Everybody is talking lately about how great the job market is right now and how easy it is to get a job, but I don't see that to be true for anybody over fifty (maybe even lower than that.)
Does anybody know of a company that is willing to hire older workers and pay them according to their knowledge and expertise? I'm not talking about the same salary we have here, but at least reasonably close to it.
Study but be smart about it. Don't waste your time. Don't be too wide and shallow nor to narrow and deep. Pick something you enjoy which also has jobs. Sabre owns everything you create at home so keep it as just a hobby and no open source contributions unless you want to be sued.
https://www.codingdojo.com//blog/7-most-in-demand-programming-languages-of-2018/
New technologies are hitting the market everyday. Younger people are more likely to have experience with what ever is the latest “fad”, as where presumably not too long ago they’d of been in a position to freely explore and practice their passions, anything that was the latest hype and caught their attention, potentially explored for a school project in example.
Age won’t matter, so long as you can demonstrate and sell yourself as someone who’s just as capable, just curious, and just as passionate about hoping onboard new technologies. Older workers in this industry are often turned down because they’re looking to remain “comfortable”, by exorcising any expertise they’ve spent the last 10 or 20 years acquiring, hopeful for a job where they can keep doing the exact same thing they were doing before.
If you want more security and opportunity in this market, take time to play and tinker with new technologies. I know that can seem really difficult for many, especially if you’re in a position where you’ve got kids or other seemingly more important aspects of your every day life you feel are in more need of your attention first, but it’s what needs to be done to overcome this hurdle.
If you’ve got an iPhone or iPad and a Mac in your house, download Xcode. If you’re an Android person/household, download Android Studio. Play around with building some native apps.
Working in web technologies? Drop your affliction and love affair with SOAP and Java. Explore building an API that’s powered by GraphQL, written in a language like Ruby or Node.js, and then build a front end application to consume it in JavaScript that’s using something like React.js or Google’s Polymer Web Components.
Better yet, just go with React, and once you get a handle on that, learn some React Native, bypassing learning native from scratch.
You could also alternatively look into hardware. Find yourself a little home automation project in the Internet of Things world. Pickup an adruino board and a raspberry pie, wire into your garage door and write some code that opens the door automatically for you as you approach, by detecting your location from the presence of your phone.
If you’ve got hobbies and side projects like these that you can demo and discuss your learnings around pationately, you’ll win yourself an audience and a fair shake.
younger...40’s.. lol
im at sabre currently but am actively looking. i can tell you 40’s isnt considered younger. ive been turned down soley b/c of age, and i knew it when it happened. It was a Major company and vp down was mid 30’s or less. too much exp was the excuse, but i could tell immediately.. at a little over 40 i was the odd man in the room..
It’s a weird feeling, ive never had before.
good luck to you all
[Kinda long post] Another tip: Remove the actual years for any of your college graduation dates. This sets up your age before they even meet you. The goal is to get a face-to-face interview. So preparing your stragety in incremental successes helps from being overwhelmed. Once you land the face-to-face, craft a story, of sorts, that weaves in your knowledge and experience that applies to job position they posted. As you go, try to include, naturally, in the story time when you mentored a team, lead a group of entry level people to tasks and what you accomplished. Mention, if you were a manager, your solid employee satisfaction scores or if you were and individual contributor, talk to your successes working with a multi-generational matrixed team and how you used your influence and emotional intellignce (which is usually possessed by a successful leader with experience). The challenge is that they use "you are overqualified" as their mask for age descrimination. This usually comes up if you are applying for a job that pays less - even at $10K less - they use this. So be prepared to get ahead of this early on in the conversation by using something like - "I love what I do and that's what's most improtant to me." This should help get you to the next round. Remember your goal is to incrementally progress through the interview process. Salary negotiations details will come later. If they ask you what your salary is early on, don't give them a number. Return with "What is the range for this position?" If you are OK with the range, then let them know that is not a problem. (go for the midrange so you don't get locked in for later movement)
The most frequent concerns from first-line HR recruiter and hiring managers that I have deducted are:
A younger manager (in their 30's - 40's) are afraid they will be outshined, threatened, look stupd by having a more experienced person report to them. Make sure you weave in talking about how you once made your boss look really good.
They look at having older employees as managing their parents and are threatened by this. Most companies do NOT have effective training for managers of people. Especially Emotional Intelligence Training. Don't look for them to manage or protect your career. They are focused on their growth like were at this age.
If your pay cut is too significant, they truly beleive that you are using them until you find another job somewhere else that may bring you back to your old salary (which they should never, ever now what that number is). Avoid at all cost, but don't be too cagey about it. Tell them if you must, but try not to.
Look at total compensation with new jobs, not just salary, for any salary reduction. Companies today are NOT afraid to bring in two $60K a year entry level graduates that will have very low benefit costs. That's our reality. They look at TOTAL cost of employee, not just salary. They might have lower premiums that Sabre had. Salary base is more important than a "potential bonus percentage." Most companies NEVER pay the max range they give you for bonus - and the tax is 40% on a bonus. So ignore the bonus and go for the base salary, benefit costs, PTO policy, educations development offerings (conferences, skills updates, leadership, etc,) they offer. This shows you are still trainable vs a know-it-all older person. Glassdoor estimates are not accurate. Do not discard these positions.
