Comments on: The Age Barrier

By: Don

Don — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 01:12:17 +0000

I’m 47 with over 25 yrs experiance in almost every form of carpentry, very little managment work, always put on my tool belt instead. I’ve been called over qualified too many times. unemployment ran out this week, so i decited to start a handyman service which includes lawn service also (too bad its the dryest yr in south texas since 1925) but looking for a good company thats willing to give an old dog a chance.

By: Allen

Allen — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:20:22 +0000

I echo many of the thoughts that Jerry expressed. I have worked in IT
for over 25 years with a bachelors
degree plus a couple of Technical school programs. I have worked as a
Programmer with what the field calls
the legacy languages and have experienced 2 layoffs in last 18 months(from initially a permanent position as the downturn started and later a contract position as downturn
accelerated at the end of last year).
At nearly 55 years old, I am now back
in school yet again learning the newest and most popular software. I am
just hoping that when I get out of school, the economy will have started to turn around and that somebody will
give me a new opportunity.

By: Yolanda

Yolanda — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 22:57:31 +0000

I am a 30 year veteran of being a hairstylist, the only other skills that I have was 30 years ago. I had alot of clerical knowledge, but I started applying for all types of Customer Service jobs, they required clerical and being able to attent to customers. I recieved several responses only because I wanted part-time positions. But, as a hairdresser in another state, my license is not valid, so I must take the test again, after 30 years, go figure, here I go again studying like a teenager. Wish me luck…

By: Jerry

Jerry — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 18:11:45 +0000

Many of us boomers worked in technical and professional jobs in industries with little or no college degrees. That’s when compamnies actually trained people for/in their jobs.
Many of Those jobs/ companies/ industries have collapsed or disappeared to offshore sourcing and we find the current emloyers require a degree’s for entry level positions.
So we aren’t qualified for the jobs we were trained in as young adults and aren’t qualified for management jobs we recently were downsized out of?
Age Discrimination?
HMMM, with less than 27% of all working age people having a college degree where are all these “qualified people” coming from?
Immigration, work Visas??
It’s also weird that as hard as we worked to make sure our kids got better education and better futures than we did, many are out of school with their bachelors AND out of work. They say they now need a Masters or Phd?
I think the employers are making a serious mistake by not using the senior skills that are out there to help them succeed but it seems that’s the way it is for us in the over 50 crowd. Yet our politicians want to raise the retirement age?
A confusing world we live in and it gets tougher every day.

By: Margie

Margie — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 17:45:27 +0000

Same here, Mary B. I was “separated” two years ago after 30 years (two days before my 59th birthday [hmmmmmm]). I learned everything “in the trenches” (no degree). Unemployment ran out long ago, I’m living on what little I managed to save for retirement (and it’s dwindling fast!), and when I see a BACHELOR’S degree required for an Admin. Assistant (we used to call them Secretaries!), I could just SCREAM!

By: Mary B

Mary B — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 13:32:39 +0000

I am 63 years old and was laid off in August of ‘08. I have been doing technical work for over 20 years and now when I am looking for work, everyone wants a degree. I learned my craft on the job and have always been told that I have excellent skills. But, how can I compare favorably with the younger workers who have a degree, but don’t have any experience? I guess I somehow got dumbed down because of a lack of a degree.

By: Francis Heck

Francis Heck — Wed, 06 May 2009 22:09:47 +0000

I have kept the faith now for 15 months. I did here a few times that I was over qualified but mostly I don’t even get a responce at all. I am 52 years old and I don’t have a criminal background to speak of. However, I did get hurt on my last job and had to file a workers comp. claim. Do you think that this is why I am not getting any where in my job search?