Internships for Older Workers

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I work half time for the state government and have been trying to go back full time, even in another department. I work in graphics, which apparently is a young person's field, but I get the feeling that they prefer younger people supposedly because they have maybe fresher ideas? (oh, come on, this is government work) And from what I have been reading the state has been hiring people only from the private sector. I am an older single mother who doesn't receive child support and has never "used the system" for any kind of handouts. I have years of experience in my field and can take charge of any project handed to me.
So, I need to dye my hair and have plastic surgery or completely give up my field and start pushing paper in another area. You wouldn't think there is age discrimination in civil service but there is.
By the way, per previous comment, I don't see what the Left has to do with our predicament. It was the Right who put is in this economic mess.

Maddy of CA 2:49PM August 30, 2010

I am tired of the advice for 50+ workers - telling us to dye our hair and dress younger and to not include in our resumes any experience that is over 10 years old or to eliminate dates completely.
Have you ever heard of job advice telling someone to appear less Black in their appearance or change their name on the resume to appear less Hispanic? That would be blatant discrimination and not tolerated for a second.
But apparently age discrimination is not only tolerated in the workplace, it is accepted as normal by career counselors.
We really need affirmative action for older workers.

Sheila of FL 11:56PM August 21, 2010

I have been in career transition three years come Labor Day (IRONICALLY)! I have had four jobs in this time and let go again for lack of work. One job was definitely due to Age Discrimination but I did not accuse my employer as I was not happy with the job and the way I was being treated anyway. So, it was not worth the fight but clearly it was due to my age. The VERY YOUNG girl who let me go (but did not hire me) could not come up with any one thing in particular to prove lack of work or inadequate circumstances, just saying that.......It's just not working out, it's just not working out. Over and over, it's just not working out. You are a nice lady but........I have also had many interviews where my job requirements matched the employers needs, my credentials were outstanding but felt that the employer was most likely looking for younger. My friends keep telling me to give it up and go get a job at Wegmans. I don't want to work at Wegmans doing something I'm not really skilled at when I can excel at something that I am used to doing over the last 12 years in the Hospitality Industry working as a Receptionist or Banquet Sales Manager. I feel like I'm being robbed of my employment rights.
By the way, did I mention that I am a VERY YOUNG 63 year old productive individual, who wants to work.

Jackie Kappel of PA 10:24PM August 21, 2010

This article is as misleading as the authors can possibly make it.
You'll notice they say "Experienced workers are increasingly applying", and "27 percent of the employers say they plan to hire" - but the fact - FACT of the matter is that THEY WILL NOT HIRE OLDER WORKERS into those positions - NOT EVEN as "Interns".
For every example the media trots out of an "Older Worker" who's somehow gotten hired by Wal-Mart as a greeter, there are THOUSANDS of older workers who can't even get an interview. Employers routinely and casually discriminate by age, and NOTHING is done to stop it.
Personally, I think age discrimination is a planned method of redistribution of wealth which the Left (and of course the "Young) are *deliberately fostering*.
A guy up the road from me used to be an industrial engineer. For the past few years he has been working for a construction company digging ditches (Literally!). Last month he got his first Social Security check. Nice going, America...

Merinas van der Lubbe of OR 5:44PM August 20, 2010