When Age Bias Hinders the Job Hunt

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Retired Field Engineer .. I'm 67 years old, bald headed and dye my beard ... I go to the gym 3 times a week and work-out with free weights (I can move over 800 lbs with my legs) and jog a mile. I take care of my 97 year old mother. She needs caregivers 24/7. This year we exhausted her money, going through $150,000 in about three years. Just applied for Medicaid, but they only provide for 40 hours a week. No problem, I will just go back to work and make-up the difference. I know the economy is bad, but I'm always positive. I'll make it happen. Maybe not ... I'm suspicious that I'm being descrimated against because of my age. I never thought about it until now. I MOST BE OLD!! I went on one interview and the HR interviewer was about 22 years old. My daughters are twice that. I would like to be judged on my individual physical and mental abilities. But, I don,t think it's going to happen ... but never mind, I don't quit.

Jerry Taylor of VA 3:20PM March 24, 2010

57 years old, x. military great shape run 1.5 mile in 15min. Walk 7 miles a day as a security enforcement officer. Former Produce Manager for the department of Defense Commissary Agency.

James of NC 12:51PM February 22, 2010

Who says WE all have jobs??? Oldest Tribe in The New World and not even nationally recognized. Not acknowledged that we even existed, or were mostly murdered. We were forced to "pass" as white if we could, declaring "white" on job applications because of discriminatory hiring practices, stereotypes and just plain stupid people. Can't let anyone know you're Native or you are treated as someone who just doesn't belong...how ironic. "I thought all you Indians were dead!", "Do a Rain Dance so we can start watering our grass again!"

Everheart of NC 1:34PM January 21, 2010

Have tried to apply for some federal jobs but most had a hiring age limit. Applicants could not have reached their 40th birthday prior to being hired. I am 45 prior military and in great shape. What ever happened to No Age discrimination. I guess the government can do it.

SJ of AR 4:54PM November 16, 2009

My husband is 60 and has worked as an electrician for years. He was laid off a year ago and finally this year was hired to work at Wal-Mart at 7.50 an hour. This is so hard to believe. He went on many job interviews. They were all excited to meet with him until he walked in with his gray hair.

D. Kerr of TX 12:07AM October 28, 2009

Being bigoted towards people who were born in another country might be one reason people aren't hiring you!
Besides, unless you are 100% Native American, someone in your family tree came to America and got a job.

The Electrician of PA 4:08PM October 15, 2009

Maybe try a government job?
Not a Senior (Gen-X, here), but one would assume that since government keeps growing and growing, no matter which political party is in power, that's a sure way to find a gig that won't be outsourced to India.
Of course, if we did outsource the federal government tasks (or some of them, at least), our government might be less costly to US taxpayers, come to think of it.
But seriously, and back to the point. Try non-profits (pay is less, but it's a job, right?), government or healthcare. If corporate America won't find a place for older workers, then give up on corporate and try other sectors (non-profit, government, etc.)
Better still is to become a college professor! Tenured is best. Heck, the economy tanked, but some crank named Arthur Butz, who thinks the Holocaust was all a myth (yep, this one's a real loon), is still reporting to work, year after year.
Academia has no age limits, and apparently no sanity limits, either.

Angie Koutrotsios of IL 1:56AM October 13, 2009

Outsourcing and cheap foreign labor are ruining the IT business. I have seen a couple of job postings that more or less state that if you are not from India, you need not apply.
I said back in 2004 that the average American worker has more to fear from American Business than terrorists.
I went to a job fair recently and was shocked by the number of older, mature people attending.

Geoff from Middletown of NJ 10:47AM October 03, 2009

Face it, no one wants a Senior and the crap that our gov't says that there is a law against age discrimination means nothing. Better to go on Welfare and let the government support you in your old age; is better than wasting your time going on interviews for a job. Then we have those companies who will train you to sweep the floor or greet people at a store entrance.
Actually, if there weren't so many Illegals, so many outsourced jobs, so many imported workers, who all are willing to work for less than an American worker, companies would hire a Senior.
Many Seniors lost their jobs because the companies found a new labor source that was cheaper. It is sad that it is the American Company who is screwing the American worker out of a job. Jobs that require any skill have been outsourced or taken by an Imported Foreign worker. Canning an older worker is easier because our gov't is a paper tiger when it comes to age bias.

Robert L. Matarainen of NY 6:09PM October 02, 2009