They will judge you on your appearance. If you look like an out-of-shape-recliner person who watches YouTube all day, then they may look at this as a d---beat slacker ready to retire. This is not about being thin or muscular, but more like a vibrant person who has energy. Your clothes need to be current and tailored. The 1990 ugly tie and, mint colored shirt, too tight or too loose suit and square-toed dress shoes won't cut. In the same vein, dont over do it like you are a CEO with french cuffs and a pocket square. I revisited my entire wardrobe to look current. In other words - it should not be a distraction either way.
Get out now and do something. This generation (recreuiters and hiring managers) is all about giving back. They WILL ASK you what you have been doing since the they layoff. This is a killer if you do not have proven refererence for doing this. So get out and volunteer while you are looking for new work. Eight hours at the Food Bank, Special Olympics, SPCA....just do it. They love hearing this.
Go out of the Sabre industry of tech and travel. It took me a while to do this, but your skills are easlity translated into other industries if you have a planned story to paint this picture to them. Even the tech experience can be used by other companies from healthcare to online shoping (Neiman Marcus online catalogue is in Irving). They all use the same things Sabre uses today for hotels and airfare. Lockheed Martin, Textron, Texas Instruments, etc. Analytics, PMO, Consumer Marketing, too.
Sorry to lecture, but I hope my experiences, insights and tips can help anyone else.
Live by the Sabre or Die by the Sabre. Your choice.
Good luck everyone!
Exactly! Review your resume, remove all experience > 15 years old or stop at 10 and then the rest of your experience should go under a title "additional experience" without dates. Review the old software that you're familiar with even if you're an expert - Lotus Notes, COBOL - any reference to Mainframe (agree with the last post). If you're working with a search firm then they should also review your resume with you and recommend changes.
I know that looks aren't everything but freshen yourself up, remember that they will not know how old you are until your are hired and completing the HR forms.
Oh on your resume pull your education dates and summarize job history btw, don’t start out your header as “ 40 years working on mainframes “ ,... this comes from experience when I had a younger worker screening for me and proceeded to tell me the person was too Old to hire, they really weren’t qualified but I did flip a lid when she said too old. He was about 55 and I am well aware of discrimation laws.
Sorry, that should have read, "exude" the positive energy to others!
Had sticky fingers :-)!
To the person who posted, "morals, character, selflessness and dedication to the job", THANK YOU for sharing!! Along with these characteristics, I would add bringing a great upbeat personality, for anyone, but especially for older people, as a plus to being genuinely different, to standout. Good luck and bless all who seek other opportunities, regardless of age. Stay, and think positive! Dare to be different in a good way - read, meditate, and excercise for overall physical and mental health, to excude the positive energy to others ! Blessings!
I'm sorry to all of you younger folks on this forum but I have to state what I found...
Older workers bring higher morals, character, selflessness and dedication to the job. From experience (a lot of experience), I'm an ex-Sabre employee, went on to find another company that would appreciate my contributions, my dedication, high standards and excellent work ethic. Unfortunately, you don't find this in younger workers. There were a lot of young people that I've hired I had to eventually let go. Their mantra "ME, ME, ME" oh, and the DRAMA (I can't stand drama). They say they want a promotion, more money (whatever) because they're doing more than their job description states, but we all go above and beyond because that's what you do. Walk the walk - all I hear with the younger crowd is "listen to how great I am" I reply "show me - don't tell me, and while you're at it - stop complaining and do your D**MN job". We hire older employees because we know that work ethic is there, they were taught by parents that had that outstanding work ethic, worked hard, long hours to provide for their family - did what was necessary to get the job done and gave credit where credit was due.
I did find, while looking for another position, that there is age discrimination out there - when asked for a video conference I would say "no" - that's the #1 way that they weed out the "oldies but goodies". Keep going, you will eventually find a mature team that want to find the patient, kind, selfless employee. Didn't take me long but I consider myself extremely lucky falling into this position that I'll probably retire from.
skills matter. but skills wont overcome those that dont want to hire someone mid 40’s and higher.
ive been looked over because of my age. and i knew it while i was interviewing. the whole hiring staff was extremely young and the ultimate rejection reason was basically “you have too many skills”. It happens. move on.. sure its illegal. but crying about it wont fix it. keep pitching till you find a winner
Most of the employees I ever see at McDonald’s, or any fast food for that matter, seem to be younger. Home Depot, Lowes, etc. seem to be much older. I doubt any of them make anything close to a salary that you are used to. I am about to be unemployed and in the older job market competition and am also curious where those jobs are. If McDonald’s is my only option, I would take it.
The joke was stupid and being at sabre your entire career facing a layoff could be scary for some. This is a venting forum for sabre employees facing layoffs.
There are plenty of younger jerks who won’t get hired as there are a tremdeous amount of arrogance (which is incredible considering Sabre is not Google ) morons working at sabre should be more worried about finding a job as most people see through their stupidity. .
McDonalds comment is funny and demonstare the level of development of somebody errogant enough not to understand he or she is due to be “older” worker in a blink of the eye. As for the jobs - if you are ready to actually work with colleagues making jokes like that I am sure it won’t be a problem to find one.
The McDonald's comment is actually funny considering other responses. Let's keep this page for layoffs information and not random topics.
If you want advise on job hunting there are pages and forums far more helpful than this.
A Sabre director told us. Ok how about the library, Lowe's, or Walmart greeter?
The McDonalds comment is mean spirited, and unnecessary. Let's talk real discussions here on these posts. Thank you!
If you network and know people in other companies it’s much easier.
If you have just worked sabre and this is your network that’s going to be harder. Unless you reach out to ex sabre people.
I heard McDonalds is hiring.