Hello all,

Welcome to Monster's new Age Issues message board. Whether you are reentering the job market, changing careers or dealing with age-related concerns in the workplace this message board is a place for you to ask questions and share your insights and advice with others.

Age Issues is one of several Monster sites that provides a place for career changers and job seekers to get answers to questions, and to share their advice and concerns. While we usually focus on those particular challenges that face mid-life and older job seekers we recognize that age is a double-edged sword in the workforce and welcome questions and comments from posters of all ages.

In my 8th year as Monster's Age Issues Expert I also worked for the AARP for 15 years and am nationally-recognized as an authority on older workers and aging workforce concerns. I recommend strategies, offer specific ideas and provide “homework” options, including links to help with research

 

I am online several times during the week and although I may not respond to all posts personally it is my intent to respond to those of broad interest or that deal with unique topics. Some Age Issues threads are full of relevant, personal information provided by and exchanged solely among Monster members.

Thank you for you interest, and keep coming back.

Linda Wiener

Age Issues Expert

 

 I am 50 years old, I have had to deal with younger bosses. Also younger co-workers and I feel myself thinking. I could be thier MOM.  I am computer literate, I can do my job. Right now I am between jobs and I worry since the interviewers are younger than myself, does that hurt my chances?

Hello,

For starters, I have a question....is the  in reference to being 50...or dealing with younger bosses and co-workers??

This article offers some tips about facing a younger interviewer
http://content.monster.com/articles/3478/17193/1/default.aspx

Check out this earlier thread here on Age Issues for more discussion about the 21st century multi-generational workforce http://monster.prospero.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?tsn=1&nav=messages&webtag=mstageissues&tid=7 

Linda Wiener
Age Issues Expert

That's a good question.  I am 60 years old and I retired from my job a year ago.  I decided I did not want to sit and stare at a wall all day and not have my talents used.  I had enought funds to do this. 

Well I got bored and I decided I wanted to work part time and now I find no one wants to hire someone my age with 43 years experience.  Why, because I am "over qualified" and this is said to me by YOUNGER people.  I even had one girl say to me, "I am the Office Manager here.  Don't forget it."  I told her she could forget it and I got up and left.  I did write a letter to the President of the company stating my concerns and reminded him that one day he may be in my place. 

I don't think you should worry about your age, you should worry about the fact that the younger generation knows how skilled we are and they are afraid we could take their jobs. 

Carnation:

Wow!  So THIS is how toxic bosses are created.  And so young, too!  Ha!  You should be grateful for that young nitwit to have gotten you out of there.  Imagine what it would be like to actually WORK in that place with such twits.  And if you didn't get a reply from the President of that company, you know where the toxicity originates.

Good Morning..to all....so glad this topic has come up....It is difficult at times to deal with younger

managers...they have not yet had a taste of humble pie...I can remember being in my 20's and thinking

the world was all about me.  I too had an interview with a large CPG company and the younger

manager I would have been working for was very kind and respectful...his boss however....who was

my likely in his middle to late 40's was very curt and condescending towards me...I know he felt

uncomfortable with me...I also know he is most likely the reason I was not hired.  I felt he was

discriminating me for being over qualified....wish I could bring this to the attention of the company, but

what good would it do....guess it was the wrong place , wrong time, besides it would not change any thing.

 

The sad part is that...it is all about...bias..and no matter how many rules and regs there are..there are

people...who do not belong in the hiring seat.....It was a good practice lesson for me..I remained professional and kind despite this man's insecurity.

 

PBB New Jersey

I am glad that this subject has made it to the black board. I am suspicious that the age issue is some where at the heart of what I'm experiencing now. I was recently employed at a nation wide company and had been performing my responsibilities well. it was a small office and fitting in was tricky because I was possibly the oldest person there and performed a unique function. I felt danger at times in speaking up from experience and risking sounding parental to a younger perhaps insecure person. Especially if that person has position and authority greater than mine. It has become more apparent as I get older how more and more very educated people so strongly defend there identities by what they do and what rung they have on the ladder. How short sighted and wastefully it is for companies to forfeit wisdom and experience in a ridiculous effort to ensure success by protecting (policing) how employees feel. If employees feel great about themselves it is good, even if feeling happy at work and better about themselves requires putting people down to do so. I can hove so much to offer and bring great contributions to the table but if I say "good morning" wrong I am out. It is sad that the trend seems to be evolving that security and success, productivity and contribution are becoming more and more entangled with and founded on fragile and fleeting beliefs.

I am no longer with this company. I 'm relived to be looking for work else where.

God bless America.

Linda:  I am especially happy that finally, the issue of "age" is being addressed.  I am a professional person with a Master's degree and over 18-year's experience as an executive director of non-profit social service organizations; I have worked in all areas of social service including mental health, mental retardation, child abuse, domestic violence, and community corrections.  I have an excellent track record of accomplishments in program building and in fiscal management.  Three year's ago, after successfully managing an organization for six years, I found numerous problems in the accounting department.  I monitored the activities for 6-months, and submitted my findings of errors and inappropriate accounts to the President and Treasurer of the Board of Directors - along with a corrective action plan which called for intensive checks/balances to be set in place along with an indepth financial audit.  Much to my surprise, three-weeks later at my annual review, I was relieved of my job responsibilities and put on forced administrative leave for not being able to work with my staff.  Long story short, the agency went bankrupt with 18-month's after I left, having gone from an agency with an approximate $600,000 cash balance to over $1.5M in debts.  There were numerous allegations of abuse/neglect - after I left, and three lawsuits filed from clients and staff, again after I left.  There were also numerous newspaper articles, all of which I did not respond to, but my name was the cornerstone of the articles, although the Board denied my participation in any of the allegations.  My point at this time, is, I am now 62-year's old, and have been unable to secure employment.  I have had many, many interviews and am willing to relocate, but it seems that whenever I go for a face-to-face interview, I get very positive feed-back, but am never selected.  I believe that some of the rejection is tied to my departure from the agency as it was a well-known organization in our state, but after all of this time, I am now leaning toward this being an "age-issue".  Can you give me, and I'm sure there are others as well, some guidance on how to address the age issue during the interview? 

OK........we need to figure out how to get this issue the attention it needs.  We are all experienced, smart people who have accomplished much.  So, we need to stop taking the discrimination and DO something about it.  It is time for an expose.  I think the public may be tiring of hearing about Anna Nicole, maybe we could get some limelight on the issue?    Maybe Dateline would like to follow some of us?

Hello,

 

Thanks for your post, and Welcome to Age Issues. What a tough situation.

 

Your belief that some of the rejection you have experienced is tied to the departure from the well know agency is probably right on target. Since you are having interviews, and are getting “very positive feed-back” my guess, too, would be that your re-employment issues have more to do with the history you describe rather than your age.  

 

A likely scenario is that after your interviews the reference checking begins. Despite your innocence your reputation is tied to the debacle. One way to deal with this issue is to address it head on. Bring up the issue at the interview. As objectively as possible explain the circumstances of your departure.

 

Here’s where your homework begins. You must find some way to document your prior unblemished work history, especially your most recent successful six year management performance with the agency.

 

Do you have copies of your performance reviews from the most recent employer? Can you get written documentation from the Board denying the allegations against you? If you worked in corrections and social service, do you have some type of security clearance, or ever been bonded? Can you find colleagues that would be willing to write character references?  If you can gather supportive information such as this, you may have a way to overcome the stigma.

 

Good luck.

 

Linda Wiener

Age Issues Expert