Two Harsh Truths about Your Job Search

True, the first one is definitely hard to accept. Once, I met a company rep at a job fair and they seemed genuinely interested. I got their business card and they told me to e-mail in a couple months when they would be hiring junior level people. So that's exactly what I did... and I got no answer. I made all types of excuses for myself - "hey, maybe they didn't get to it yet" "maybe my e-mail got caught in a spam filter" "it's been a couple months, maybe that person isn't with the company anymore". I sent at least 6 e-mail follow-ups over about 2-3 months. Yup, I learned that lesson the hard way.

I tell every candidate I interview that we will get back to them within one week as we have other candidates we are also meeting with. I say this to those I like and those I do not like. So, definitely follow-up because you could be on the "possible" list.

The Hard Truth: They were not impressed with your resume and won't be calling you for an interview.

The Hard Truth: They don't think you're the right person and they're not going to hire you. ******************* They've also figured out you're >40 and won't be calling you even though your resume runs rings around the others. Why do you think so many career counselors are advising those >40 to NOT put what year they graduated from college or how many years on that previous job?

The HARD TRUTH - Age discrimination is ALIVE AND WELL and being practiced, and covered up, every day because companies know they can get away with it.

I am at my wits end. I am fed up with interviewers who don't call or email after an interview to say yes or no. I'm on unemployment and am barely getting by. These interviews cost money to go to so it's not too much to ask to get a simple yes or no.

I have spent way too mch time sitting by the phone or computer waiting and getting more depressed. Everybody has to work and everybody deserves a chance!!!!

Yep, age discrimination is alive and surely happening. I've been in the workforce for over 27 years and now I'm having a hard time finding anything and I know it's because I'm over 40. I had one person to tell me that since I haven't worked in a while then it will be hard for me to find work. That was so hurtful. I can run circles around the younger group because I've been working since the age of 19 but now that I'm over 40, nobody wants to hire me. I'm in excellent health, physical every year, but nobody will hire me.

I hear you loud and clear on the age discrimination issue. I'm 53, and in IT; bad combination! Older means more expensive.

Honestly, I believe my educational background and work experience has become more of a hindrance than help. I've applied for jobs (food stocking, delivery driver, etc.) that I thought were easy pickings, but I didn't stand a chance.

For those of us who just recently graduated from college, it seems most companies want to avoid hiring us as well. A good friend of mine told me it's because my generation is the generation of entitlement. We expect quick promotions and cushy offices with great window views.

That sucks because we're not all like that. At least, not me.

Age and overqualified both work to my disadvantage in getting a job. I am fine working a minimum wage job. I even thought about leaving my education out of resumes to see if it made a difference.

It is unbelievable how much age discrimination there is out there. Everybody is always all smiles and giggles when they meet you and say how impressed they are after the interview, but when you call back to follow up, they say they have decided to go in another direction (whatever that means) or that you are overqualified.

I'm 55 years old and have worked for a number of high profile companies including IBM. There was a time not too long ago, that with my qualifications, I wouldn't have been out of work for more than 3 weeks. Now, it has been a little over a year and no end in sight. Sometimes you feel the only way to get a job is to be a young uneducated dummy.

I feel all your pain. I'm 57 and have been out of work for the better part of 3 1/2 years. I have a great background in my field but I AM CERTAIN I have been discriminated against for age. I went to a panel interview with 2 guys obviously in their mid-thirties and one said, "you sounded younger over the phone." Wow! Where was my tape recorder when I needed it. They told me I was exactly what they were looking for, "experience, reliability and dedication," and that I would hear from them in a couple of days. According to the email they sent to me about 5 minutes after I left the interview, that was a complete joke. It said, "Thank you for your interest, but at this time we are considering other candidates for the available positions." I went to the business that had the opening I applied for, it was retail. A 20 something guy who was also interviewing for one of the positions and had not yet recieved a final answer. As I looked around I realized every single employee was no older than MAYBE 30. I made a comment that it looked like they only hired young people he said, "Oh no, we have a manager in one of our stores who is in his 50's. But he's the only one." They have about 10 stores in my area. He said everyone one else was young, but that didn't mean they didn't hire older people. I laughed and walked out convinced if I had been 25 I would have gotten the job.

