topic Re: O/T: Job Hunting When You're Over 50 in Beauty

O/T: Job Hunting When You're Over 50

JamicaJammer — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 19:01:46 GMT

Venting here - and sounding very much like crabby old Maxine.

Re: O/T: Job Hunting When You're Over 50

sissy2 — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 19:23:00 GMT

I'll join you on that soapbox! I agree, I just read it takes 44-45 weeks to find a job

if you are 50-58 (I believe) ...I guess the workforce doesn't believe 50 is the new 30!

Re: O/T: Job Hunting When You're Over 50

just bee — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 19:25:42 GMT

I thought it was interesting that when I was laid off from a tech job after September 11, 2001, that the majority of those who were cut were 40-ish. I'd started noticing this trend early in 2001, but by the time I thought about job-hunting it was too late.

I have to say -- and I hate to say -- that I was surprised that I found a nursing job so quickly after spring graduation. A lot of the 20-somethings with nursing degrees have been looking for work with little luck.

I have brown hair with natural gold and red highlights, but nursing school gave me a few white and silver strands. I haven't colored my hair in years, and I'd planned to let it go grey or white naturally.

But now I have to think about the job market. I absolutely dread the thought of coloring my hair again, but some of the threads here about grey hair are so harsh.

I'm dragging my heels on this one.

The woman who hired me made a bold choice. She has told me that she likes that I'm "mature" and "cautious" and that I "don't get flustered." I'll take what I can get!

ETA:

I'm 54.

Re: O/T: Job Hunting When You're Over 50

Cookie777 — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 19:26:26 GMT

Do you have to tell your age?

Re: O/T: Job Hunting When You're Over 50

piperbay — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 19:26:55 GMT

A friend of mine said her company used to look for middle age moms because they certainly knew how to multi-task. I don't think that's true anymore

Re: O/T: Job Hunting When You're Over 50

missy1 — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 19:28:26 GMT

Even 40 and up are considered old in the job market.

Re: O/T: Job Hunting When You're Over 50

gazelle77 — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 19:30:48 GMT

Over 50.... forget it. You are going to be put out to pasture. That is the mind set today.

Re: O/T: Job Hunting When You're Over 50

HappyDaze — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 19:31:03 GMT

My mother in law recently left her high paying job and moved elsewhere and it took her 7 months to find a new job and the one she found is not a very good one- very low pay, terrible benefits. She is in her early 60's and has 27+ years experience as a nurse. She went on many interviews but found that she was losing jobs to nurses coming right out of nursing school or only a few years experience. Experience isn't as valued as it use to be.

I think at her age, the problem is they are worried about her staying for a few years and then retiring so they'd rather hire younger and train them and hopefully invest in their future. And they would be right because that is exactly what my MIL was going to do- stay for about 5 years then retire.

Experience isn't as valued as it use to be.

Re: O/T: Job Hunting When You're Over 50

Dee in OK — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 19:33:18 GMT

On 1/16/2014 Persephonel said: Do you have to tell your age?

When we have to list our high school year of graduation, along with any experience and what years we were at which location, that's pretty much a dead give-away. From the average resume, the approximate year of birth can be easily determined.

Re: O/T: Job Hunting When You're Over 50

NYwoman — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 19:38:42 GMT

The same thing here. I have been looking for a decent job for over 5 years and I, also, have a college degree. I even took a county test, scored in the top 5 and was denied a job in favor of younger women (usually relatives). All I get is data entry.

Re: O/T: Job Hunting When You're Over 50

moonstone dunes — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 19:53:07 GMT

You know when a headhunter pitches you as "seasoned" rather than experienced, you are "old".

I guess some professions are a bit more forgiving of age, but I worked in high-tech. At my last job, the HR group were mostly women around 30, the mid-level managers 35. Everything was about the use of social media like FB and LinkedIn. Everyone communicated by IM or text. New hires were heavily recruited at college fairs. There was no dress code and from my background, it seemed no proper office etiquette.

I worked in Quality and investigated customer feedback internally. It was difficult to do my job because IM was too cumbersome to use for my sleuthing and very few workers returned my phone calls or emails. I was a contractor - my badge showed I wasnt' a permanent employee. I was decades older - old enough to be their parent. Frustrating. This was a well-known firm too.

Re: O/T: Job Hunting When You're Over 50

RetRN — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 19:56:01 GMT

On 1/16/2014 missyw1 said: Even 40 and up are considered old in the job market.

Lot of places are trying to get rid of workers who are older. I find it very sad.

