Finding a New Job After 50

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I am a 50 year stay at home mother of a daughter with a disability. When I left the market I had the title of Marketing Director, without a degree. When I found out my daughter had a disability I decided to go back to school. First pursuing a marketing management certification and two years ago I graduated with an honors specialization in marketing. I have a huge gap in my resume even though I have work experience from some years back. I just graduated 2 years ago so my education is pretty current. In two years since graduating I have only had one interview. My daughter is going to be 18 is independent. I don't feel at this point it is worth it to pursue a Masters degree because my fear is that I will just be older with and still not employable with a Masters. Plus I am taking away funds from may daughter. Her future isn't going to be that promising because she will likely have to live on disability funding at 700.00 per month. I now feel I made the wrong decision helping her. I am totally demotivated and don't know what to do. I am at the point where I just can't look at my resume anymore or look at another job searching suggestion.

Lucy of OH 11:14PM July 19, 2010

I have been now unemployed for 3 years, have tried and sent more resumes that ever, closes I came to a job was to work for an adult chat line, I haven't sunk that low yet, but I am thinking about it. Very sad, 10 years with one company, let go, and from what I heard they can not keep anyone in the job I was let go from. hmm serves them right trying to cut cost with finding someone new. If it meant keeping my job I would have taken a pay cut.

Darlene of NC 6:56AM June 06, 2010

Bleak. Do the Obamaloids plan to provide easy-access voluntary euthanasia centers for anyone over 55?
I wouldn't put it past them.

Gonzo of MA 11:23AM November 25, 2009

I am aga 53 and coming out of the mortgage melt down. I have been looking for sales work since August 2007 when the company that I worked for closed their doors in Minnesota and Las Vegas. I had my resume done by Allen and Associates. However I have not been able to find sales work. I have 2.5 years of college in science and marketing and would really like to find a career that can support my family. If anyone is out there looking for a man with integrity and desire for success please contact my email. I have done debt collections domestic and international and collected from some famous people after skip tracing. I have done telemarketing nation wide. I was in the mortgage business for 2.5 years. I won't let you down.
Thank-You!

Rick Blatt of MN 10:02AM October 02, 2008

With the market as tough as it is now days the process of finding a good job is leading to anxiety, depression and huge self doubt very quickly and it seems as if it’s impossible to rise above and conquer this temporary set back.
It is being presented to me that positive self image is a real bugger to muster up and hold on too the longer it is taking to secure a job. Add in the fact that it has never taken more than 1 week (in the past) to have a new job and multiple offers and currently it is going on six months of job searching with little or no results is enough to make one think about being of absolutely zero usefulness in society.
This article is very helpful and encouraging in sustaing my strong belief in God and that old adage that He never gives us more than we can handle…hmmmm…Ok, folks…it’s time to go take the proverbial “lemons of life” that are present in my life and make a sweet refreshing lemon-aid!
Anonymous

Anonymous of CA 9:38AM September 04, 2008

Just like the original article that linked to this, I have to laugh. Sure, work until 70 or longer. Must be written by a 30 something...After 40 plus years of working hard I plan on kicking back. Cutting my lifestyle? No problem, I never lived beyond my means and there are lots of free or low cost activities to keep me occumpied. My home is paid for, no debt, you get the idea. For all the gen x and y's out there (who probably don't read this kind of article anyway), be prepared. Trust me, you will not WANT to work past your early 60's. Mortality looms as your peers (and youself) face health problems. Plus, I know many of my boomer peers who lost their jobs and getting anyone to hire you, other than Walmart or some other retailer, is next to immpossible. Live modestly but comfortably now and you will never have to worry.

Ann of TX 9:21AM August 19, 2008

Speaking from experience, I went through this 2 years ago, unemployed and over 50. I am certain that my over 50 status turned my resume away from potential employers. What did I do.
I did everything possible to hide my age. I left employment status for the first ten years of my career off my resume.
Sure, if I got called for an interview the potential employer might be able to guess that I may have done something like this but I got called for an interview and thats half the battle.
Also in a face to face meeting a potential employer can see what type of shape that an over 50 person really is in. If a person is overweight or wears clothes that are outdated this is definetly a strike against them. I know this because I was on the other end when Iwas employed.
Also, if called for an interview make sure you can answer why you want a position. Something like a position you can close your career out and I was successful in saying in how many years.
I dont know if this will work for everyone or if I was just lucky that it worked for me but I did find employment. It took a little longer than I expected but I was employed.

Paul Thompson of NC 12:02PM August 18, 2008

Many of us have suffered through , down sizing, right sizing, mergers and lay offs...even when being rated above average, a top perform, and having a demonstrated track record...when a new person comes in at the top the standard first step is to bring in "their" people...it does not matter if the team in palce is doing well or not...and if you are 50 or older, you are singled out as a reason for the problem, or as being expensive, or they can consolidate your position with a 30 yr old who does not know any better etc. It is time to fac e facts...corporate america uses any excuse it can to get rid of oldre workers for one reason...it saves money...it is not about helping the company...it is about saving a buck and making themselves look good in the process...end of story. Try to get into to see a hiring manager that is half your age, with half the experience , and half the education or ability...right...they won't do it...they do not wnat the competition....they waant to preserve the status quo and protect what they have...so they are not in the positionof looking for a job!

wsp of AZ 11:26AM August 18, 2008