Fashion

[Campion]

Yes. I changed careers due to age discrimination. Within weeks, most of us over fifty or near it were fired or made to leave where we were working.

I went for interviews and got LOTS--great resume, a lot of singular experience, not usual and helpful, too. All went well until face to face and you could see the "oh, she's OLD" on their faces. I changed careers where it was a benefit to be older and I've been there ten years, making more than on my old job after I retrained and started over (took me a few years, but I was soon making more.)

There IS age discrimination and let me tell you, it's tacitly approved of, because of high unemployment among the younger group and because HR tends to be youngish. We had to school our HR to stop hiring right out of school--they tend to fail because it takes some seasoning to do what we do successfully.

[maryebrown_1]

On 3/9/2015 phoenixbrd said:

age discrimination is alive and well....just often subtle or covert.

Yes it is ! And, it applies to any/every employer, for every job that is advertised by them...there is over 200 people applying, and the "interviews" always go to everyone under 40 y/o. They NEVER notify the other applicants about any "status", and I FILE that under *the ageism employer* to NEVER answer another ad.

The IRONIC thing is that they hire the YOUNGER people to fill the positions and, BOOM, 90 days later, the ad appears in the paper - THIS goes on, every 3 Months, and goes on for years !

Yup, Ageism/discrimination is ALIVE and constantly PRACTICED (anonymously) - especially, where I live.

[Desertdi]

One interviewer actually said, "You're older than my grandmother."

Another one said, "Are your references still alive?"

[karmakat]

Experiencing it right now and feeling the need to start documenting. Not that it will do me any good in the long run... but it helps me to keep my mouth shut, which I suppose is a plus. Employers want the young, and yet the government keeps telling us all we should work longer and retire older. It doesn't add up.

[NYwoman]

I've heard every euphemism there is when applying for a job. It is crystal clear that all other forms of discrimination are shouted about but agism is accepted.

[qvcaddition]

Scooby Doo as a single mom back then with three small children, I had the same experience. Today, I am invisible. I did get a good job at age 55 . Wait unit you are in your 70,s being discriminated against and not in the work place.. Because they think Seniors are useless and stupid,,they try to put things over on them. Case in point. Was getting a price to have a tree cut down, 700 dollars. The young man next door comes out, same tree( it was his they suggested I have cut) in front of me they told him 400' Can you believe that. I knew the guy was untrustworthy suggesting I pay for someone elses, tree which is a law suit waiting to happen. So it is not just with younger women, but a man gets better treatment, unless of course I was young and sexy. Yes discrimination is alive and well. In my 20,s, I took the place in a job from a 55 year old women.

[Campion]

These experiences above are typical. And who said "invisible?" I had that discussion with a a friend fifteen years ago (and I'm in my sixties now.) He is my age and bald and we said if we look like we do (middle aged or older) we are literally invisible in public.

Yesterday was a case in point. It was rainy and nasty out and I was putting my shopping cart back in the rack of carts at the store. A young man was gathering carts and pushed them right into me as I stood at the end of the row of carts. He just didn't see me.

NOW....I am six feet tall and 200lbs soaking wet. He didn't see me? Yep. I'm invisible. Which is what I said to him "That's ok, son, I'm the invisible woman."

because I'm invisible, he didn't hear it. ..... ... hahah.

[handygal2]

On 3/10/2015 karmakat said: Experiencing it right now and feeling the need to start documenting. Not that it will do me any good in the long run... but it helps me to keep my mouth shut, which I suppose is a plus. Employers want the young, and yet the government keeps telling us all we should work longer and retire older. It doesn't add up.

So true. I guess that only applies to those who are lucky enough to keep their long-time jobs, or who are self-employed.

[qvcaddition]

Handygal, I documented four years and sued the person that discriminated against me on the job. It took two years to win. Then they wanted me to sue the company for allowing it, but I had made my point. It was not the money, it was the principal. This was back in the nineties . Do not trust anyone on the job, when crunch time comes, those you confined in go against to save their a##.

After I stood alone, and all was finished, and I was at a new job, one of the gals got the same treatment as me and had the nerve to call me and ask how I went about it. I hung up on her like she left me hanging to dry by myself. Trust no one, keep your own counsel. Learn from my experience.

[Suzeecat]

On 3/9/2015 quilter61 said:

I am not saying that there is not age discrimination. However, after working 28 years at one company got tired of the politics and starting looking for a new position. Found one within 2 months and I am 61. I think a lot depends on the corporate culture and also you need to keep your skills up to date. On all the interviews I went on every one asked about my computer skills.

Oooohh, that's great news, quilter! Thanks for sharing your positive experience!