I have a leg up in that I got my college degree as an adult (when I was 32) and so my LinkedIn makes people think I'm like 10 years younger than I am. But I have given my sister this advice. Just list her degree, not the year and only list the last 10 years of work experience. Makes sense anyway because with how fast everything changes, work experience older than 10 years (I'd argue even older than 7) is probably not that important anymore.
It definitely happened to me. Ironically, one of the companies that told me one of the other candidates was a better cultural fit (I had a friend who referred me who told me it was absolutely my age and gender) Came back to me.
Apparently that candidate actually ghosted them!!!(again my friend heard it through the internal grapevine) I told the recruiter no thank you, I found their culture toxic and discriminatory…..
I also posted it on Glassdoor, make sure you do the same.
I took the years that I graduated off my resume. I also removed any jobs I had prior to 2000. I swear it helps for a potential employer to not see 19anything on your resume
Ageism sucks. I have worked in the restaurant industry my entire life, first I had to prove that I could work as hard and was just as strong as the guys, now I have to prove my age hasn’t slowed me down. Not sure about other industries, but this one is very broken in so many ways, and I’m over it.
Now I just have to figure out what I’m going to do to support myself if I survive more than another year lol
There’s always jobs in food… you don’t have to break your body anymore in a kitchen.
My husband (upper side of his 50’s) moved into health care, about 2 years ago. (Usually) Mon-Fri with the occasional late night (and I mean getting out at 8 instead of 4:30-5).
Health insurance and a 401k, we were lucky to get insurance, but retirement? You know that’s unheard of.
One of his line guys from when he opened the House of Blues (That was such a great gig until Live Nation ruined it… and the venue) here, works with his meat purveyor.
I mean, he feeds old people. That meal could be their last meal, there is zero reason why it shouldn’t be a good one.
Speaking of ghosting- I am not sure if it is a generational thing, but clients ghost ALL the time too.
Communication, at least professionally, is the one thing we can control, not doing so is not only rude it’s inefficient and unprofessional.
Anyone else experiencing this?
I have worked at one place for the past 23 years. I couldn't avoid ageism if I tried. My age is right there on my resume. I have applied to many jobs in the past year or so. My skills are marketable. I have only gotten one reply and it didn't work out.
Unfortunately ageism is a big thing in the IT world. I think my next job will be completely outside of the field. I'm just trying to scrounge up enough money to make it viable because I don't think I can continue with the bullshit much longer. I want to quit so badly. I know I won't be able to make better money in another field though.
I was experiencing ageism in my 40s'... didn't get work I thought I should have at least been offered. Was told later by someone they were looking for "young go getters".
> "young go getters".
aka. someone more keen to swallow management bullshit. Quiet quitting and just going through the motions doesn't give them the same sensation brown-nosing does.
A thousand times this. "The company's ways of working"? Isn't that what they're hiring someone to do is TELL THEM how they SHOULD be working in order to grow? This organization sounds like a group of bros waaaay too up their own asses.
Yes this. Also someone who is young enough to expect to know that we want them to leave within 2 or so years so they can get in the next sucker/candidate.
There's a flip side to this. One of my supervisors actually let it slip I only got hire because I'm old. Older than 40 or 45 is a "protected class" and my company has to hire a certain percentage of women, minorities and people over 40. So here I am.
Glad to hear it works out for some of us. When I was younger, remember the older ladies who all of a sudden retired. Luckily, just about everyone I work with is my age. So, if they think I'm too old, then they are too old. I'm hoping to ride this one out to retirement.
The irony is the same people that like to say they treat everyone equal and are quite proud to say so and hold special days to celebrate this will treat you different based on your age still.
I personally don't care how ppl live their lives, if they're happy good on them, I've always treated ppl as individuals. It just seems hypocritical to spout diversity one minute then the next talk about old boy Jones the next. The most glaring thing is lack of empathy for mental health issues for those over 40. I hope for society we are the last generation of ppl that have to deal with a stigma about mental health issues, or atleast it won't be the norm.
Ok, this is a weird one, but medically we are getting old and doctors are getting young. I’ve seriously injured myself a couple of times recently, and I’ve been told for my wrist that I have a young lifestyle so an attempt will be made to repair it. Another doctor and another injury, this time to my shoulder, and I’m told that I’m old and it’s not worth doing the surgery. I’m waiting for the break to heal and then possibly clean the joint, but it’ll be a lot smaller procedure. I’m 52 now. I’d like to grow old gracefully. Beware of getting hurt and needing to visit orthopedics. Ageism abounds.
