Can a 40's+ woman take a career break and get back in?

[Anonymous]

Do you look like you're in your forties?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you look like you're in your forties?

Why does that matter?

[Anonymous]

I did it! 10 years home with kids doing nearly nothing in my field - mostly a lot of volunteering and working in the schools - and after 10 years of bliss i got back in. I am very happy. My career is dominated by women and i guess they gave me a break! Actually i got into this career because of the flexibility (university communications)

[Anonymous]

* Universities don't pay as much but they are very nice places to work.

[Anonymous]

The amount of time you're talking about is not that long, especially if you're moving. My only caution is that it typically seems easier to get a new job when you already have one, so I would be reasonable about when you start looking/when you expect to get a new job.

[Anonymous]

People work until their 60s and in some cases 70s, so it's strange to hear someone worry about being too old in your 40s. Work places are not just 20 and 30 year olds, and they shouldn't be. Unless we're talking about technology-based fields where being a digital native might bringsome kind of advantage, the idea that people in their 40s (and older) are somehow lacking is strange and counter intuitive. On the contrary, the 40 somethings I see around me (and I'm one of them, so yes I'm biased) generally have better judgment, better instincts, better communication and diplomacy skills, and more perspective, all of which come from experience and having more years under their belt. Yes there's a disadvantage from being more expensive to a firm because of higher salary, and you're competing for fewer positions (versus the many entry level for 20 somethings) but otherwise the way I see it, there's an edge to being slightly older. Also, most 40 plus people don't have babies or very young kids and so are going to be more available and committed than the 35 year old woman who's pregnant with her third and completely overwhelmed.

I know age discrimination exists and happens often but I think people overestimate how much it happens and also undersell themselves by thinking this way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People work until their 60s and in some cases 70s, so it's strange to hear someone worry about being too old in your 40s. Work places are not just 20 and 30 year olds, and they shouldn't be. Unless we're talking about technology-based fields where being a digital native might bringsome kind of advantage, the idea that people in their 40s (and older) are somehow lacking is strange and counter intuitive. On the contrary, the 40 somethings I see around me (and I'm one of them, so yes I'm biased) generally have better judgment, better instincts, better communication and diplomacy skills, and more perspective, all of which come from experience and having more years under their belt. Yes there's a disadvantage from being more expensive to a firm because of higher salary, and you're competing for fewer positions (versus the many entry level for 20 somethings) but otherwise the way I see it, there's an edge to being slightly older. Also, most 40 plus people don't have babies or very young kids and so are going to be more available and committed than the 35 year old woman who's pregnant with her third and completely overwhelmed.

I know age discrimination exists and happens often but I think people overestimate how much it happens and also undersell themselves by thinking this way.

NP here, and I agree with you.

[Anonymous]

OP here: I don't look 40 but my hair is beginning to grey and I have no intention of dying it or ever doing Botox.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you look like you're in your forties?

Why does that matter?

Presumably because interviews.

[Anonymous]

Start your own business, get your own clients, and tell these age discrimination companies to shove it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you look like you're in your forties?

Why does that matter?

Presumably because interviews.

I'm the "i did it" pp - i got a good cut and color before my interview. I don't know if it took years off my appearance, but it gave me some much-needed confidence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People work until their 60s and in some cases 70s, so it's strange to hear someone worry about being too old in your 40s. Work places are not just 20 and 30 year olds, and they shouldn't be. Unless we're talking about technology-based fields where being a digital native might bringsome kind of advantage, the idea that people in their 40s (and older) are somehow lacking is strange and counter intuitive. On the contrary, the 40 somethings I see around me (and I'm one of them, so yes I'm biased) generally have better judgment, better instincts, better communication and diplomacy skills, and more perspective, all of which come from experience and having more years under their belt. Yes there's a disadvantage from being more expensive to a firm because of higher salary, and you're competing for fewer positions (versus the many entry level for 20 somethings) but otherwise the way I see it, there's an edge to being slightly older. Also, most 40 plus people don't have babies or very young kids and so are going to be more available and committed than the 35 year old woman who's pregnant with her third and completely overwhelmed.

I know age discrimination exists and happens often but I think people overestimate how much it happens and also undersell themselves by thinking this way.

Thank you for your post. Believe I am guilty of this.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Overall I guess I should be reassured then?

[Anonymous]

Sorry, but realistically, no.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Overall I guess I should be reassured then?

I would network as hard as you can. It has been proven over and over that is the most effective way of getting a job. Spend your energy there.