Re: O/T: Job Hunting When You're Over 50

mrs baggins — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 19:59:22 GMT

I was 1 month shy of 40 years on the job when I got laid off last February. Supposedly my position was eliminated. Right. So how come as most of my co-workers neared retirement they, too, were let go? More and more over the last few years all the new hires were 20 somethings. I'm angry but there's nothing I can do about it. Very frustrating.

Re: O/T: Job Hunting When You're Over 50

ennui1 — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 20:01:02 GMT

On 1/16/2014 Persephonel said: Do you have to tell your age?

Not on any applications, but it's kind of obvious at the interview.

Re: O/T: Job Hunting When You're Over 50

gazelle77 — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 20:03:10 GMT

my husband has been with a large corporation for 30 years. When contract negotiations come up later this year, I am sure they will offer early retirement with added benefits for those who are 60 and have been with the company a long time. It will be something to think about.... retire and enjoy life while you are healthy and able to enjoy life. Companies only see the bottom line... hire younger people and pay them less.

Re: O/T: Job Hunting When You're Over 50

just bee — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 20:10:20 GMT

On 1/16/2014 HappyDaze said:
My mother in law recently left her high paying job and moved elsewhere and it took her 7 months to find a new job and the one she found is not a very good one- very low pay, terrible benefits. She is in her early 60's and has 27+ years experience as a nurse. She went on many interviews but found that she was losing jobs to nurses coming right out of nursing school or only a few years experience. Experience isn't as valued as it use to be.

I think at her age, the problem is they are worried about her staying for a few years and then retiring so they'd rather hire younger and train them and hopefully invest in their future. And they would be right because that is exactly what my MIL was going to do- stay for about 5 years then retire.

Experience isn't as valued as it use to be.

This is a shame because when I was going through nursing school I worked as a tech and my favorite nurse was 68. I idolized her -- she was so organized and could run rings around the younger nurses.

Re: O/T: Job Hunting When You're Over 50

terrier3 — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 20:29:16 GMT

At my former company, they are getting rid of everyone who has been there a while and is entitled to a pension. New hires only get a 401k - not both like we did. "Getting rid" as in - harassing people and making life so miserable they will want to leave. That way they don't have to pay unemployment. Last July 7 people left our office, out of 12 salespeople - over 50% in one month. I lasted until the end of the year, after lining up consulting work.

The company is up for sale. Just recently I read how they were an "astounding" cable company - they had cut costs to the bone! Yes they had - reduced commissions by 2/3 over 5 years to make themselves more attractive for a sale...which didn't help anyone's paychecks in my department.

I am lucky to be able to work for myself as a consultant and will make the same this year as I did last year for them. Now though I will have lots of business deductions to help my bottom line and none of the hassles...I feel really blessed to not have to rely on a large company anymore and all the indignities that come when you get older.

I am picking up lots of part time assignments...companies are finding me great to hire not only because I am experienced, but because they don't have to pay me any benefits!!!!!! They are saving money.

That is sad....I am happy for the ACA every day!

Re: O/T: Job Hunting When You're Over 50

applebutter — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 20:49:59 GMT

I certainly can't speak for all industries or employers, but every company I've worked has found immense value in the wisdom and experience of older workers. I work in HR, and we regularly hire workers over 50 at my company.

However, I will say that some of the struggles I've experienced with older workers are that there is a tendency to not embrace new technology and skills that can be debilitating to their job security and/or marketability. In many cases, that is what drives employers to seek younger workers, not age in and of itself.

Re: O/T: Job Hunting When You're Over 50

RinaRina — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 21:36:03 GMT

On 1/16/2014 RetRN said:
On 1/16/2014 missyw1 said: Even 40 and up are considered old in the job market.

Lot of places are trying to get rid of workers who are older. I find it very sad.

That is why I keep dying my hair. I do a lot of hair conditioners and skin care too. My company has 20 "branch" offices. There are about 50 people working in my branch, and I'm the oldest. All the people at the "top" of the company (Directors, VPs, supervisors etc.) are younger than I am.

Re: O/T: Job Hunting When You're Over 50

ennui1 — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 21:43:01 GMT

On 1/16/2014 applebutter said:
However, I will say that some of the struggles I've experienced with older workers are that there is a tendency to not embrace new technology and skills that can be debilitating to their job security and/or marketability. In many cases, that is what drives employers to seek younger workers, not age in and of itself.

Very true. Most companies want social networking experience, with Twitter and FB at the top, and various other programs, too,