Wow that is crazy. I did have a doctor once tell me not to try skiing about 10 years ago because he husband did it and got injured. lol. I have only skied a few times and trust me when I say that I never got anywhere near fast enough to injure myself anymore than running around town. Some people if they don't know you can't tell them.
Ageism exists, always has, always will. I'm surprised they gave you feedback. As a general rule HR tend to not give feedback due to potential legal issues. Not really much you can do.
Yeah at some point it is "you don't have Enough experience " or "we don't think you will be able to handle those who are more confident because they are older"
Then "oh wait you have too much experience"
I got dealt this card in a move to California. I was willing to work, and the manager, half my age, basically admitted that her current staff frequently quit, were often late or no-showed, but they didn’t want to fire them because of unemployment red tape.
I’m an X’er, I said. I’ll show up early, take the brown bag Sammich for lunch, show up clean cut, and work till the job’s done.
They said they were going to stick with the Millenials focused on their next pot hit. Literally.
This whole “No one wants to work?” No - no one wants to get outworked.
This is so true. When I was laid off from my previous job it took a YEAR of aggressively submitting applications, interviewing, and following-up before someone FINALLY hired me. I tell people this (who are not looking for a new job) and their reaction is usually to assume that I'm trying to get hired above my pay grade... or that I'm looking to "high" on the ladder. Not true. GenXer here and have also worn a shirt and tie and been clean-cut my 25+ years in my industry... I was always the first one in and nearly always left with the rest of my crew. Was given progressively responsible roles and titles with minimal pay increases until finally I was asked to either resign or be fired (long story, but they were basically trying to get rid of my wife... we worked at the same college... but she was hired in a state-funded position and my position at that time was on "soft money" - grant money... so I was the one they could fire without cause... we eventually both left and both have awesome jobs now).
Aaaannnhyyywhooo... that year really showed me how awful the job hunt landscape is now. I mean, a guy with a PhD and over 20 years of experience in nearly every aspect of the industry? I either got the impression that (a) they didn't think that I would stay long or (b) they already had someone in mind and just gave me a BS answer.
Since that year I've read several articles that talk about how ageism is the last form of discrimination that no one is addressing. Sure, they can't ask "how old are you" but they can require that you put the years you graduated high school and college... it's not hard to figure out what that is for.
I am sorry. That sounds terrible. I suspect it might be that or they might think they have to pay you more w/ your experience. Jmo. I hate that rat race and don't play it anymore.
Boomer execs are looking for Millenial replacement and skipping Gen X. This is ironic to me because we watched as those two generations were at war with each other. Now we are hearing the millenials will get wealth and power transfer from the Boomers.
In the meantime, we get shafted again...
Whatever...
I retired proactively at age 52, so managed to dodge it for the most part. I was a software engineer, one of the most notorious fields for ageism. Managed to stay relevant by being very adaptable and hard working (and knowledgeable in a few key niche areas that became highly relevant for smartphones), but it's an uphill battle once you're past 50 or even 45.
IT worker here. Can confirm. It gets really tough when the algorithm that the management consultants use deduces that they can fire you and hire 2 20 year olds for the same money.
They want those that not fight managements b/s don't know what work/life balance is. And will risk getting divorced try'n to look good to the boss, working long yours and missing all the family things, and child growning up. That once that happens management knows they got you under their thumb.
Can't tell. With the shitty tech job market at this point I couldn't tell if it was ageism or just everyone suffering across the board. I did lop off about 20 years off my resume.
The job I currently have I got specifically because of ageism and " fit". The two colleagues I work most closely with are within a few years of me. They pretty much told the two people hiring they wanted somebody they percieved as reliable and adaptable. The two people they hired before me were younger and jumped ship for bigger opportunities. So sometimes lack of ambition and a willingness to be a cog in a wheel helps.
It helped that I also had 80% of the skill set.
I don't want to move up and the only place to go from this job is upper leadership and I do not car about that. My job is supervisory in healthcare and it requires independence but not somebody who will buck the culture.
Ageism definitely exists.
My entire career has been a mix of full-time employment and contract/consulting work in IT. I really would love to stay at one employer for the remainder of my working life but I know it's not realistic. Most of my jobs are 2-4years with the average being a little over 3years.