A couple of months later a similar thing happened, but this time the interviewer was almost 50 and told me that he had been looking for months for a job and was having a hard time because his age. He if I had had the same problem. I do photography on the side so I use my photo work to fill the employment gap since I was a casuality of a large corporate downsizing in late 2005. I told him "no, because I was working as a photographer, but missed the comraderie of working on a team. And that I had not been looking very long." We had a great rapport! And he filled the 3 jobs with 3 people in their 20's. I am so glad he could empathize. YEAH RIGHT! What a crock. Even someone in similar shoes discriminated!

Age discrimination in most companies is based on one thing... cost of health insurance. That's why they don't want to hire us. It's purely a business/financial decision. It costs more to insure us. Stinks! Unfair!

YEAH! HAVE YOU GUYS NOTICED SINCE THEY HAVE LAID OFF THE OLDER WORKERS THE COMPANIES ARE NO LONGER MAKING A PROFIT. TOO BAD! THE YOUNGER GUYS ARE NOT RELIABLE AND ARE NOT DEDICATED. NO OLD FAMILY VALUES. AND, THEY HAVE NO EXPERIENCE TO KEEP THE SO-CALLED COMPANIES IN BUSINESS. I SAY HA! HA!

I agree with all the above AGE DISCRIMINATION replies as I too feel I'm a VICTIM of AGE DISCRIMINATION. I worked for 30 years at a company and a YOUNGER WOMAN bought out the business of which she had NO EXPERIENCE. She kept me for 1 1/2 years (until she could learn something) and then let me go because I reminded her of one of her SISTER"S that she couldn't stand; but of course this was done in private. I found a less meaningful job with NO INSURANCE and NO BENEFITS and have been looking for something with a little more security and benefits. I've sent out 7 Resumes over the last year and had only one telephone interview. I am turning 57 and feel once they see when I graduated and the years of experience; which by the way are excellent and any employer would benefit from my vast knowledge and experience, I never receive any reply whatsoever. SOMEONE NEEDS TO SET UP A WEBSITE FOR AGE DISCRIMINATION RESPONSES and maybe if we get enough we can do something about this as a whole, because just one person alone can't fight this as it's really bigger than all of us so-called "BABY BOOMERS" who busted our butts to make the companies prosperous and then the YOUNGER GENERATION comes in and look what shape our companies and country is in now.

Regarding not getting follow up responses from HR: as a former manager in a very small company, hiring can become a very time consuming and difficult task. I would go through 20 or 30 resumes and find it hard to select the best candidates. Then I would try to reach everybody that I thought was worthy of a phone interview and whittle the list down from there. At that time the job market was much healthier, and many applicants would not return my calls, would not turn up for interviews, and would turn out not to be whom their resume indicated. I know it is hard to see the other end of this equation, but it might lead to less emotional hurt: hiring is not easy either!

For those who feel overqualified: I know this is also very annoying. But see it from the employers point of view. They want to hire someone who actually fits the job description, because someone who can do much more probably will want to change their job when th market improves, and then the HR manager has to go out and advertise, interview and train a new person. They try to avoid that.

That's the standard crock of BS, imho, that companies pull out all the time to justify NOT hiring >40. Do you really think that a younger, less experienced, cheaper employee is NOT going to bolt quickly due to your lame example? PLEASE! Don't insult me or anyone else here. We're the ones who have given YEARS to an employer and will willingly do it again because we exemplify things that the younger ones haven't got a clue about - loyality and work ethic. Companies have, for whatever lamebrained reason, gotten into their heads that they'd rather see frequent turnover than pay for loyalty, service, and REAL work productivity. We're not stupid; we're not ignorant, and we're NOT untrainable in new technology - we embrace it. Yet HR refuse to acknowledge it and instead, give us the same lame excuse you gave.

There seems to be a lot of anger directed against "younger" people. Can someone please give me an age range of this targeted and apparently threatening group?

