Comments on: Mature Workers Starting Over in Their Job Search

By: Ed Wilson

Ed Wilson — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:44:59 +0000

I was laid off in 2001 and it was related to my request for flex time to undergo chemo for liver disease; instead they laid me off as a ‘business decision’. Well, I waited eight years on disability [SSA] which is about 1/5 of my old salary and finally got a new organ. Thank God! But, as I recover [slowly due to new chronic illness from the meds I take for anti-rrejection of the organ], I worry if I will have to go back to work, I am 55 with 32 years management experience up to VP level in sales, marketing and high tech industry. Have BA and MA. Who the heck is going to even call me in when they see a 9-10 years gap in employment? Then, If I am honest and say I was sick! Geez, no one will give me a chance. My family would have been better off if I died on the job in 2001!

By: Sefton Oxford

Sefton Oxford — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 13:27:37 +0000

There are two major problems when applying for any position being a mature candidate. But many other misconceived stereo type perceptions about mature workers.
1. The resume’ goes though a sort process via HR or a Placement Firm (Head Hunter) and they typically are younger with a lack of real world experience. So when they see a very full resume’ they think or say this person can’t have done all of this work. And the resume is rejected outright. Instead of saying this person’s experience could be very useful?
2. There is now a more recent trend to only want to look at the applicant’s last 3 years which is very puzzling to me. It tells me the corporations are prepared to do on the job training and because this person at a very much younger stage in his/her career the mistakes made are compensated for by the reduced pay and benefits. It is short term planning.
In any labor force it is important to have a diverse and balanced force that way each person learns for the other, and the risks to the company bottom line are reduced.
Finally the employers also forget the work ethic that comes from a mature worker.

By: Karen

Karen — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 03:42:52 +0000

I understand Nancy’s dilemma and it could easily have been mine. I lost my husband very suddenly to an infection he contracted in the hospital while being treated for pneumonia. That really put me in a tailspin! Then I could not find work…I lost our home!. Now, eighteen months later, I have nothing but rent receipts for the last nine months, no money, and everyone says “This is an entry level position. You will probably not stay when a position opens in your field”. I am not out to be the “Super Star”, mega achiever, “knock your socks off” office “one to admire and let her be your ideal”. I need work…I am honest, reliable, available to work any late hours to meet deadlines, intelligent, professional in every way; well groomed, mature, professionally dressed, great communication skills, and easy to get along with (generous to a fault I have been told), and will pitch in and help anyone at any time. HR professionals take one look at our resumes and cover letters and immediately determine that we are too expensive without even the courtesy of a preliminary telephone interview, let alone any time out of their precious day. HELP !?!?!?!

By: Nancy

Nancy — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 16:00:29 +0000

I left my city job of 19 loyal years. Moved to Tinley Park, problem
is I never drove a car so I have been trying to get any job near my
unit – there was a job posting at a near Jewel/Osco – they would not
takt my application. I had to go on line – never heard back? I also
asked to apply at CVS/Pharmacy just a block away walking distance –
they said they were hiring – but I had to go on line for the
application – did that but did not hear from them — I am a great
loyal dependable senior female that needs to do something
constructive with my time but can’t seem to find a solution. Any
ideas will be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance for any
suggestions.

By: Raven West

Raven West — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 15:08:30 +0000

This is a nice sunny outlook, but far from reality. I have a 4 year college degree plus a law degree, 2007, but I’m not a legal “secretary” or a paralegal and the last attorney who told me I was “over qualified” graduated from the same law school as I did, we knew the same people and he even showed me the office and introduced me to the staff…before giving me the ax.

All an employer has to do is “google” either Raven West, (pen name) or Robin Westmiller, and they can read the over 32,000 “sites” my name pops up, but even with everything I’ve accomplished in the past, at age 55, I feel very “old”, because knowledge and experience means nothing to employers who have the “pick of the litter”. I couldn’t even get my old job back at Radio Shack.
But, tomorrow is another day.

By: David

David — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 11:13:33 +0000

My excperience has been “Thank you for submitting your application but we are continuing to seek other applicants.”

By: Blueize

Blueize — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 17:50:10 +0000

Has anyone had a positive experience with getting a lower level position? I’m finding I can’t make it past the initial screening because I don’t have a 4-year degree. It seems that even the companies that say they are “age friendly” aren’t hiring more experienced workers for lower level positions if they don’t have a degree. Since when does a 4-year degree take the place of real world experience?

By: Don

Don — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 12:05:36 +0000

As long as the EEOC and the federal govt say it is legal to discriminate based on age, that’s right, they have ruled that it is legal to discriminate based on age we are and will continue to be screwed when lay offs occur and in the hiring process.

By: mmmmm

mmmmm — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 19:33:30 +0000

Ken,
You’re right. What ever happened to “We love you’re experience in this field”, etc?

By: Ken

Ken — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 22:52:49 +0000

I have 2 comments:

1. The provides a quote,” “Employers are considering mature job candidates for a variety of positions ranging from entry-level to senior-level to consultants to leverage their intellectual capital and mentor other workers. Twenty-nine percent of employers have hired a worker age 50 or older for a permanent position within their organization over the last six months.”

I would LOVE to know this sampling. I wonder how seriously the employers “considered” the older applicants. I would also LOVE to know the types of jobs these people are filling, by distribution. My experience runs contrary to this.

2. As for being “overqualified” for a position. It is difficult to justify when you’ve applied for jobs from marketing manager to VP to president and get the same stupid excuse. And, by the way, it only comes when you are using a headhunter. They won’t tell you a thing if you are not. I firmly believe that this is the new code for “you’re too old” — so that we’re not supposed to find out that all of that age-related discrimination in hiring that doesn’t exist, does.