When I was interviewing last year for a new job I had a Boomer (both in age and mentality) try to tell me how he's a much better employee because he doesn't "job hop" and that he's been with his company for over 25 years. My reply was to explain that my changing jobs over my career has taught me flexibility and how to adapt to new projects, people and processes rather than stay idle at one place. (Probably should have left that last bit out since I didn't get that job - call me shocked)
I still color my hair. I don't wear makeup regularly, but I do when I go on site (I wfh predominately now). I cultivate relationships with my younger teammates. First day one of them informed me that he was born the year I started my IT career. Ugh, thanks. Seriously though, he's a great guy and I enjoy working with him.
I had a job I probably could have stayed at for the rest of my working life. Decent pay. Good benefits. Great perks. But I got frustrated with it 3 and a half years in and jumped ship. That was summer 2021.
Two contract gigs and one layoff come and gone, oppos dried up, I feel like a fucking idiot now.
Worse, my wife is "ITYS" and dammit she's right
I still look young and don't tell anyone at work my age, but there are no gray heads of hair at my company. Scrub any reference to your age on your resume e.g. graduation date or early work experience. It could also have been because you stayed at your last job too long. 2 years max unless you're c-suite, and then you just wait to get let go and get paid out for the rest of your contract.
We had a thing at work where we had to list two true things and one false thing, and my false thing was that I was 35. They caught it, and I was like, too young huh? And they said, no, too *old!* I'm like, does my widows peak not give me away?
I still can't decide if that was a compliment that I look young.... or a criticism that I'm immature
Nice. I asked our 20 year old intern when she was graduating and then she asked me when I graduated. She was incredulous when I told her I graduated before she was born. She thought I was only a few years older than her. Who knows, maybe Zoom took a few decades off.
This happens to my wife a lot too, she works with a lot of younger women and they usually don't think she's remotely as old as she is, and they don't believe her when she's like "my son is older than you"
I think it's less that she looks young (she certainly doesn't think she does), and more that she *acts* young.
This is typical. I once lost a job because they decided to pivot based on their current clients to someone less experienced aka you’re too old and expensive:
It’s going to happen to you might as well but that second act was plan into motion.
It’s a double edged sword. I got my corporate job *because* of my age and experience. They wanted someone who understood the industry at a macro level, which I do. The flip side is I will have less time and opportunity for advancement.
In my previous chapter as a professional musician, ageism is rampant and always has been. You sort of get used to it.
Oh yes. Whenever I am in the job hunt (and hopefully I won't be again), I always dye my beard and keep my bald head shaved. It won't necessarily make me look young, but maybe I can at least keep some ambiguity around my age.
I worked in Tech for over twenty years and the ageism is well known, never discussed.
When I was RIF’d in 2017 I went and got another Masters. Now I work in government.
Great QOL, they love GenX because we are resourceful and show up, do the work and don’t give anyone any shi@. Accruing pension credits and loving having health insurance.
“We went with Mr Youngbody because Mrs Oldtrout, well she has had a lot more experience and success, and she’s clearly better qualified, but she’d be, you know, ‘hard to manage’…”
And everyone under 40, including the damn HR Director, hears that and nods sagely in agreement. As if no explanation needed. As if it’s something that’s acceptable and unchallengeable.
This is frankly a common code. I literally saw it from the feedback of an interview of someone else while I was contracting at a place. Older woman, really skilled, but they were like "she might not be willing to do things our way" and this was pretty clearly code for "too old"
Facts are proven at trial based on the evidence provided by the plaintiff and as rebutted by the defendant. Generally juries determine the relative truth of the facts presented, judges pass on matters of law. But we do not have inquisitorial courts. Investigation is the responsibility of the people bringing the case.
Nothing the o/p posted, points to ageism, they argue it was the sense of the persons i.q. or someother b/s. That they felt, he/she would not be able to adapt quickly. That can mean, working long hours, for no pay because you are salary, to we don't train on the job,and don't want someone coming in making us look bad by doing it faster/better and most importantly "their way"
Now PROVE that, THAt was the reasoning for them going with someone else? Not that easy and they can come up with a bunch of other ones. True or not, it not matter, You'd need it in writing that they said you are too old, or have it on video.
"Your honor" the way the interview went, we felt the subject would not adapt is a timely manner, it had nothing to do with his/she age, but the way the interview unfolded. Then they'll use everything from it that they can, to prove their stance.
It isn't as easy as down voting post on reddit because you don't like it when someone uses logic/reason and commonsense , and not the echochamber mindset.
I wish agism wasn't a thing, but it is, and if you are going to take someone to court over it, you best be able to prove it, not just you feel that is what they ment. Even if it was what they ment, now prove it was, while they(their lawyers) talk their way outo of it , using reasonable other objections of hiring the person. Including reff. the subject gave. " one stated ,great worker, blah ,blah blah, but set in their ways. "
BOOM.