Seriously, I'm curious.

http://www.blerp.com/d/17253?name=Two+Harsh+Truths+About+Your+Job+Search

I've been reading over these comments and the above blog about age discrimination and although I'm not quite of the over 40 group(39) I'm wondering if in this few months that I've been looking and not even getting responses or calls to my resume submissions if that maybe it could be for this reason too. I mean other than maybe my resume not being the greatest they've seen, it still used to at least get me more interviews than what I'm getting now.

Many > 40 have started their own business to avoid the job discrimination syndrome. Some have been successful, others have fallen by the wayside as injections of capital, medical benefits, and business savvy have dried up or have become very costly. While some >40 are boomers others are post-boomers (or X'ers) just eeking out and "hoping for the best". Sure, we are intelligent, full of integrity and experience, but that is not enough...let's face it folks. It's a whole different generation of HR personnel are instructed to look for disposable people who obey orders and don't make waves. The culture must change, but it can't do it if we just sit still and let "Logan's Run" prevail. Perhaps an organization for those like us can work.

Ok, The age discrimination is bad, Im only 41 and I am experiencing it to a degree. Just for the woman that put out 7 resumes in a year, they are now saying you should put out 25 applications or resumes a week. Its not helping me but thats the new standard. My issue is with my former employer a wonderful car company we tax payers just gave a bunch of money. I took a buy out because they were going to fire me. I had FMLA for 2 years to deal with my son. I missed approxamatley 14 days a year. They had been racking up unexcused absences and refuse even after the department of labor told them it was illegal to remove the occurences so when they offered money I left. Now I have them giving me bad references and making me look bad to potential employers. I had one individual tell me he couldnt hire me because they said I had bad attendance and wasnt a good employee. you would think a major corp like general motors wouldnt be that way but they are. Wish there was something I could do, first they bully me out of a job then prevent me form getting a new one. My kids better now thank god so take blessing where I can I guess.

IMHO, the age range you're asking about is the 20 somethings. If you really look at the way a LOT of job descriptions are written, they really do NOT want anyone with over 10 years of experience. So, if you graduate from college at 22, 10 years puts you at 32. Most ads are geared for <10 years. Anything over that, and they figure you're too expensive for what they want to pay anymore.

In addition, the 20 somethings don't have the work ethic that those of us >40 have. Yet as noted by Peter Elliffe above, we're the ones the pass over with the lamebrained excuse of "someone who can do much more probably will want to change their job when th market improves, and then the HR manager has to go out and advertise, interview and train a new person." Don't these HR people realize that the younger ones don't want to have to pay their dues and work their way/learing things? They want their way NOW and if they don't get it, the leave within 1-2 years. I've seen it happen too many times. Their attention span is so limited and short that they don't see the necessity of sticking around.

It used to be that people didn't "job hop" in short lengths of time. You were considered "unstable" and something was wrong with you if you went from job to job within short periods of time. Now, with the younger set, it's the norm. That's why Peter's lame excuse is just that LAME.

What if there was a better way. Nick, email me, and I'll show you a way that you could never have to go to another interview again. benjamin.lubenow@yahoo.com

I've decided to lose the fear of my "maturity" and emphasize it. There are things we've all done that are valuble and relevant. This should be celebrated not feared. It probably won't help me get a job but it sure feels GOOD.

I'm turning 50 this year, I've been laid off from 3 jobs since 5/2007, with one job lasting only a month, my last employer eliminated the entire maintenance department, opting to contract the work out, I am a FMT (Facility Maintenance Technician) in the previous 7 months before I was finely hired I sent out over 400 resume's. I to heard that line "You sounded younger on the phone" I can still run circles around the younger guys. With 7 yrs as a business owner in Residential and light commercial roofing and remodeling, 5 years High and Low Voltage Electrical, lighting, Plumbing, fire & safety, and Certified in HVAC. I finely began getting Interviews after I striped out all dates on my resumes for education and employment so not to date myself and Highlighting Experience showing no more than 12 Year experience in anything.

I'm over 40 and have been out of work for ten months. I was given a choice to take the money or be fired after being on the job for eight years. Have done over a 100 resumes and still nothing. The ones that did said theyn were looking for someone else or that they thought I was a good candiate but nothing after that. I'm sure it has to do with the age. Someone need to do something about this. How can We pay bills. Ever wonder why there are so many homeless people?

