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Unfortunately, I've just about given up trying to find a job. I'm hooked up with so many "online" employment sites that my inbox is filled to the brim with crap, everyday.
I will turn 62 this month and got laid-off a little more than 2 years ago. In the mean time, I have submitted nearly 500 resumes. This yielded all of about 5 responses. You might say that I need to "tweek" my resume. I have been to so many resume workshops that I'm sure that I'm qualified to offer a workshop myself. Absolutely every person that looks at my resume has THEIR opinion what I need to tweek. I have NEVER run into anyone that said "this looks great to me". I have 40 years of spotless experience. Still no real solid "bites". Yeah, I had a couple that I thought was real promising, but, they didn't pan out.
I think that all these companies using a computer vs a human to look at the resumes and missing the boat. Someone with my experience can really provide an advantage to any company. But, until you can get "in the door" to prove it, the experience is worthless.
The few actual interviews that I had, I felt went very well. Obviously, I was kidding myself because I didn't get the position.
This is unfortunate for the US economy. People like me max out on their unemployment and then have to try to scrape by until Social Security ( or insecurity) kicks in.
It's unfortunate, but, I feel that I have to "give up" and just sit around and watch the grass grow and wait until I die. For me, life has all but ended. The next time I hear anyone ***** about their job, I think I'm going to slap the crap out of them. You just don't want what I have.
What is your college degree /field in? What is your experience? Maybe you're facing age discrimination.
I've been unemployed 3 years now with a BSME degree and 5.75 years experience. I'm 42 years old.
If so, whats the worst that can happen if someone lied about their age on a resume? Maybe instead of 62 she could put 52. Then during the interview you could tell them the truth I guess....At least this way you can get your foot in the door. Never heard of someone getting in trouble about a decrease in their age. Its usually because of an increase to buy a controlled substance.
For one thing, it is not necessary to go back more than 10 or 12 years on a resume. Saying you have 40 years of experience is practically guaranteeing that you get no responses, especially now, when age discrimination starts at age 40. The employer is going to assume that you are just going to put in a few years and then retire. The company is also going to look at you as a liability for their health insurance.
Cut your resume down to the last 12 years. Do not put the year you graduated college on there. Do not bring up your age. Let them find out when you walk in the door for the interview, and then knock 'em dead.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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If an employer is going to discriminate against older people the tricks on the resume won't help, eventually they will meet you in the interview. The result will be the same, the reason will be simply "someone else was better qualified." You need to look for positions where more experience is required. I mentioned this on another thread but I interviewed last week for a job requiring 3 years experience and most of the top candidates were over 40, two of the top 5 over 60. Some employers do have a potential problem wit their average employee age getting higher, as it means a lot of retirements without experienced people to backfill the positions, but still prefer a seasoned hire over a recent graduate with no experience.
I'd like to see someone do a study on the forums here to see the numbers of people who think they can't get a job because they are old, versus those who complain they cannot get a job because they have no experience. It's really just that there are way too many people applying for very few openings. When we get 85-100 in a week it really gives us a great advantage in getting someone really good. In the mid-90s it was a challenge, and candidates could pick and choose or leverage one potential employer against another to get more money. Seriously, as well qualified as you may be for these jobs, there really may be others better qualified. Our applications are all submitted online but the hiring manager and HR person review them individually, no robo-reviews even when we get a bunch of them.
The worst is dealing with these twenty something recruiters who will only present your Resume to their client if you are the right age cannot be unemployed and must have the exact skillset being requested in their post. Many of them are a waste of time and treat candidates like ****
This is why I got all my previous positions as a temp. You are pre-screened by the agency. They send you on the job, and then once they see how you work out. You can get in that way.
Unfortunately, finding an ethical temp agency these days can be difficult since the industry has been inundated by large national chains which do not seem to have the best interests of client nor their temps at heart. Good agencies are out there, you just have to look.
Good luck!
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Then during the interview you could tell them the truth I guess....At least this way you can get your foot in the door. Never heard of someone getting in trouble about a decrease in their age. Its usually because of an increase to buy a controlled substance.