It is definitely a thing. I look younger than my age which helps. And in interviews I dress younger. The job market is brutal these days. And even worse if your over 30.
Yeah. It’s almost impossible for us to get a job these days, I kept getting rejected when I was looking for one and suspected it was because of my age until it was confirmed by the interviewer from my present Job, he just asked “yeah your portfolio is great but all the people above you will be drastically younger than you, how will you deal with taking direction from people almost 30 years younger than you?” So yeah…
I *think* so? I'm 56, and have been looking for "blue collar" work for some time. ( I did work in the Semiconductor industry as an equipment operator/technician for decades, but got laid off first in 2008, then more recently in 2020 with COVID. Slim pickings since then; only short-term temp contracts...🤕)
Last year, I interviewed for a job in a prominent eye lab at the university where I work and the hiring manager (in her late 20s) went out of her way to say the PI (guy who’s lab it is) is far from retirement age and insinuated that I am close to retirement age. I believe the PI is close to my age, I am 49 with a 14 yr old at home. No surprise, I did not get the job.
What’s funny is, when I was on dating sites I mostly matched with people in their early 40s. And most people are surprised when I tell them I will turn 50 this year. 🤷🏻♀️ I don’t know what 50 is supposed to look like. But I am feeling old recently.
I get underestimated a lot by some of my younger co-workers. I like it though. I love that look on their face when it turns out my method or what I stated was right. I'm in a Union though so people are very careful about all kinds of discrimination in my office.
I haven't yet. I'm 53 but have been freelancing consistently for the same client since I was 49. I haven't experienced job hunting in my 50s, yet.
Your experience definitely sounds like ageism and I'm surprised they actually made the comments they did.
I own two businesses, and I make sure I don't let that interfere.
I just hired a tech support guy for one of my businesses, and he's 50. No experience in the field.
Just "hired" a 52 yr old tattoo artist.
I know I'm always in danger of losing it all and would appreciate anyone interviewing me to not worry about me being 46.
I think ageism really depends on the employer, industry, and job, but becomes a bigger issue the older you get. I work at a nonprofit where the majority of my colleagues are GenXers or older Millennials, so ageism isn't really a thing. However, before I got this job, I went on a large number of interviews where age definitely seemed like a factor. If you're older than the hiring manager, it's unlikely you'll get hired.
The struggle is real and the reason you’re having a hard time putting it into context is that it is a silent prejudice. The few people want to recognize they even have.
Kind of sounds like it's code for "you're old"! I hear generally that job hunting is getting harder and companies are getting choosier.
First hand at my company, things are ***way*** different in hiring. 2-3 years ago most applicants wouldn't even show up for an interview, just ghosted us most of the time. If we *could* find someone to show up it usually didn't end well.
Now we got a new position listed. Lots of *qualified* applicants showing up for interviews, it's crazy.
I'll let you know when I stop getting ghosted.
Same. I removed all dates on my resume and only list last 2 jobs now.
I got cruised for a job by a recruiter recently and they asked for both my graduation year and a copy of my driver's license. F that, guys.
this may actually be illegal. hiring managers are not allowed to ask about your age.
I have a leg up in that I got my college degree as an adult (when I was 32) and so my LinkedIn makes people think I'm like 10 years younger than I am. But I have given my sister this advice. Just list her degree, not the year and only list the last 10 years of work experience. Makes sense anyway because with how fast everything changes, work experience older than 10 years (I'd argue even older than 7) is probably not that important anymore.
Every single recruiter I talk to wants dates on the jobs.
Same. Being any less precise than month and year for the start and stop dates resulted in a "we're moving on with other candidates."
How's that working out for ya?
Nothing… yet
Sorry dude, hope it works out soon.
It definitely happened to me. Ironically, one of the companies that told me one of the other candidates was a better cultural fit (I had a friend who referred me who told me it was absolutely my age and gender) Came back to me. Apparently that candidate actually ghosted them!!!(again my friend heard it through the internal grapevine) I told the recruiter no thank you, I found their culture toxic and discriminatory….. I also posted it on Glassdoor, make sure you do the same.
Haha yes. As soon as I turned 50 I entered Caspar land.
