Community Chat

[Marienkaefer2]

I wanted to add another thought.  I see some posts about "millennials and Gen Xers."   I am a Gen Xer (older side).  

I have to say, I find that many times I get along much better with Millennials in the workplace than Gen Xers and Boomers.  One thing I find, is that most are more energetic and creative.  They are more excited about their jobs.  Also, they are not walking around thinking they know it all, and scoffing at new ways of doing things.  I have learned a lot especially in tbe area of using new technology in our jobs.  They are very savvy and I've taken advantage of learning from them.  On the flip side, I've noticed that they have asked for my views based on my experiences.   Is it all wonderful?  No, every workplace has it's bumps.  But I certainly don't view it as all doom and gloom.  Of course, every field is different, and mine (education) is different than a corporate workplace.  However, as I wrote before, instead of going in with a negative reaction, it's better to find the positive.

[Marienkaefer2]

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@mstyrion 1 wrote:

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@Zita wrote:

Your replyi to crystaltree's snarky message was patient and well put. Why do people who know absolutely nothing about a situation feel they are able to give such poor advice?

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While chrystletree's delivery may have blunt, there is a lot of truth in what she says.

If you are 60 and older, it is indeed no longer "our" world.  The workplace is not now or ever going to be what it was 20 years ago. Some of that is good news. Some bad. It doesn't matter if you agree or are appalled by this. It just "is" and if you hope to eke out a few more work years, you have to adapt.

You can't show your dismay at "working for a 20 year old" You can't express your amazement at how the younger ones dress. If they are at work and not being sent home, then it is a sure bet their dress is acceptable.

What you can do is go to an interview showing enthusiasm for a new environment and new ideas. Do a quick check of your appearance. Have you updated your hair, makeup and clothing in this decade?  If not, do it. 

I retired from my career job about 18 months ago. I decided I wanted some part-time work and got a very good job, with very good pay at a professional office. It's not at all related to my prior career and I wanted it that way. It's kind of fun to be the newbie for a change.

Good luck.

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****I love this post!  So true, and very wise!   This is the kind of mindset that will be sucessful.  O/P, I hope you take note....

[HonnyBrown]

Daring, we need to talk.

Before I got married and lived across the country, finding a job was easy.  Then I move here, and my industry isn't here.  I was out of work for 4 years!

I also had someone call me and leave a message.  It was a position I was interested in.  I was working (temping) at a job fair, so I couldn't take the call.  I called her back several times, but was never able to reach her.

I found one job through a headhunter.  The refinery was 70 miles away (that was how desperate I got).  On my third interview, I was told that I had interviewed for the wrong position and had to start the process over.  I was desperate and agreed.  I filled out another application and went home.  I get home and the headhunter calls and tells me I had to go back because they forgot to copy my ID.  I asked if they could just transfer the piece of paper from the other file.The company said no.  I told them to forget me as a candidate.

I think my favortite was when HR called me and I thought they were offering me the job.  No.  They called to tell me that they found out about my prison sentence and to never apply there again; not just that facility, but at any of their worldwide companies.

Huh?  I've never been to prison, jail or even to a police station.

By the time it all got straightened out, the job was filled.

[HonnyBrown]

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@kjae wrote:

FYI, the job market is NOT good.  My very qualified son who graduated from a superb university is constantly on indeed.com as well as all of the others as this is how the process works today.   He is applying for anything.  Last repsonse from a company to answer their phones-receptionist type job-brought him the response-"we have decided to move in a differnt direction".  Really??? And I repeat, he is very bright and very qualified and very nice.

Good luck to the original poster.

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Tell your son to try a temp agency, or, if his degree is in a technical area, a consulting firm.

The temp agency will keep him working and he can make contacts.

The consulting firm will give him the experience he needs for the next job.

[LTT1]

@Sunnyfield  ITA... networking through all of the channels mentioned by posters (and any other ways) seems like a solution.

