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I think you are maybe a bit self conscious, but at the same time, age and sex discrimination does exist. I have a friend who is an H.R. generalist and she even said that in H.R. once a woman starts to get up there in age, they push her out. Now i'm not saying that is always the case, but she has seen it happen a number of times. They do like younger women in H.R. The age thing hits women, not really the men. We still have this notion in America that a man ages like fine wine, but women are still looked at for their physical beauty. And before anybody says that's not true, just look at the movies. The leading man will be a guy in his 50s and his significant other will be a 20 something year old model. give me a break. But anyway, just think positive, and eventually the right employer will offer you the right job.
I too have experienced the being overqualified or underqualified for every job I applied to. It sucks. In my case, it's because I have a graduate degree but then changed careers, and was looking for jobs in a field completely unrelated to the field I got my graduate degree in. As a result, employers didn't know what to do with my resume. They would read it and then always be confused, and say, "now why exactly are you applying for a job with us?" It is very, very difficult to have a grad degree and then look for jobs in an entirely new field, b/c I was mainly looking for entry-level type jobs (b/c I had no experience in the field) and was getting denied left and right. I was always told I was overqualified for the entry-level jobs, so I wasn't hired, but I was underqualified for the mid-level positions in that field b/c I had no experience.
Yes i know what you mean. I had a pretty good career as a Computer Programmer until I was downsized and compelled to look after my elderly father(whose widowed). I live in an area that is economically depressed(12% unemployment). Having been out of the field for years(except for an occassional contract assignment) I find it hard to get back in my field(skills not current) or find work outside my field(Overqualified, lacks right skills, haven't worked--thus lazy etc etc). Now I have to relocate to florida (where my brother lives) and hope I can get a break. I already have a B.S degree so I was loath to go back to school but if Florida fails me, i may have no other reasonable choice. I get turned down with the same alacrity for jobs sweeping floors as i do for jobs programming in Java. Self employment may be the way to go...have you considered doing that?
I am a chinese fresh graduate from a not very famous univ. in china,majoying in appied physics.i cant get any lucky for any co. in china. I am overqualified for foreigner's administrative jobs,they dont have a formal company and not experienced for the oversea california's softwear companies;qualified for some easy technical jobs but got pissed off when being interviewed by those short pigs or thin chickens.sick of that. I want to do my own business but dont know where to start
You will get the right job. Someone will see your potential and hire you. I am a big believe in 'think it and it will happen' but this doesn't happen overnight. There is no reason to say 'life stops at 40' and accept you will never have a decent job ever again. I'm 41 and looking to get back into the workplace now I don't have to worry about childcare.
Looking for a good job is very discouraging. You need to sit down, list your skills and try to broaden what you are applying for. In the meantime, get healthy. Walk every day. Look in the mirror and tell yourself, "A good job is coming my way.' Write it down and re-read it.
Yes, it sounds very 'new agey' but it will help you feel better about yourself. Read some biographies or autobiographies of people who were more successful later in life...
You've heard of Colonel Sanders--(KFC)...he was 65 before he made any serious money.
I am also 'scared' and 'feel discriminated' against but I know I have potential and if employers don't see it, it's their loss.
Good luck.
Rep for gypsysoul22! The "My life is over" mentality is a guaranteed way to go downhill fast. You should get fighting mad! Esp If You have good skills, And present yourself well. We all get knocked down in life; You need to stay positive, And move forward. Fear and clinging to the past are the biggest things that hold people back. And this could keep one down for years. Time waits for no one. Best of luck.
I think you are maybe a bit self conscious, but at the same time, age and sex discrimination does exist. I have a friend who is an H.R. generalist and she even said that in H.R. once a woman starts to get up there in age, they push her out. Now i'm not saying that is always the case, but she has seen it happen a number of times. They do like younger women in H.R. The age thing hits women, not really the men. We still have this notion in America that a man ages like fine wine, but women are still looked at for their physical beauty. And before anybody says that's not true, just look at the movies. The leading man will be a guy in his 50s and his significant other will be a 20 something year old model. give me a break. But anyway, just think positive, and eventually the right employer will offer you the right job.