I don't know that there is anger focused at a younger aged group - as much as the anger of being kicked to the curb and not have any opportunity to re-join the work force.

The theme here is that older, experienced, skilled people with great work ethics have been and will most likely continue to be tossed out. And once out - it's tough to get back in. I have accepted that I will most likely not be able to get a position for the salary I was making before - and after 30 years at the same company I have a LOT of expertise in a diverse number of jobs. Yet when I apply for a "lesser" position I am (if I'm lucky enough to get a contact) that I'm overqualified. DUH! I know that - and I also know I would be a great employee and need a job.

So if you're in a younger age set that I am - don't get yourself all hurt or offended. Your time will come too!

I have just entered the job market after being employed for over 40 years in a number of different positions, and now am faced with the hard reality that I am either too experienced, can teach the C.E.O/ C.F.O a few things, but, I am considered as a threat because my age and past salary is out of the question!! You get what you pay for!!! As a Analyst, I often visit with company's and advise them how to increase their minimum mandatory level of profitability, but all to often their retorical answer is to cut labor cost, and hireing at a lower wage scale, with less experiance is the answer. I then show them what the turnover ratio is, and what the costs are to train, as opposed to retain, they then come to their senses!! To the employers out there--You Get What You Pay For--Experiance Counts!!!

Wow, that was encouraging. Thanks.

After reviewing the comments above, I must say I feel that I am definately not alone. I am 55 and was working at the same company for 28+yrs when I was fired for a lame excuse that I violated a company policy. I was denyed unemployment and then won a hearing. It has been one year since I was fired and I have applied for over 250 jobs. I had one face to face interview which I thought I had in the bag until after two months of waiting for the second interview because the decision makers were on vacation, many email follow ups and phone calls all led to no response. I normally do not hear anything from any of the potential jobs that I applied for. Of course you never want to admit it is your age, I automatically think that the company is saying derogatory statements or maybe there is someone out there that is ruining my reputation on line just because they were jealous of my work ethics, experience and my good nature. Who ever said that we should form an organization for >40 is correct. Maybe that's what us >40's should be doing, thinking outside of the box and using our talents and skills to make life better for us!

I am currently "this close" to being laid off simply because my employer has no work! Office Manager for 3 real estate appraisers, with a part-time staffer, and now the office has one appraiser and me. I am over 40, too, and this whole comment subject is a bit anxiety-producing. Too young to retire, but way too old to be sought after. Well, I will just have to plug along and present myself in my best light, because I will be an asset, to any company that would hire me. Eventually.

There is definately a bias against the >40 crowd. Try being an over 40 black male. My impressive resume and solid phone interview skills have generated several good interviews. But making a connection with the interviewer has been challenging. My first few interviews were not my best performances. Having had some practice I'm now pretty good. But it's still very tough to make a connection with the interviewer. There once was a time when diversity mattered. That day is long gone, as hiring managers resort to hiring people that look like them, act like them, and think like them. In my industry a young, sexy, female seems to be the ideal canditate. While I'm easy on the eyes...I do not meet any of those criteria. Working my way back up the ladder at 50 (after a long sucessfull career) is my only prospect.

Thanks for introducing another harsh truth that is apparently a pretty hot topic. Maybe you are being pushed out of the workplace by 20-somethings, or maybe you just don't fit in well enough with the company (which could still be blamed on age, but probably more on bad cultural fit).

Whatever the reason, you need to face the fact that they don't want to hire you! You can't make them hire you, but you also can't prove that it's age discrimination. Suck it up and move on. (It's called a harsh truth because yes, it's harsh.)

No, you can't make them hire you. However, the question becomes WHY is it that a company suddenly values someone with virtually NO experience over one who has lots? If a company wants the most bang for the buck, common sense dictates that you go with the one who has the most experience AND the best fit. I don't think anyone is begrudging the younger gen their right to work. The problem is that companies suddenly do away with those who have the most knowledge and the most experience. Yeah, we've all got to suck it up and go on, but those of us >40 have as much right to work and earn a living as anyone else. It is clearly ILLEGAL to discriminate because of age, not only legal wise, but morally and ethically as well. What does that really say about companies who continually do it and get away with it because they know they can? And why? Because we ALL put up with it and that's WRONG!

