50 and facing ageism

[Anonymous]

I am highly skilled and considered an expert in my field, yet cant seem to even get a reply to job applications. Is it my age?

[Anonymous]

I'm in a similar situation. I am 50 and have been able to get consulting without much trouble but I cannot get a full time position with benefits - Have done 14, second round interviews with no offer. No advice or explanation - just empathizing!

[Anonymous]

Probably. You really need to network into jobs at your age.

I am doing a version of the same. I can't even get automated replies.

[Anonymous]

My DH went through this. People aren't reading the applications, AI is. So they are programmed to kick out applications based on frequently unsuspected words.

He ultimately networked into a job, but at one point one of the network opportunities that he had, the guy who "had" to talk to him point blank told him my DH had more experience than he had. So, no way was that guy going to hire him.

[Anonymous]

If you don't get an interview, it is your resume. How do people know how old you are if you don't list jobs from 20 years ago?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you don't get an interview, it is your resume. How do people know how old you are if you don't list jobs from 20 years ago?

AI is trained to recognize things. I don't know the specifics, but think about a person who leaves off the early years of their career. Resume starts with a much higher level of job that straight out of college type job. That alone is a red flag for someone who is trying to seem younger.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you don't get an interview, it is your resume. How do people know how old you are if you don't list jobs from 20 years ago?

AI is trained to recognize things. I don't know the specifics, but think about a person who leaves off the early years of their career. Resume starts with a much higher level of job that straight out of college type job. That alone is a red flag for someone who is trying to seem younger.

It sees our double space after a period…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you don't get an interview, it is your resume. How do people know how old you are if you don't list jobs from 20 years ago?

AI is trained to recognize things. I don't know the specifics, but think about a person who leaves off the early years of their career. Resume starts with a much higher level of job that straight out of college type job. That alone is a red flag for someone who is trying to seem younger.

I love reading people’s wildly inflated ideas of what AI can do and is doing. No, “AI” isn’t cleverly figuring out your age and then discarding your resume. Some not-well-paid human being is looking at 200 resumes in the “new” box, sighing, and skimming through the resumes at about five seconds each.

Signed,
Someone who works with applicant tracking systems

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you don't get an interview, it is your resume. How do people know how old you are if you don't list jobs from 20 years ago?

Most of my jobs were long term, so what else am I to list? Just my last job and leave out all my experience? Also, two positions have had company name changes since I left, so that will be a give away too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you don't get an interview, it is your resume. How do people know how old you are if you don't list jobs from 20 years ago?

AI is trained to recognize things. I don't know the specifics, but think about a person who leaves off the early years of their career. Resume starts with a much higher level of job that straight out of college type job. That alone is a red flag for someone who is trying to seem younger.

I love reading people’s wildly inflated ideas of what AI can do and is doing. No, “AI” isn’t cleverly figuring out your age and then discarding your resume. Some not-well-paid human being is looking at 200 resumes in the “new” box, sighing, and skimming through the resumes at about five seconds each.

Signed,
Someone who works with applicant tracking systems

Do you work for a very small company? Because I work for a Fortune 500 and we have used software to do initial screenings for 20 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DH went through this. People aren't reading the applications, AI is. So they are programmed to kick out applications based on frequently unsuspected words.

He ultimately networked into a job, but at one point one of the network opportunities that he had, the guy who "had" to talk to him point blank told him my DH had more experience than he had. So, no way was that guy going to hire him.

+1

[Anonymous]

Maybe you are less highly skilled and expert than you imagine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Probably. You really need to network into jobs at your age.

I am doing a version of the same. I can't even get automated replies.

My group was laid off when I was 50 and really struggled to find a job. My experience was that applying to websites and sending emails to people that I didn't know was a complete waste of time. It also delayed me from putting my full effort into what has been shown to work: reaching out to people I have worked with during my career and doing the tough work of networking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am highly skilled and considered an expert in my field, yet cant seem to even get a reply to job applications. Is it my age?

How long have you been looking? How many job applied to?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you don't get an interview, it is your resume. How do people know how old you are if you don't list jobs from 20 years ago?

AI is trained to recognize things. I don't know the specifics, but think about a person who leaves off the early years of their career. Resume starts with a much higher level of job that straight out of college type job. That alone is a red flag for someone who is trying to seem younger.

It sees our double space after a period…

? Ha, seriously?