Everyone I know is laid off by age 55

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not in the federal government, there are full time employees in their 80's. And people in their 60's are routinely hired.

+1, I have not seen age discrimination at my agency.

Yep, this does not happen in government.

Agreed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not in the federal government, there are full time employees in their 80's. And people in their 60's are routinely hired.

+1, I have not seen age discrimination at my agency.

Yep, this does not happen in government.

Agreed.

It does not happen in federal government, but it most certainly happens in some state government. For instance, DC government has Management (MSS) positions that are at-will, and yes depending on the agency many are forced out. However, I do think that is mostly politics opposed to age, but primarily all the MSS employees are over 40, so it can look like age.

[Anonymous]

We just interviewed a 50ish woman for a position that currently is filled by people in their 20’s. She was stressing out big time about how to use the computer software, her current job isn’t teaching her etc. This is why we are reluctant to hire older employees. She could be good at her healthcare job but can’t handle the basic computer skills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We just interviewed a 50ish woman for a position that currently is filled by people in their 20’s. She was stressing out big time about how to use the computer software, her current job isn’t teaching her etc. This is why we are reluctant to hire older employees. She could be good at her healthcare job but can’t handle the basic computer skills.

Admin position?


She doesn't know how to copy and paste?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We just interviewed a 50ish woman for a position that currently is filled by people in their 20’s. She was stressing out big time about how to use the computer software, her current job isn’t teaching her etc. This is why we are reluctant to hire older employees. She could be good at her healthcare job but can’t handle the basic computer skills.

And this is funny because at my agency, the majority of the really good cybersecurity, system and network engineers are late 40's on up. These are people who have 20+ years of system, IT and security experience. In our area, the Tier 1 and Tier 2 people are frequently the younger ones, but the Tier 3 folks who do a lot of the design work or fix problems that the Tier 1 and Tier 2 people can't, are all the senior staff with many years of experience.

And we are the people that folks come to when they don't know how to do things on their computers. Yes, I am one of them. I've been a system administrator for over 30 years and have worked in IT security for about 15 years of those years. There are many others like me in their 50's that are the go to senior IT folks in our agency.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We just interviewed a 50ish woman for a position that currently is filled by people in their 20’s. She was stressing out big time about how to use the computer software, her current job isn’t teaching her etc. This is why we are reluctant to hire older employees. She could be good at her healthcare job but can’t handle the basic computer skills.

People in their 50s invested most of software people in their 20s use

[Anonymous]

I'm sort of surprised a 50 ish person would be so behind on computer skills. The era of using computers at work happened squarely within their working years; I suppose it might depend on industry and if the person took time off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm sort of surprised a 50 ish person would be so behind on computer skills. The era of using computers at work happened squarely within their working years; I suppose it might depend on industry and if the person took time off.

She probably wasn’t working during that time. Every admin I know who has worked in last 20 years is a whiz at office, email, etc. maybe they have proprietary software and don’t bother train people. I mean my 50 year old aunt posts the most of anyone I know on social media.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm sort of surprised a 50 ish person would be so behind on computer skills. The era of using computers at work happened squarely within their working years; I suppose it might depend on industry and if the person took time off.

Yes, I think it reflects more on inexperience in that type of position or time away from working rather than the person's age.

[Anonymous]

I am 60 and work on very specific software. I am much weaker on more general software like Excel, because I never have the opportunity to use it.

[Anonymous]

I am in sales. I am 40.
Rest of sales team -
F - 58
M -61
M -63
F -65
M -51
F -50

Sales manager - M -60
COO F-63

3 of the sales people including the oldest one have been there 18 months or less. All clear 150-300k

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am in sales. I am 40.
Rest of sales team -
F - 58
M -61
M -63
F -65
M -51
F -50

Sales manager - M -60
COO F-63

3 of the sales people including the oldest one have been there 18 months or less. All clear 150-300k

What do you sell?

[Anonymous]

Older employees should be looking at smaller companies as they are usually not as hung up on age. Large corporations grow their own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DH is in medicine and I’m in the educational field ...not a teacher. This doesn’t happen in our lines of work. Sounds horrible!

This ^ situation factored heavily into my choice of new career after divorce in middle age. Getting a new (not online) degree in my late 40s was draining and felt expensive but I am certain I will be employable as long as I have a pulse, into my 80s if I wish.

Lightly abused on the job and underpaid maybe, but I’ll have a job anywhere I want.

I am so sorry for OP and PPs though- the lack of safety nets in the US is ridiculous

What degree did you pursue in mid 40s for job stability, can you please share ?

Millennials change jobs every 2-4 years. That’s the only way to get substantial pay raises.

And it’s what you need to do in private industry, you need to be constantly networking and looking for your next gig.

It’s what I did in my 20s, and even as a Fed contractor I apply to at least 5 jobs a year, have had 2 interviews and 1 offer per year. Now none of these jobs paid more than my current gig, so I passed, but would keeps me prepped and current on the process and having jobs in pipeline is good in case you get laid off.

I’m almost 50, fwiw.

You’re old. Going to catch up with you. No matter how skilled, credentialed, good looking, etc age
is always a factor and @50 you gotta a bulls eye on your back. There is no place for old folk in corporate
America. Always been that way and always will - I see nothing wrong with it. Just good old fashioned capitalism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DH just got a new job (new company) at 58 which is good since we have a 8th and 8th graders. Can't retire yet!

Are you the grandparents?