Well, I am 26 and have been laid off for 8 months or so. I have been on 4 interviews since last November and still haven't been offered a full time job!

I don't know if this is age discrimination... but just because I'm younger doesn't mean that I'm not effected by the economy just as much as you all are!

I also have a few friends in the 28-32 age range and they have been laid off for a while as well!

That's exactly what I've been trying to point out too, Kathryn. Everybody's suffering from this recession. Guess it's easier to deal when there's a target or specific group that can be labeled the enemy.

Some guys and gals need to chill out!

We were ALL young once and you will be where we are in but a few years. And once YOU are, you will fully understand why there this is not only legally, but morally and ethiically wrong. No one should EVER begrudge another a job, but that is unfortuately what is happeneing. It has been stastically proven that someone in their 20s will get a job in about 1/3 to 1/2 the time it takes for someone over 40. Yes, everyone is suffering from this recession, but is it right for a company to systemmatically and collectively fire/layoff everyone with >15 years of hard earned experience and knowledge? Is it right that a company fire its senior (age and experience) workers and blatently tell them that they earn too much and we're replacing you with lower paid employees? These are but a very small % of examples that those >40 have had to deal with

No one will EVER quibble nor complain with cuts across the board. However, when a particular group is directly and systemically targeted, you bet your behind we have EVERY right to complain.

Again, you WILL be where we are in but a VERY few years. THEN, and only THEN will you understand.

To JD:

I'm not saying it's right for companies to age discriminate. I feel for you. I really do. I understand I could be there in the future, really. I never thought I'd get laid off and yet here I am. I'm not as stupid as you're making me sound - thanks for that, by the way.

I'm simply pointing out that I am a 26 year old woman and am not getting hired either.

Perhaps companies prefer to hire new and young kids because their minds are still impressionable and easier to train, despite experience, whereas, those who are older could possibly be set in their ways. (I'm not saying this is YOU or anyone else on this blog for that matter... I'm generally speaking).

Don't hate on the 20-somethings of America... it's the companies who you have beef with.

HEY! Age discrimination is for both the old and YOUNG!!! Sure I was born and raised in the "entitlement" generation but work is work. I don't expect anything but a decent wage were I can save up for college, car, and a place to move out! But we don't even get that chance! We've been labeled, tagged-"the young ones" "ill experienced" "lazy" -I'll have you know I'm at the top of my class have more volunteer experience than a criminal and have held multiple leader positions for non-profit organizations and clubs alike. I'm inexperienced only because no one wants to hire a teen who can only work 30 hours a week! No one is born knowing! I can learn new tricks. But no "I'm young and naive" right? --And I'm expected to get an overpriced higher education to work for this undercover slave trade of a work force?

Kathryn, You're absolutely right on that it IS the fault of the companies. Roughly 20 years ago, when you were a child, corporate mentalites changed from caring about their employees to not giving a rip. Your parents, and a lot like us, grew up giving loyalty to the company we worked for because we knew that it was returned in kind. That's WHY you had people who worked for the same company for >15 years and very often retired from them. They more often than not worked their way up the line and with pride, not only in their accomplishments, but in knowing that what they did was valued by their employer.

Enter the late 80s (about the time you were born) and that started to change. Pensions started to disappear. Companies suddenly decided that those who had actually built the companies into what they were, very big, very wealthy and very prosperous, were no longer wanted. It wasn't the technology, it was the fact that they decided that anyone >40 simply wasn't viable anymore. Fast forward to 2008 and a LOT of the same companies who routinely get rid of >40 are finding themselves with lower earnings and no knowledge. Why? they got rid of those who actually KNOW how to do things and get them done.

I know of a current major electronics retailer that has already made it known that anyone with >15 years with the company is NOT wanted and they are covertly getting rid of people. It started in 2006 and continues even now. This same company HAD a reputation of their employees on the front line knowing their products well and the ability to help the customer was 1st rate. Now, they're the butt of many a joke, inventoies are drastically down, there are few customers and stock hit single digits for the first time since the company's founding, >50 years ago. Another comapny, who pulled similar stunts, is no longer in existance.