It is also possible that negativity may come through in an interview... so it would be best to "change how you think about it" before going for the meeting.

Companies probably are going to value an energetic, positive outlook no matter what age category one is in.  

And we can't change the fact that styles and attitudes have changed may be brought forth in networking, where perhaps people share the results of their encounters with other businesses.

The political aspect of "who gets hired" seemed to be even more apparent in my field (education).  Those who "partied" easily and were very social, seemed to be the ones who got the job.  

[wilma]

I am a baby boomer, and I was looking for a new teaching job last year when my school closed. It is difficult to find a job when experience means more money and school budgets are tight. I was lucky to find something. Networking and good references helped a lot, but it was disheartening to receive messages from schools saying they couldn't afford me - so no interview. My new boss is young enough to be my son, but he is professional and appreciates experience. I just have to accept the fact that at my age most of the work force is younger than me.

[terrier3]

I worked for large corporations for many years. 

First 8 years in social services administration and counseling...then 10 in radio and 20 in television advertising sales.

Things have gotten more and more regimented over the last few years (I think it parallels Common Core in schools, BTW).

I used to do everything from cold call, do customer needs analysis, prepare & present proposals, close the deals, write them up, write the TV commercials and produce them. Then we had to maintain relationships with our clients & get repeat, long term deals. It was creative & exciting, and well paid.

The someone came up with a great idea - segment the sale. Have different people cold call, set up the proposal, etc. We only had to "close" and then walk away from the client. Of course the staff were paid about $12/hr. and our commissions were cut in half.

Even the commercial production was segmented. One person in one city wrote scripts, another shot tape, another edited....all for less oney than producers.

The result? Sales went down and everyone was disheartened. My son is an independent producer/shooter. He is making a FORTUNE selling commercials directly to clients. No one seems to want to deal with 3 people - none who are invested in the client's business.

So I quit and went back to doing it all for my clients - at an agency commission - 5 times higher than what we were being paid after our jobs were segmented...and I work with my son at times now too. Thanks to ACA, I have my own insurance...the added income is offset by having to pay all taxes myself - but I still come out with more money in my pocket.

IMO people have to create their own jobs now. Something you can see doing and ENJOYING for a long time.

I enjoy being involved in all the steps involved in marketing and I like the flexibility of working for myself. I would rather have 3 part time jobs in fields I enjoy than one job stuck in a cubicle at the whims of the latest theories in MBA -land.

Let's face it - people over 50 are discriminated against in this job market. They want newbies that are willing to work for low pay & low benefits.

So go out and make it happen on your own. I think people will be surprised at how many businesses want to hire free lancers. If you are willing to take the chance, you will find that your services are valued.

[Marienkaefer2]

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@terrier3 wrote:

I worked for large corporations for many years. 

First 8 years in social services administration and counseling...then 10 in radio and 20 in television advertising sales.

Things have gotten more and more regimented over the last few years (I think it parallels Common Core in schools, BTW).

I used to do everything from cold call, do customer needs analysis, prepare & present proposals, close the deals, write them up, write the TV commercials and produce them. Then we had to maintain relationships with our clients & get repeat, long term deals. It was creative & exciting, and well paid.

The someone came up with a great idea - segment the sale. Have different people cold call, set up the proposal, etc. We only had to "close" and then walk away from the client. Of course the staff were paid about $12/hr. and our commissions were cut in half.

Even the commercial production was segmented. One person in one city wrote scripts, another shot tape, another edited....all for less oney than producers.

The result? Sales went down and everyone was disheartened. My son is an independent producer/shooter. He is making a FORTUNE selling commercials directly to clients. No one seems to want to deal with 3 people - none who are invested in the client's business.

So I quit and went back to doing it all for my clients - at an agency commission - 5 times higher than what we were being paid after our jobs were segmented...and I work with my son at times now too. Thanks to ACA, I have my own insurance...the added income is offset by having to pay all taxes myself - but I still come out with more money in my pocket.

