have 3 friends who are RNs who had to switch jobs while in their late 50s—they were all able to get something but it wasn’t easy.
Several things going on. One, you have to accept that as we get older it costs more to employ us. Whether it’s healthcare or wanting to get paid for our “experience.” If the job can be done by someone in their 30s for less, they have the advantage. So you need to find jobs where experience counts for something. Or jobs young people aren’t attracted to.
Also change your resume. Don’t compile a list of positions that make you look “old.” Focus on accomplishments and skills. That’s what we have over the young ones. And the new “electronic” methodologies suck. It’s too easy to apply and the quality of applicants suffers. I still think presentation and follow up are key to getting opportunities. A lot will depend on the type of company you’re applying to. I think the jobs are out there, it’s just a lot harder to navigate than what we have been used to in the past.
I was going to comment that a lot of my peers have started something on their own. Freelance or small retail or niche business (personal chef, RD consultant etc). And not just the women. At one point, over half the people on our short street had their own businesses.
My neighbor became a business consultant after various different positions with different orgs. She’s now heavily involved as a volunteer for League of Women Voters. Other friends have also opted to become consultants or retire when they could have more control.
“ProPublica estimates that in the past five years alone, IBM has eliminated more than 20,000 American employees ages 40 and over, about 60 percent of its estimated total U.S. job cuts during those years.
In making these cuts, IBM has flouted or outflanked U.S. laws and regulations intended to protect later-career workers from age discrimination, according to a ProPublica review of internal company documents, legal filings and public records, as well as information provided via interviews and questionnaires filled out by more than 1,000 former IBM employees.”
I’ve taken the oldest several years off my resume, and ordered it by “relevant experience” with the length of assignments on it (not the actual years). If I can get the interview, I still usually get the contract. I hide my graduation years where possible. My profile pick on LinkedIn is from several years ago.
Yes, the last round when I was looking fot a new job in my late 50s I removed all of my work history except for the 3 most recent jobs. No one batted an eyeball or even asked me what I did in my 20s or 30s. I have removed the years I obtained my degrees also. At some point in your career those become not relevant. If someone really really wants to guess your age by asking such a specific question then I told myself I would answer truthfully. No one asked.
I’m glad my husband and I own our engineering firm. I don’t even see most of our clients - I talk to them by phone. I’ve been told I sound very young on the phone, so I guess that’s a good thing! A lot of our customers are architects, and they’re getting older, too (oops, stealing from Stevie Nicks). Additionally, anybody who knows about construction is usually happy to deal with older structural engineers, because a lot of what we know we gained through experience. Young engineers just don’t know enough yet.
DH is 64. I’m thankful he works out and stays in shape, because he has to crawl under porches, climb ladders, etc. (I leave that stuff to him!).
Another reason I hate LinkedIn. Yes, I know you don’t have to put your picture, but I’m convinced recruiters use it to discriminate on various issues(race, gender and age).
Fortunately I worked for a company for 12 years, then quit to be home with the kids because they wouldn’t let me job share or work from home a couple of days per week. Another dept found out I was leaving and hired me as a contractor the very next week, and I’ve been doing contract work in different departments for the past 12 years, with a few breaks. I imagine, given my field and this location, I could find a full time job, but who knows. I’m starting to get a few gray strands but I definitely look younger than my age. We always try to live just on spouses money in case my assignment ends.
I personally downsized 12 years ago (I was 48 at the time). Found myself a sweet p/t job in a creative field (urban design and landscape architecture) and basically reinvented myself utilizing the skills I’d amassed over my working life. Since 2006 I’ve been on layoff 3 times. Twice I was lucky enough to get back to the “new” job I loved, with people I admired and cared about. The 3rd time (3.5 years ago) was a LOT harder. I was in my mid-50s and while I’d get and have great interviews, the offers (IF there were any) were seriously low-ball, and I would not have financially survived. My personal saving grace was being offered a p/t position with a client of my previous (amazing) employer. I felt pretty confident telling this client I would join his company but I wasn’t sure he could afford me - lucky for me he’s a smart person, and felt what I bring to the table was worth what he would pay (in essence I earn 3x California minimum wage plus quarterly bonuses).
I’m turning 60 this summer and every single day I’m at work I push hard to “prove” myself. I never want my employer to feel like I’m skating or that they could pay someone less for the work. So in my case I feel I’m caught on both ends, both with employers and with myself. The “age thing” it’s real.