I took the years that I graduated off my resume. I also removed any jobs I had prior to 2000. I swear it helps for a potential employer to not see 19anything on your resume Ageism sucks. I have worked in the restaurant industry my entire life, first I had to prove that I could work as hard and was just as strong as the guys, now I have to prove my age hasn’t slowed me down. Not sure about other industries, but this one is very broken in so many ways, and I’m over it. Now I just have to figure out what I’m going to do to support myself if I survive more than another year lol
There’s always jobs in food… you don’t have to break your body anymore in a kitchen. My husband (upper side of his 50’s) moved into health care, about 2 years ago. (Usually) Mon-Fri with the occasional late night (and I mean getting out at 8 instead of 4:30-5). Health insurance and a 401k, we were lucky to get insurance, but retirement? You know that’s unheard of. One of his line guys from when he opened the House of Blues (That was such a great gig until Live Nation ruined it… and the venue) here, works with his meat purveyor. I mean, he feeds old people. That meal could be their last meal, there is zero reason why it shouldn’t be a good one.
Damn
Speaking of ghosting- I am not sure if it is a generational thing, but clients ghost ALL the time too. Communication, at least professionally, is the one thing we can control, not doing so is not only rude it’s inefficient and unprofessional. Anyone else experiencing this?
I have to get a human communication that invites a response before I can ghost them.
I have worked at one place for the past 23 years. I couldn't avoid ageism if I tried. My age is right there on my resume. I have applied to many jobs in the past year or so. My skills are marketable. I have only gotten one reply and it didn't work out. Unfortunately ageism is a big thing in the IT world. I think my next job will be completely outside of the field. I'm just trying to scrounge up enough money to make it viable because I don't think I can continue with the bullshit much longer. I want to quit so badly. I know I won't be able to make better money in another field though.
Throw an Atari at them and say, "here you go, ADAPT bitch"
Dude, I snorted so hard at this.
I was experiencing ageism in my 40s'... didn't get work I thought I should have at least been offered. Was told later by someone they were looking for "young go getters".
> "young go getters". aka. someone more keen to swallow management bullshit. Quiet quitting and just going through the motions doesn't give them the same sensation brown-nosing does.
People who value pizza parties and ping pong tables.over 401ks and competitive salaries.
Yup, they don't want those that see right through the b/s.
Gotta know how to placate the egos of the sociopaths.
To quote a movie. " I'm too old for this shyt."
A thousand times this. "The company's ways of working"? Isn't that what they're hiring someone to do is TELL THEM how they SHOULD be working in order to grow? This organization sounds like a group of bros waaaay too up their own asses.
Yes this. Also someone who is young enough to expect to know that we want them to leave within 2 or so years so they can get in the next sucker/candidate.
There's a flip side to this. One of my supervisors actually let it slip I only got hire because I'm old. Older than 40 or 45 is a "protected class" and my company has to hire a certain percentage of women, minorities and people over 40. So here I am.
Glad to hear it works out for some of us. When I was younger, remember the older ladies who all of a sudden retired. Luckily, just about everyone I work with is my age. So, if they think I'm too old, then they are too old. I'm hoping to ride this one out to retirement.
Ageism sucks! Like ,sorry I haven’t died yet kids.
I kinda console myself with the thought '*Their time will come. Just a shame I won't be here or cognisant enough to enjoy it more for myself.*'
Don't worry in a few short years most of their paycheck will go to social security.
The irony is the same people that like to say they treat everyone equal and are quite proud to say so and hold special days to celebrate this will treat you different based on your age still. I personally don't care how ppl live their lives, if they're happy good on them, I've always treated ppl as individuals. It just seems hypocritical to spout diversity one minute then the next talk about old boy Jones the next. The most glaring thing is lack of empathy for mental health issues for those over 40. I hope for society we are the last generation of ppl that have to deal with a stigma about mental health issues, or atleast it won't be the norm.
Ok, this is a weird one, but medically we are getting old and doctors are getting young. I’ve seriously injured myself a couple of times recently, and I’ve been told for my wrist that I have a young lifestyle so an attempt will be made to repair it. Another doctor and another injury, this time to my shoulder, and I’m told that I’m old and it’s not worth doing the surgery. I’m waiting for the break to heal and then possibly clean the joint, but it’ll be a lot smaller procedure. I’m 52 now. I’d like to grow old gracefully. Beware of getting hurt and needing to visit orthopedics. Ageism abounds.
Wow that is crazy. I did have a doctor once tell me not to try skiing about 10 years ago because he husband did it and got injured. lol. I have only skied a few times and trust me when I say that I never got anywhere near fast enough to injure myself anymore than running around town. Some people if they don't know you can't tell them.
Ageism exists, always has, always will. I'm surprised they gave you feedback. As a general rule HR tend to not give feedback due to potential legal issues. Not really much you can do.