IMO people have to create their own jobs now. Something you can see doing and ENJOYING for a long time.

I enjoy being involved in all the steps involved in marketing and I like the flexibility of working for myself. I would rather have 3 part time jobs in fields I enjoy than one job stuck in a cubicle at the whims of the latest theories in MBA -land.

Let's face it - people over 50 are discriminated against in this job market. They want newbies that are willing to work for low pay & low benefits.

So go out and make it happen on your own. I think people will be surprised at how many businesses want to hire free lancers. If you are willing to take the chance, you will find that your services are valued.

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***I totally agree with making it happen on your own.   That's what I did.  I moved to an area where people say "you won't be able to find a job there."  I started volunteering to get to know people, and a year later they basically created a job for me.  Now, I realize that my circumstances may be different from others'.  The bottom line is, you need to be flexible, humble (do jobs you might not otherwise have thought of just to get your foot in the door), and be sharp and on the lookout for opportunities (proactive.)   Simply applying for a job as in years past doesn't work as much anymore.  Also, simply having a degree from a "superb" university (what does that mean anymore)  will not be enough (unless you have networked the heck out of your time there, or have a legacy last name.)   It's not where you go, it's what you know, and what you're willing to do.  My brother started out at community college, and is now an assistant to the SACEUR in Belgium.  He worked hard on his way up the ladder, and it paid off.  Put yourself out there, add to your skills base, and be willing to start off in a lower tier job if necessary.  These are skills that I think serve anyone, no matter what the age.

[SydneyH]

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@Marienkaefer2 wrote:

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***I totally agree with making it happen on your own.   That's what I did.  I moved to an area where people say "you won't be able to find a job there."  I started volunteering to get to know people, and a year later they basically created a job for me.  Now, I realize that my circumstances may be different from others'.  The bottom line is, you need to be flexible, humble (do jobs you might not otherwise have thought of just to get your foot in the door), and be sharp and on the lookout for opportunities (proactive.)   Simply applying for a job as in years past doesn't work as much anymore.  Also, simply having a degree from a "superb" university (what does that mean anymore)  will not be enough (unless you have networked the heck out of your time there, or have a legacy last name.)   It's not where you go, it's what you know, and what you're willing to do.  My brother started out at community college, and is now an assistant to the SACEUR in Belgium.  He worked hard on his way up the ladder, and it paid off.  Put yourself out there, add to your skills base, and be willing to start off in a lower tier job if necessary.  These are skills that I think serve anyone, no matter what the age.

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That's excellent advice Marie, there was a poster here recently that had shared frustrations about job hunting.  I wonder how she is doing.........

[151949]

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@SydneyH wrote:

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@Marienkaefer2 wrote:

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***I totally agree with making it happen on your own.   That's what I did.  I moved to an area where people say "you won't be able to find a job there."  I started volunteering to get to know people, and a year later they basically created a job for me.  Now, I realize that my circumstances may be different from others'.  The bottom line is, you need to be flexible, humble (do jobs you might not otherwise have thought of just to get your foot in the door), and be sharp and on the lookout for opportunities (proactive.)   Simply applying for a job as in years past doesn't work as much anymore.  Also, simply having a degree from a "superb" university (what does that mean anymore)  will not be enough (unless you have networked the heck out of your time there, or have a legacy last name.)   It's not where you go, it's what you know, and what you're willing to do.  My brother started out at community college, and is now an assistant to the SACEUR in Belgium.  He worked hard on his way up the ladder, and it paid off.  Put yourself out there, add to your skills base, and be willing to start off in a lower tier job if necessary.  These are skills that I think serve anyone, no matter what the age.

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That's excellent advice Marie, there was a poster here recently that had shared frustrations about job hunting.  I wonder how she is doing.........

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Does it seem to you that this could be the same poster with a different name? The attitude seems the same.