I don't know if any of you have tried this, but I found myself trying to apply for an offline job throughout the past weeks, and happens that being 45 or 50 at most is "too much" for them when it comes to age of the ideal candidate, so go figure when you are 55 or more. On the other hand, I continuously read that there's no job for young people... huh? Most of the places I was searching for job required people younger than 20 or 25 years old. So I don't understand this; whoever wants to work offline but is above their age limit is automatically discarded, but those who are in the right age, don't bother to take the employment and later complain there is none. What are your thoughts about all of this?
That's really sad about employment. Especially here, even younger people in the ages of 30 to 40 are sometimes considered over the limit by some companies particularly for the temps which they prefer the young who are still agile. Truly there is a discrimination of age no matter what is stated in the law. All they have to do is to decline your job application for reasons of their own. Although there are problems in our office, I am trying to hold onto my job until I reach the age of retirement because I know I cannot find another job at my age of 53.
So true Corie! And the worst part of this is that while youngsters might be agile, they are just there, sitting like old cows without doing nothing at all, while elder people is really active because they try to keep their jobs and usually find such attitude like a waste of time. And this brings to mind how Chinese and Japanese people respect seniors, and appreciate their knowledge and experience, or at least they used to be that way until not long ago. Globalization might have ruined their standpoint about aging.
I tried to get a job last year during open enrollment for the Medicare sign up and all though I would have been an independent contractor, I have experience I was not put on the project which did not make me very happy. I was upset because the company managing the project required me to get a new license at my expense. Each time we met they spoke to me as if I was on the project when time came for assignments they just stopped talking to me, no we picked some one else nothing and the only thing I could see was my age. To bad, lots of good people are over looked because of age instead of the ability to do the job.
Truly sad Pat, because that's the point, if employers would make competition to select the right candidate for a given position, young people would be in disadvantage because experience we have earned through the years is what give us the ability required for many jobs; it's not about winning the Olympics or looking like coming from a beauty pageant, it's about doing the job efficiently.
I know I posted about this elsewhere on this forum a while ago. I think the only way to combat this issue which is all too real for many of us, is for older people to create companies and jobs for middle-aged and elderly employees. It seems despite non-discrimination laws and policies, companies have no problem finding ways to limit employment for those they deem unemployable or undesirable. I see this as relating to the attitude of many in our society that anyone over a certain age (or in other categories, such as those with health concerns or physical limitations) has no value or worth, and until that is addressed, the situation will likely not change.
Yes! Many times I would like to be rich enough to start my own company, in which I would systematically reject anyone under 40, or perhaps under 50; it would sound getting revenge on society, but this is what they are propitiating. As the world's population is growing old, with some countries having more older people than younger, perhaps those senior citizens with a fortune may start considering take supportive action, because governments seems do not care.
Well after reading all your posts I'm glad I told my pal to go to her AARP chapter locally about securing a job. I know it's very difficult securing a job, so as we discussed what's going on in our lives & what we can do to help each other with being Senior Citizen means we're older now, but you know we still need money, so why not have jobs for us too.
Two reasons come to mind why companies don't want older workers. 1. Hiring an employee requires training to do the job and also the employee learning skills to advance over time. They want employees that will be around for many years. 2. They have doubts about an older person who is out of work. Did this person not fit in, not do a good job, take too much time off, etc. There are of course many reasons even the best of workers may be looking for a job but companies don't want to take the risk.
And, let's not forget about health problems concerning older workers. Yes, the younger generation can have health problems as well, but not like our generation. Heck, at my last job, in my mid 50's, I had to have a hip replacement one time and rotator cuff surgery another, that took me out of work for a total of 25 weeks (12 weeks for one/13 weeks for the other). The bank where my wife worked for 5 years at, told her that they were illuminating her job. She is 67. She got a descent Severance Package, but was worried about getting another job. She was out-of-work for one month before getting a job with an insurance company. She had a lot of experience in some areas the insurance company liked, plus a Bachelor's Degree to boot. The degree is almost 20 years old, but she still has it. And, this insurance company is paying her $10k more per year than she was even looking for and what the bank job paid her. We were both surprised and impressed. Yes, younger workers can "goof off" at work, but it can also depend on a person's "work ethics", not necessarily age. At my last job, I was in my mid 50's and my Director/Supervisor was 49 and both of us would check out ESPN for sports stuff during working hours on our computers. If a "personal call", had to be made during the week/day, my wife would have me do it from my job. She knew doing stuff like that didn't bother me. No, I didn't have the "work ethics" she did and that didn't bother me. Heck, my Director/Supervisor would order things on his computer from work for his wife's birthday or whatever. Didn't bother me. I got my job done, but when I had some spare time...........yes, "goof off".
