I've b een hearing horror stories about how hard it is to get a job after you turn 50 and I won't lie, it's been keeping me up at night. With another round of layoffs approaching, I'm getting more and more nervous. Has this been overblown? Are there companies that will hire people regardless of their age?
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@2ff Wow ….whose the one with a chip of his shoulder?! Grow up. Don’t forget veterans make up a huge portion of the DEI group in this company .
In one of his "Bob Talks," the Chief Legal Offcer stated the Chief Legal Office needed to get "younger" because more than 1/2 of the staff was within a decade of retirement. Could believe what I heard.
Folks, take a page from the DEI book. You can identify as any age, s-x, gender, color, that you want. The corporations have pivoted to this insanity so what should you do? Use it to your advantage. 100% serious. If you identify as a marginalized colored person with a chip on your shoulder, a prosthetic co-k and estrogen grown ti-s, who fosters trans minors, you'll excel right the top and have ADs job in your back pocket. No one will be able to challenge your purple people eating capabilities. NO ONE will F with you. Every job is yours. Your are untouchable. DO IT.
ME! I'm over 50, I was laid off from USAA in 2023, I have yet to find full time work. I have been substitute teaching and contracting here and there.
I walked out with no job because I refuse to let the dollar control my happiness. I had no problem. Just look around… experience and service is lacking everywhere. Be great at what you do… not just on a resume, and find a company that values your experience.
Ageism is real and happening in the US. Advanced knowledge and experience costs money and some companies thought it was a good idea to get rid of their older workforce as a cost savings event. So how is that working out for you ...... (ha)
Normally I would say yes, it is difficult sometimes to secure a position over the age of 50. But, Gen Z is such a disaster overall and they have a poor work ethic. My boss told me about a case where they hired a Gen Z person. That person decided they didn't want the job at the last minute and didn't show up for NEO. Then they actually had the nerve to call again in a couple of weeks trying to ask for their job because they changed their mind.
Also remember that things don't exist in a vacuum. That is to say singular variables are not the only things that change. AI is coming soon and will this place many people. As long as AI can produce enough to sustain government handouts for people, there won't be mass inflation when people start receiving welfare checks because AI took their jobs.
When you are “our age” (over 50) you won’t be hired because you’re the up and comer hotshot MBA. It’s because you are the adult in the room. Because you bring rational thinking to the table, keep blood pressure low and you’ve seen every problem 3 times, every political move 6 times, and as another writer point you have a track record of success. BUT you have to keep your skills current and not with make believe LinkedIn Courses. And for goodness sake stop over posting on LinkedIn! Get a therapist for that.
I never had an issue until I was laid off from USAA at 60 years of age. I joined USAA, was immediately assigned to a large ongoing project and put everything I had into turning the failing project around. A newly promoted director took credit for everything I did and I was laid off a few months later. I had done nothing wrong, except to be told USAA over invested in their workforce. I left a firm after 13 years of exceptional service after being recruited by USAA. I thought it would be a wonderful company to finish out my risk & compliance career. USAA is a total and complete disaster of a company. Luckily, I had saved money just in case something like this happened. Karma is coming for you USAA.
Not specific companies but ageism is a real thing. I witness it with my old manager . Took her two year finally found something then they fired her 1 month later.
Very real, especially for women.
Ageism is real. Both for hiring and firing/layoffs. This is feedback from company recruiters, business owner, and college/university job placement employees I’ve been in touch with. There are things you can do to offset some of the discrimination. Adjust your appearance to “look” younger. As a start, whenever possible adjust your resume by taking out references that indicate your age as much as possible, and during interviews avoid conversations about your retirement plans and timeframes.
I was hired at age 65, 70 and then again at age 77 at a 3rd company. I had planned gaps of employment for health reasons.
Tee positions were Info Tech at a fair salary and benefits.
My resume focused on measurable accomplishments emphasizing dollars saved or generated.
The market is always about money, always. Not about feelings.
I recommend you focus on measurable accomplishments reminding your current bosses what you are worth.
You can do this.
It's tough out there