You realize that movies are not reality right? Although I agree there is a double standard in Hollywood. I do agree that certain roles fit certain type of people and I am sure there is discrimination in the workplace.
I do tend to see certain types for certain jobs. I would've liked to have worked in the company mailroom, but they tend to only want young men for those roles.
The only work I was able to get was office work, and it was almost all female. I was late 20s to mid 30s, but most of my coworkers were 40-55. I had a slim to average figure, but most of my coworkers were obese. More whites in management to exec. levels, more Viets in clerical levels at larger companies, so no wonder I never really fit in with my coworkers, except for same gender, but I hated being stuck with all or mostly all females for 40 hrs. a week. ack.
As hard as it is to believe, I would've also liked a janitor job cleaning office buildings, because I hate working in the morning and prefer night shift and working alone, but they only wanted hispanics for those jobs.
I always ended up pigeonholed into the usual boring early shift desk jockey type role, no matter how I tried to break out of it and into something more interesting and suitable to my night owl tendencies.
This thread is old, but since so many people have responded and started a discussion:
Over qualified no longer exists. I assure you that even with a masters if you apply for a position working a cash register you will be brought in for an interview and offered just over minimum wage in short order.
Now it means "I don't like you or want to deal with you, leave me alone". When you look at it that way, it makes more sense. They do indeed picture the perfect candidate, though the picture doesn't always include things like race. It might happen, but it I doubt it is a standard in today's economy. The idea now is to get as much as they possibly can, and the impression is that unrealistic beliefs are the ones that lead to finding the most "out of this world" bargain on labor.
If you work as a supervisor for a fast food restaurant as two years, and apply for a position as a supervisor of a fast food restaurant, you won't have enough experience. It is unlikely to matter how the staff responded to you, or what savings you created for the business.
This is the current economy. Yes, managers are occasionally worried about job security. They may fool themselves into thinking they just don't like people who are "arrogant", even if all they know is that the applicant for the position has more qualifications than they do. It's a careful dance of how can I get someone who is already entirely trained, will work very hard for low wages, and won't even think about trying to take my better job?
Further, computerized screening is incredibly ineffecient at producing the BEST applicant, but it is very useful if your goal is to reduce the time spent on going over the applicants. Because of sheer volume, this technique will allow them to pull out several resumes were the vast majority are qualified and then go from there. If they left the best applicant, or several great applicants out, that doesn't matter from a business standpoint. They got someone who was a great value and they didn't have to spend any extra time. They see how you might see shopping for ketchup. Have you tried every brand? Have you looked over the nutritional information? Have you checked ingredients or the dates the bottle expires? It simply isn't worth the time for you to invest so heavily on your ketchup. In the same way the person in HR feels it is not worth their time--even if it is worth the company's time--to read over hundreds of resumes. Most are boring, many applicants are unqualified, and reducing the work dramatically so they can play on facebook is very appealing.
I've handled recruitment for one of my organizations for years. When we advertise we often get heaps of applicants. Sometimes it turns out we don't really need to fill the position as someone has created a more efficient system, or a worker who was on good terms decides they would like to return. Since I know for a fact they did well in our system and will know what they are getting into, it dramatically reduces the downside risk.
When I do send in applications, I intend to use several keywords because any position I am interested in is likely to also attract many other applicants, and therefore likely to be scanned by computer. It is not feasible to call and ask because they often request not to be contacted outside of that practice. Personally, I tended to prefer people who contacted me and would give them quick consideration. I also believe in telling people "no", or "I don't think it will work, but we may be in touch with you". Some people will be thoroughly offended by the latter, I can deal with that. Some will choose to try even harder. Trying hard often leads to success in my book. I can train someone quickly if they genuinely want to learn and improve.
I tell people "no", politely but clearly. I do it because someone did it for me, and I had a great deal of respect for her. I had interviewed for the position, and she called and left a voice mail for me to say they had picked someone else. I sent her a message back thanking her for having the courage and integrity to give me a two minute call to inform me. I understand it isn't easy, but I appreciate it. It was a job I really wanted, so I could appreciate at least knowing quickly.
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"Maybe next Tuesday"