I have several friends who are managers in that 1st companiy and they all talk about the quality of employeess they USED to get but now can't because college grads now don't want to put in the hours or do the work, nor show up on time, but want to leave regardless of whether the job is done. They cringe when faced with someone in their 20s because of, as they have continually complained, lack of work ethic in that age range.

I do NOT, under any circumstances, begrudge ANYONE needing nor wanting a job. However, those of us who have put in the years are suddenly cast aside for someone whom the company KNOWS isn't going to be with them very long because they know, from experience, there is no loyalty to stay.

Course, then again, loyalty DOES go both ways. The companies started the mess by dismissing the loyalty to their employees. So, why should the employee be loyal to someone who simply doesn't care anymore anyway?

Anne, You, like a lot of others, ar e unfortunately lumped in with the bad apples. You are the type who does NOT get the kudos you should while your fellow gen Mills who DO fit the stereotype get the press. I would sincerely HOPE you were not one who had a helicopter parent that teachers and HR people have horror tales to tale. I cannot tell you how many times my own 19 year's former teachers have sat and talked about the fact that kids now can't think for themselves because they're so glued to phones or tweeter or the net. They also talk about the constant interferance from parents in both HS AND colleges, whereas in my day, my parents would have NEVER crossed that line. HR people have talked about parents showing up at interviews with their 20something and even called HR when said kid didn't get the job. When my own daughter interviewed for her 1st job, I dropped her off and then headed to the nearest BK to get a cup of coffee. She called me to pick her up after she was finished. She was the one who had to prove herself, not me.

You, and others like you, like generations before, and I dare say generations after, are the exceptions that do NOT get the press. And just like those before you, you've got to work 100x harder to shake off those preceptions.

This sounds like a never ending battle. Gen Y "kids" will always think Gen X workers are stubborn workaholics, while Gen X will always think Gen Y workers are young, uncaring, and irresponsible. But what does it matter? Everyone needs a job, and if you're having trouble getting one, STOP blaming it on other people or entire generations. Unless they explicitly say "we're not hiring you because you're too old" or "you're too young," then the age thing is merely speculation. Get rid of the bitter attitudes and employers might appreciate you more.

I would highly suggest you read the following article, since it bears out what is already known, even by the head of the EEOC.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/15/AR2009071503760.html?hpid=sec-nation

And yes, age discrimination IS ILLEGAL, regardless of how you cut it, paint it, or whatever.

Well, this post opened up a couple of huge cans of worms, namely age bias and the ever-present "battle of the generations." Two points:

(1) While age discrimination is, obviously, a big issue in today's economy, the fact is you need to accept it and move on. Unless they're amazingly stupid, employers won't expose themselves to age bias. What they're more likely to do is not even consider your resume. Yes, it's a harsh truth, but it ain't going away.

(2) Many pundits like to talk about the characteristics of the Baby Boomers. vs. those of Gen X vs. those of Gen Y. IMHO, it's much ado about little. Looking back when I and other Boomers were just starting out after college, we thought in many ways like Gen Y (although we didn't have the luxury or ubiquity of today's tech toys). I predict that in 10 to 20 years, Gen Y and Gen X will think just like Boomers and they'll complain about thee yet-to-be-born Gen Z or whatever their offspring will be called. Why? It's all about life experience.

Are there any teachers out there like me that have lost their jobs?

Rick, I have a question: WHY should we have to accept age discrimination of ANY kind, be it against the >40 or the young? Clearly it's illegal tp discriminate against anyone >40. That' why it's called a protected class. However, and please excuse me being a bit philosphocial(sp) here, but your reasoning could also be applied to racial and sexual discrimination as well. If those 2, as well as the 1st, is illegal, why should we have to accept it? You clearly can't accept the latter 2, so why the 1st? So, when you say we have to accept it, is that not just as wrong as if someone discriminated on sexual or racial lines?

No, we do NOT have to accept it. That's WHY there are laws against it and against discrimination because of race and gender. So, no, to accept it is to condone it and those who condone are just as guilty of it as those who do it.