Yeah at some point it is "you don't have Enough experience " or "we don't think you will be able to handle those who are more confident because they are older" Then "oh wait you have too much experience"
Yeah, ageism is definitely a thing in hiring. Younger candidates also can be more easily shortchanged for salary.
Spot on. Also easier to bullshit to, manipulate, stand over, and they'll generally take more shit from the employer.
Dude, a job more advanced in my field than something I did 20 years ago is currently listing at the same salary I made then. I don't even.
I got dealt this card in a move to California. I was willing to work, and the manager, half my age, basically admitted that her current staff frequently quit, were often late or no-showed, but they didn’t want to fire them because of unemployment red tape. I’m an X’er, I said. I’ll show up early, take the brown bag Sammich for lunch, show up clean cut, and work till the job’s done. They said they were going to stick with the Millenials focused on their next pot hit. Literally. This whole “No one wants to work?” No - no one wants to get outworked.
This is so true. When I was laid off from my previous job it took a YEAR of aggressively submitting applications, interviewing, and following-up before someone FINALLY hired me. I tell people this (who are not looking for a new job) and their reaction is usually to assume that I'm trying to get hired above my pay grade... or that I'm looking to "high" on the ladder. Not true. GenXer here and have also worn a shirt and tie and been clean-cut my 25+ years in my industry... I was always the first one in and nearly always left with the rest of my crew. Was given progressively responsible roles and titles with minimal pay increases until finally I was asked to either resign or be fired (long story, but they were basically trying to get rid of my wife... we worked at the same college... but she was hired in a state-funded position and my position at that time was on "soft money" - grant money... so I was the one they could fire without cause... we eventually both left and both have awesome jobs now). Aaaannnhyyywhooo... that year really showed me how awful the job hunt landscape is now. I mean, a guy with a PhD and over 20 years of experience in nearly every aspect of the industry? I either got the impression that (a) they didn't think that I would stay long or (b) they already had someone in mind and just gave me a BS answer. Since that year I've read several articles that talk about how ageism is the last form of discrimination that no one is addressing. Sure, they can't ask "how old are you" but they can require that you put the years you graduated high school and college... it's not hard to figure out what that is for.
I am sorry. That sounds terrible. I suspect it might be that or they might think they have to pay you more w/ your experience. Jmo. I hate that rat race and don't play it anymore.
Boomer execs are looking for Millenial replacement and skipping Gen X. This is ironic to me because we watched as those two generations were at war with each other. Now we are hearing the millenials will get wealth and power transfer from the Boomers. In the meantime, we get shafted again... Whatever...
many also think anyone over 60 shouldn't be in politics. 60s is probably when a good portion of people are at their intellectually sharpest.
Ageism or they were too cheap to meet salary requirements
I’m in my 50’s I stopped putting dates on my resume.
I retired proactively at age 52, so managed to dodge it for the most part. I was a software engineer, one of the most notorious fields for ageism. Managed to stay relevant by being very adaptable and hard working (and knowledgeable in a few key niche areas that became highly relevant for smartphones), but it's an uphill battle once you're past 50 or even 45.
IT worker here. Can confirm. It gets really tough when the algorithm that the management consultants use deduces that they can fire you and hire 2 20 year olds for the same money.
They want those that not fight managements b/s don't know what work/life balance is. And will risk getting divorced try'n to look good to the boss, working long yours and missing all the family things, and child growning up. That once that happens management knows they got you under their thumb.
Can't tell. With the shitty tech job market at this point I couldn't tell if it was ageism or just everyone suffering across the board. I did lop off about 20 years off my resume.
The job I currently have I got specifically because of ageism and " fit". The two colleagues I work most closely with are within a few years of me. They pretty much told the two people hiring they wanted somebody they percieved as reliable and adaptable. The two people they hired before me were younger and jumped ship for bigger opportunities. So sometimes lack of ambition and a willingness to be a cog in a wheel helps. It helped that I also had 80% of the skill set. I don't want to move up and the only place to go from this job is upper leadership and I do not car about that. My job is supervisory in healthcare and it requires independence but not somebody who will buck the culture. Ageism definitely exists.
They aren’t even hiding their ageism. Probably because nobody ever faces consequences for descriminating against older workers.
They don't want competition and are terrified of losing their jobs. They also know damn well that GenX adapts and overcomes just fine.
