Job search in my mid 50s

[Anonymous]

Why would they being on someone who can take over their jobs? your play should have been coachable.

i find that the interviews where i thought i nailed it, i didnt get... the ones i bombed, i get an offer

[Anonymous]

There are times it is just not a good fit. And that is okay. I get you are worried about age though since ageism is real. Keep applying!

[Anonymous]

Don’t apply non profits or govt jobs when unemployed they are the worst. Judgy, low pay mean people. The interview process drags in for weeks and months. All while your days unemployed pile up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don’t apply non profits or govt jobs when unemployed they are the worst. Judgy, low pay mean people. The interview process drags in for weeks and months. All while your days unemployed pile up.

Really? As an older employee I would expect a gov job would be the least likely to suffer from ageism? My coworkers are great, though we are a “mission” agency which attracts idealists…

[Anonymous]

What about teaching in K-12? (I have read that so many teachers are leaving the profession because today's kids are more difficult to manage, due to the toll of all the junk that the kids read online and on social media, and the fact that it's harder to be a parent today than in the past, and that some parents are not up to the job.)

I've thought of switching careers to teaching in my mid-50's, as a way to give back to the community. I think I could hack it, although I would miss the perks and my nice office, which I have at my current job.

[Anonymous]

My search lasted about 7 months. I started with government jobs and positions that were similar to those I had filled before (research associate or project director). I got zero traction. This confirmed my fear that I needed to adjust my expectations downward to get back into the working world. It was very humbling. I was interviewed for just 2 positions over those months. One sounded great in the ad but the individual who interviewed me showed 30 minutes late which threw me off. I just felt the interview went terribly. I didn’t get that position. The other position I got but it took a few more months of crickets to reach that point. I’m making very little money in an entry level position but I feel confident that I will advance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t apply non profits or govt jobs when unemployed they are the worst. Judgy, low pay mean people. The interview process drags in for weeks and months. All while your days unemployed pile up.

Really? As an older employee I would expect a gov job would be the least likely to suffer from ageism? My coworkers are great, though we are a “mission” agency which attracts idealists…

Because it takes too long. If I am 58 and unemployed I have the stink of age and unemployment. I applied to three non profits and five govt jobs during my search at 58 the crazy USA job portal takes forever just apply one job. Then it sits sometimes weeks to find out qualified then on to panel interviews that lead no where.

Non profits drag on forever, they pay low and they expect you to care about mission and prove it.

I got a job offer in DC govt at 60 with ten year vesting for pension!! I am supposed to work low pay for a decade till 70 and if retire one day early get zero.

I took a job in private with a really good 401k match no vesting period.

Plus non profits and govt lower paid I can’t afford to put 30k a year in 401k. My place matches up to 24k a year. I do the 30k get 24k so I put 54k a year away.

Also I need one single person to like me to get hired. I applied a job at a non profit and HR, soon to retire person and CEO loved me. I was recommended to be hired. But needed one panel interview and one guy felt I was not “mission focused” enough.

He actually said in panel interview I demonstrated I have a history of only taking high paid jobs which he thought was a negative.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you female?

Young (opinionated and/or insecure) people don't find older, composed females who know their stuff likeable. Just my opinion.

This.

Not OP but I've had this problem my entire career. I'm female and smarter than average (no genius) with a really good memory (which is different from IQ but people do notice it). More mainstream people just don't like that. Whenever I talk more or encourage debate about ideas, it usually goes worse for me. Bland accommodating works best. If guys give feedback on personal style, they usually respond best to displays of humility. I've experimented over 30 years now through career ups and downs. I work in a corporate job that tolerates young men mouthing off about anything that passes through their brains.

[Anonymous]

I feel the same way as a PP.

The USAJobs apps take forever to complete and then you don’t hear back or get called to a panel interview where one person can boot you.

Meanwhile, the months go on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My search lasted about 7 months. I started with government jobs and positions that were similar to those I had filled before (research associate or project director). I got zero traction. This confirmed my fear that I needed to adjust my expectations downward to get back into the working world. It was very humbling. I was interviewed for just 2 positions over those months. One sounded great in the ad but the individual who interviewed me showed 30 minutes late which threw me off. I just felt the interview went terribly. I didn’t get that position. The other position I got but it took a few more months of crickets to reach that point. I’m making very little money in an entry level position but I feel confident that I will advance.

What entry level
position are you in ? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:About to dive back in. I’m dreading the months ahead but trying my best to keep optimism afloat. It feels very lonely in my bubble. Help!