In reality this is really what is happening that some companies always want to hire full time employees who are young, physically fit and whom they think are capable to do their job requirements. But if a certain older applicant who had invested enough experiences and achievements from his previous works he/she can be given the opportunity and the chance by some companies based on this criteria. But however this is only for higher positions in the company where they hire old people who are already competent with the kind of work they want rather then hiring young people who are just beginners and with no experience at all to the kind of work that they want. But sometimes it depends upon the policy of a certain company when it comes to their recruitment process and it varies.
Your post reminded my last desperate attempt to get hired early past year in a moment I was needing money madly; I'm not sure if this happens everywhere but right here 7-Eleven and K-mart convenience stores have a banner somewhere near the entrance door saying to be hiring. You will see that announcement all year round, in absolutely all the stores in this city, with a single variant; some stores say "personnel up to 45 years in age" and some others level the age limit up to 50 or 55, so falling within this latter age group, I felt confident to apply. Well, one store took my application and said to be in touch "soon..." I'm still "waiting" to hear from them. At other store, the manager said to have an opportunity available, but it was about their actual personnel; she had to talk with them first in order to know if they were willing to accept a senior member working by their side. First time I heard employees make the last decision, that obviously was a no-no. In another store, I was sent to a different branch where there were only senior employees, but incidentally the store was closed due to maintenance works. Finally, I tried to get the midnight shift at a store with additional banners saying to be URGENT to hire someone for this shift. I know that many times people dislike this idea, but if I can stay until dawn working at my computer, I don't see why I shouldn't at a store. Well, they said it was a "heavy" job for someone of "my age" and couldn't hire me because being at night and far from my home I would have to walk, and that was "difficult" to me, besides having to lift heavy weights and so on. Certainly, I never considered the fact of having to lift weight because I never have worked at a store, but if they would knew how heavy loads I lift and carry through long distances, they would be shocked, and would then pass away knowing the long distances I can walk without getting tired. Well, but this isn't all; I gave up and forgot about the issue because I got the money unexpectedly from another online source. Several months later, I was crossing the street where one of those stores is, and I saw the "active" young personnel they hired instead; one of them playing with a cell phone, and the other chit chatting outside with a cop while people was waiting in line to be attended. And this story repeats in much similar way throughout most convenience stores in which they would amen their banner this way: "We are hiring!!!... but praying God to avoid doing it."
It's against the law in the Uk for employers to age discriminate , so you would never see a sign like your 7-11 store sign @Carlota Clemens , because they would have the pants sued off them!! It doesn't necessarily mean that as an older person you would be employed anyway, if in fact they are looking for someone in a younger...or older age bracket, because they would just drum up another excuse as they did with you and the ''weights' etc .... but they cannot advertise an age, and nor can they tell you that the job cannot be yours due to being too old or too young as long as you're above the age of 16. !!
One thing I do know that helps someone with some age on them when they are applying for a job is to show that they are more than willing to learn other ways of doing things. For example: In the Food and Beverage industry, an experienced person is more than just valued but grabbed up as soon as they walk in the door. But, the caveat to that is that an experienced person, (generally older) will sometimes be set in their ways of doing things and will not adapt to the house methodology and is harder to manage. Sometimes, it seems wiser to hire the younger, inexperienced person who can be molded and shaped into the type of employee we desire. Upon the time of interview (hopefully there will be one) if we guarantee the possible employer that we are: 1. healthy and probably will not miss days due to our age. 2. we are willing and able to learn whatever they might have to teach 3. we can demonstrate a work ethic and set an example of excellence 4. we are willing to follow management even though at one time or other we were managers or even owners of our own businesses. No matter the laws, there is always some sort of prejudice we have to face. It's a shame that age has to be one of them, and shouldn't be, but it's just the way things are and we have to learn to go around those prejudices with the way we present ourselves in an already terrible job market.
Also, upper management is younger now. We would all do well to seek self employment with the skills and experience that we have acquired over the years.