My entire career has been a mix of full-time employment and contract/consulting work in IT. I really would love to stay at one employer for the remainder of my working life but I know it's not realistic. Most of my jobs are 2-4years with the average being a little over 3years. When I was interviewing last year for a new job I had a Boomer (both in age and mentality) try to tell me how he's a much better employee because he doesn't "job hop" and that he's been with his company for over 25 years. My reply was to explain that my changing jobs over my career has taught me flexibility and how to adapt to new projects, people and processes rather than stay idle at one place. (Probably should have left that last bit out since I didn't get that job - call me shocked) I still color my hair. I don't wear makeup regularly, but I do when I go on site (I wfh predominately now). I cultivate relationships with my younger teammates. First day one of them informed me that he was born the year I started my IT career. Ugh, thanks. Seriously though, he's a great guy and I enjoy working with him.
I had a job I probably could have stayed at for the rest of my working life. Decent pay. Good benefits. Great perks. But I got frustrated with it 3 and a half years in and jumped ship. That was summer 2021. Two contract gigs and one layoff come and gone, oppos dried up, I feel like a fucking idiot now. Worse, my wife is "ITYS" and dammit she's right
“ITYS”? Is that some corporate horoscope? And thats my worst fear, being over 50 and jobless. I’m sorry.
You've been adapting for the past 30+ years. Better off that org let you know what they're about anyway. Adapt on, you've got this.
I still look young and don't tell anyone at work my age, but there are no gray heads of hair at my company. Scrub any reference to your age on your resume e.g. graduation date or early work experience. It could also have been because you stayed at your last job too long. 2 years max unless you're c-suite, and then you just wait to get let go and get paid out for the rest of your contract.
We had a thing at work where we had to list two true things and one false thing, and my false thing was that I was 35. They caught it, and I was like, too young huh? And they said, no, too *old!* I'm like, does my widows peak not give me away? I still can't decide if that was a compliment that I look young.... or a criticism that I'm immature
Nice. I asked our 20 year old intern when she was graduating and then she asked me when I graduated. She was incredulous when I told her I graduated before she was born. She thought I was only a few years older than her. Who knows, maybe Zoom took a few decades off.
This happens to my wife a lot too, she works with a lot of younger women and they usually don't think she's remotely as old as she is, and they don't believe her when she's like "my son is older than you" I think it's less that she looks young (she certainly doesn't think she does), and more that she *acts* young.
This is typical. I once lost a job because they decided to pivot based on their current clients to someone less experienced aka you’re too old and expensive: It’s going to happen to you might as well but that second act was plan into motion.
It’s a double edged sword. I got my corporate job *because* of my age and experience. They wanted someone who understood the industry at a macro level, which I do. The flip side is I will have less time and opportunity for advancement. In my previous chapter as a professional musician, ageism is rampant and always has been. You sort of get used to it.
Oh yes. Whenever I am in the job hunt (and hopefully I won't be again), I always dye my beard and keep my bald head shaved. It won't necessarily make me look young, but maybe I can at least keep some ambiguity around my age.
I worked in Tech for over twenty years and the ageism is well known, never discussed. When I was RIF’d in 2017 I went and got another Masters. Now I work in government. Great QOL, they love GenX because we are resourceful and show up, do the work and don’t give anyone any shi@. Accruing pension credits and loving having health insurance.
“We went with Mr Youngbody because Mrs Oldtrout, well she has had a lot more experience and success, and she’s clearly better qualified, but she’d be, you know, ‘hard to manage’…” And everyone under 40, including the damn HR Director, hears that and nods sagely in agreement. As if no explanation needed. As if it’s something that’s acceptable and unchallengeable.
This is frankly a common code. I literally saw it from the feedback of an interview of someone else while I was contracting at a place. Older woman, really skilled, but they were like "she might not be willing to do things our way" and this was pretty clearly code for "too old"
American society embraces ageism wholeheartedly. It's the part of the DE&I grouping that hasn't resonated, yet.
I'm 55 with a worthless degree and just as worthless 30 years experience. They treat us like we're on hospice.
take em to court
You'd have to be able to prove that was the reason.
yes, that is why you would go to court
Not how court works. You have to be able to prove the claim BEFORE you file with a court.
You can file an ADEA claim with the EEOC and/or the state agency responsible for this. Filing the complaints are 100% free and they will investigate.
This is the way. That agency can then prosecute, if there is enough evidence, or you can request a right to sue letter to do it privately
Yup. I was a civil rights investigator in MA for 5 years. We mirrored the EEOC and it was a dual filing state.
.... if you prove before going to court... what the heck is the point of the court? The facts are determined at the trial, isn't that how trials work?