I had one 5-person panel interview at a friends company. It’s a good company with a good mission. I was older than the interviewers by several years and am much more experienced in our field. I thought I was diplomatic and calm, responded thoughtfully and thoroughly, and was friendly to everyone. I did my research and asked questions and avoided giving strong opinions. I could tell that they didn’t like me — and the feeling was mutual — but I still made a strong effort throughout the process. Word got back to my friend that I came off as a know-it-all and they didn’t trust that I’d stick around long if I got the position because I was “obviously used to being the boss”. So, obviously didn’t get a call-back. Wasn’t a good culture fit, so I’m not fully crushed. But I still need a job and failed this attempt miserably.

Any helpful hints or suggestions from fellow “older” job seekers? BTDT stories?

Any interviewers out there have recommendations? Anyone who’s successfully navigated this process? What to do, what to avoid?

OP - I'm highlighting two parts of your post that seem to correlate. Not to be rude, but you sound arrogant - highlighting your relative seniority and emphasizing that you were "diplomatic and calm". It's a little weird to come out of an interview and congratulate yourself for staying diplomatic and calm. Like, what was the alternative?

Either way, it's not surprising that the panel had the feedback you did.

Finding a new job is a process. Sometimes the long poll in the tent is finding the right opportunity, sometimes it's being prepared for the interview, sometimes it's the overall market. In your case, it sounds like it'll be instilling a sense of humility in you. I'd encourage you to seek a way to display the right balance between confidence and competence. Ask a trusted friend for a practice interview. Work on your example stories you plan to share and refine the tone of your voice to be less commanding. All these little things will help improve how you come across.

Hope this helps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you female?

Young (opinionated and/or insecure) people don't find older, composed females who know their stuff likeable. Just my opinion.

+1

I'm searching too and have independently concluded this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you need a job or money? There are many ways to make money and many of them don't require interviews or working for someone else. Why put yourself through that. The option to make money are endless nowadays.

Most people needing a job need money and health insurance.

Also, what ways are you talking about? Does it involve loads of risk? Or are you one of those "I have perfect timing of the market" types?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:About to dive back in. I’m dreading the months ahead but trying my best to keep optimism afloat. It feels very lonely in my bubble. Help!

I had one 5-person panel interview at a friends company. It’s a good company with a good mission. I was older than the interviewers by several years and am much more experienced in our field. I thought I was diplomatic and calm, responded thoughtfully and thoroughly, and was friendly to everyone. I did my research and asked questions and avoided giving strong opinions. I could tell that they didn’t like me — and the feeling was mutual — but I still made a strong effort throughout the process. Word got back to my friend that I came off as a know-it-all and they didn’t trust that I’d stick around long if I got the position because I was “obviously used to being the boss”. So, obviously didn’t get a call-back. Wasn’t a good culture fit, so I’m not fully crushed. But I still need a job and failed this attempt miserably.

Any helpful hints or suggestions from fellow “older” job seekers? BTDT stories?

Any interviewers out there have recommendations? Anyone who’s successfully navigated this process? What to do, what to avoid?

OP - I'm highlighting two parts of your post that seem to correlate. Not to be rude, but you sound arrogant - highlighting your relative seniority and emphasizing that you were "diplomatic and calm". It's a little weird to come out of an interview and congratulate yourself for staying diplomatic and calm. Like, what was the alternative?

Either way, it's not surprising that the panel had the feedback you did.

Finding a new job is a process. Sometimes the long poll in the tent is finding the right opportunity, sometimes it's being prepared for the interview, sometimes it's the overall market. In your case, it sounds like it'll be instilling a sense of humility in you. I'd encourage you to seek a way to display the right balance between confidence and competence. Ask a trusted friend for a practice interview. Work on your example stories you plan to share and refine the tone of your voice to be less commanding. All these little things will help improve how you come across.

Hope this helps.

NP. This response reeks of judgment and arrogance. I think the PP is trying to be helpful(?), but the tone is one of superiority - all while lecturing you on why you came across as superior and arrogant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My search lasted about 7 months. I started with government jobs and positions that were similar to those I had filled before (research associate or project director). I got zero traction. This confirmed my fear that I needed to adjust my expectations downward to get back into the working world. It was very humbling. I was interviewed for just 2 positions over those months. One sounded great in the ad but the individual who interviewed me showed 30 minutes late which threw me off. I just felt the interview went terribly. I didn’t get that position. The other position I got but it took a few more months of crickets to reach that point. I’m making very little money in an entry level position but I feel confident that I will advance.

What entry level
position are you in ? Thanks.

I work as a patient coordinator in a medical setting. I wasn’t kidding when I said it is entry level. However my employer is large so there are bound to be other admin opportunities that open. If I stay in this settting, my goal is to be a practice manager which I think I can accomplish. In addition, I will be continuing to seek a position in the government or with non-profits.