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Old 11-05-2008, 09:22 PM
 
Location: Major Metro
1,083 posts, read 2,288,070 times
Reputation: 364

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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dingler View Post
I had a frustrated job hunter tell me that he had spent a year in Plastic Surgery and had dyed his grey hair brown so he could look young. He had also gone on a exercise routine and learned to walk and carry himself like a young man again. He was 55 and thought he could look and act 45.

His plan was brilliant until companies started to require all applicants who interviewed for a job fill out a background investigation form that asked for your graduation date from high school and your date of birth. I see many supervisors act really curious about how old someone is. Again, it is all done very quietly.

Also, many employers do not like older workers because they are more likely to have medical issues and will jack up health and dental insurance costs.
In many states companies can't ask for social security or date of birth info until a verbal job offer is made contingent upon background checks. You should check the laws of your state.

There are no "tricks" to get around someone that is intent on discriminating. You can leave off dates as well as some of your jobs from earlier years but if you look 50 or older... The key is to find a company that promotes diversity and equal opportunity and do your best to sell your skills and create rapport with the interviewer. Also, be flexible about salary since this usually is the issue. If a job only requires 5 years of experience and you have 20, that's good but they only need someone with 5 years and will only pay a salary commesurate with this - maybe a little more. Also, it's best to stay in your field of expertise. If you're trying to change careers, it's particularly challenging since some speculate it's harder to "unlearn" someone that has workerd a certain way for years. There is also the overqualified concern depending on if you're going for lower level jobs in a new field. The good news is that quality workers are becoming increasingly hard to find and older experienced workers will become a hot commodity in a few years.
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Old 11-06-2008, 03:41 AM
 
3,852 posts, read 12,835,223 times
Reputation: 2529
yup, very true.

1) pay
2) experience
3) health insurance
4) old ways

What you can you do about it? Not much.

That is why I laugh at all these people who don't save or invest for the future. Good luck getting a job when your 50, 60+.
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Old 11-06-2008, 11:57 AM
 
Location: Texas
8,672 posts, read 22,219,336 times
Reputation: 21364
I'm sure it depends on the type of job you are seeking, but I have never seemed to have any problem getting a job. (I'm 53 and have changed jobs twice in the last 4 or 5 years.) I know some companies do discriminate, but at the bank I currently work for, all 3 of the ladies who work in accounts are 55+. One is 60. They were all hired within the past 2 or 3 years too. (They weren't hired young and stuck with it if you know what I mean.)

Again, it may be different with higher level, extremely highly compensated positions, but I would just encourage older job seekers not to get discouraged. Some places indeed discriminate, but others do not. Just make sure you dress sharply, groom yourself well etc. And keep plugging....
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Old 11-06-2008, 12:28 PM
 
48,505 posts, read 96,540,710 times
Reputation: 18301
Like anyhting else it depends on what you do and your value to a compoany. In many cases where the skills is in large suppy;that si the case. Where the skill is in demand the experience will be a big plus over recent job entries.
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