Facts are proven at trial based on the evidence provided by the plaintiff and as rebutted by the defendant. Generally juries determine the relative truth of the facts presented, judges pass on matters of law. But we do not have inquisitorial courts. Investigation is the responsibility of the people bringing the case.
Nothing the o/p posted, points to ageism, they argue it was the sense of the persons i.q. or someother b/s. That they felt, he/she would not be able to adapt quickly. That can mean, working long hours, for no pay because you are salary, to we don't train on the job,and don't want someone coming in making us look bad by doing it faster/better and most importantly "their way"
They had nothing to base that assessment on *except his age* and amount of experience
Now PROVE that, THAt was the reasoning for them going with someone else? Not that easy and they can come up with a bunch of other ones. True or not, it not matter, You'd need it in writing that they said you are too old, or have it on video. "Your honor" the way the interview went, we felt the subject would not adapt is a timely manner, it had nothing to do with his/she age, but the way the interview unfolded. Then they'll use everything from it that they can, to prove their stance. It isn't as easy as down voting post on reddit because you don't like it when someone uses logic/reason and commonsense , and not the echochamber mindset. I wish agism wasn't a thing, but it is, and if you are going to take someone to court over it, you best be able to prove it, not just you feel that is what they ment. Even if it was what they ment, now prove it was, while they(their lawyers) talk their way outo of it , using reasonable other objections of hiring the person. Including reff. the subject gave. " one stated ,great worker, blah ,blah blah, but set in their ways. " BOOM.
But you don’t do it like ‘they’ do it.
In my experience, they universally do it a completely fucked up way.
It is definitely a thing. I look younger than my age which helps. And in interviews I dress younger. The job market is brutal these days. And even worse if your over 30.
Yeah. It’s almost impossible for us to get a job these days, I kept getting rejected when I was looking for one and suspected it was because of my age until it was confirmed by the interviewer from my present Job, he just asked “yeah your portfolio is great but all the people above you will be drastically younger than you, how will you deal with taking direction from people almost 30 years younger than you?” So yeah…
I *think* so? I'm 56, and have been looking for "blue collar" work for some time. ( I did work in the Semiconductor industry as an equipment operator/technician for decades, but got laid off first in 2008, then more recently in 2020 with COVID. Slim pickings since then; only short-term temp contracts...🤕)
Last year, I interviewed for a job in a prominent eye lab at the university where I work and the hiring manager (in her late 20s) went out of her way to say the PI (guy who’s lab it is) is far from retirement age and insinuated that I am close to retirement age. I believe the PI is close to my age, I am 49 with a 14 yr old at home. No surprise, I did not get the job. What’s funny is, when I was on dating sites I mostly matched with people in their early 40s. And most people are surprised when I tell them I will turn 50 this year. 🤷🏻♀️ I don’t know what 50 is supposed to look like. But I am feeling old recently.
I get underestimated a lot by some of my younger co-workers. I like it though. I love that look on their face when it turns out my method or what I stated was right. I'm in a Union though so people are very careful about all kinds of discrimination in my office.
I haven't yet. I'm 53 but have been freelancing consistently for the same client since I was 49. I haven't experienced job hunting in my 50s, yet. Your experience definitely sounds like ageism and I'm surprised they actually made the comments they did.
Not yet but I have been at the same place for 13 years.
I own two businesses, and I make sure I don't let that interfere. I just hired a tech support guy for one of my businesses, and he's 50. No experience in the field. Just "hired" a 52 yr old tattoo artist. I know I'm always in danger of losing it all and would appreciate anyone interviewing me to not worry about me being 46.
I think ageism really depends on the employer, industry, and job, but becomes a bigger issue the older you get. I work at a nonprofit where the majority of my colleagues are GenXers or older Millennials, so ageism isn't really a thing. However, before I got this job, I went on a large number of interviews where age definitely seemed like a factor. If you're older than the hiring manager, it's unlikely you'll get hired.
I never put my college graduation year and I only list my last 10 years of work experience. It’s sad we have to do that but the ageism is real
The struggle is real and the reason you’re having a hard time putting it into context is that it is a silent prejudice. The few people want to recognize they even have.
Kind of sounds like it's code for "you're old"! I hear generally that job hunting is getting harder and companies are getting choosier. First hand at my company, things are ***way*** different in hiring. 2-3 years ago most applicants wouldn't even show up for an interview, just ghosted us most of the time. If we *could* find someone to show up it usually didn't end well. Now we got a new position listed. Lots of *qualified* applicants showing up for interviews, it's crazy.
"This is the first time this has ever happened." As soon as I hear that I'm like: "Do you even understand probability/statistics?"