Why do we have ageism in a dynamic labor market?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'll admit it. I'm old. And I'm pretty tech-illiterate. I'm in grad school and will job hunt soon. I just completed a summer internship at a nonprofit in my field of interest. Everyone I worked with was under 30. They are all tech-smart but only barely literate. They can't conceptualize to save their lives. There is so much tech in this place, most of it a complete waste of time, totally redundant and easily, with expensive software, replaced by AI. The work itself is simple, but these tech addicts are devoted to making it extremely complex for no reason except to spend more time in front of a screen IMHO. I can understand their ageism because I really didn't know how to use all the software they use, but honestly, once I figured it out, it was mostly stupid and a complete waste of time. Most of the work my colleagues did was typing. Given the opportunity, I could clean up that ridiculous office and make it 1000% more efficient, but I won't have that opportunity because the young'uns are trapped in tech. It's strangling them, but they don't see it. They are too young and don't have the perspective of time.

I agree haha. If you can hide your contempt and be a buddy, the 35 year old manager will love to keep you around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A lot of workers are lazy in their 20s to 40s and it bites them later in career.

For example I have a 38 year old guy in my dept, nice enough, mediocre college, mediocre grades, bs major. Likes to WFH most days and when comes in he is running for door like building in fired at 425 pm.

No certifications. No graduate degree, no name brand companies on resume, half ass LinkedIn, does zero networking in work or out of work, little sloppy of a dresser.

He is good enough to get job done. No complaints about that. He is type of guy tell him what to do he does it. But not a free thinker.

What happens when he is let go at 55?

I would be expecting by 55, he managed staff, had a certification, MBA, good dresser, professional LinkedIn profile, maybe spoke some conferences, some name brand companies, worked in some interesting things.

It is a pyramid scheme there are way less VP and up jobs than staff. So at 55 he is way too old staff and way less qualified than the other 55 year olds

He most likely if stays my company does his little job he may find we merged, got a new boss and out he goes.

But his little pee brain at 38 does not realize he is 12 years to 50 and once 50 he is toast unless he ups his game

You’re one of those who criticized Hillary Clinton for pant suits. You’re ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cost. Perception is experienced people want more money than young people.

+1. If older people are willing to accept a starting salary, then they will be hired more easily.

Untrue. Younger workers are afraid older workers will take their jobs and refuse to hire them. Younger workers grew up with little exposure to people outside their age cohort. So, they can’t see der workers as anything but their parents or parents’ friends instead of seeing them as colleagues. I’ve seen this dynamic become more and more prevalent over time. They are angry if a person in their 60s/70s who still needs to work. This week I saw that play out on LinkedIn. It was awful. This 70yo shared his experience finding job at visage after a layoff. He gave people encouragement — and they took him down like a pack of wolves. It was awful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of workers are lazy in their 20s to 40s and it bites them later in career.

For example I have a 38 year old guy in my dept, nice enough, mediocre college, mediocre grades, bs major. Likes to WFH most days and when comes in he is running for door like building in fired at 425 pm.

No certifications. No graduate degree, no name brand companies on resume, half ass LinkedIn, does zero networking in work or out of work, little sloppy of a dresser.

He is good enough to get job done. No complaints about that. He is type of guy tell him what to do he does it. But not a free thinker.

What happens when he is let go at 55?

I would be expecting by 55, he managed staff, had a certification, MBA, good dresser, professional LinkedIn profile, maybe spoke some conferences, some name brand companies, worked in some interesting things.

It is a pyramid scheme there are way less VP and up jobs than staff. So at 55 he is way too old staff and way less qualified than the other 55 year olds

He most likely if stays my company does his little job he may find we merged, got a new boss and out he goes.

But his little pee brain at 38 does not realize he is 12 years to 50 and once 50 he is toast unless he ups his game

You’re one of those who criticized Hillary Clinton for pant suits. You’re ridiculous.

Yet Kamala did the pantsuit thing in 2024 and still it did not work.

[Anonymous]

Why does a person over 60 have to justify he wants or needs to work?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A lot of workers are lazy in their 20s to 40s and it bites them later in career.

For example I have a 38 year old guy in my dept, nice enough, mediocre college, mediocre grades, bs major. Likes to WFH most days and when comes in he is running for door like building in fired at 425 pm.

No certifications. No graduate degree, no name brand companies on resume, half ass LinkedIn, does zero networking in work or out of work, little sloppy of a dresser.

He is good enough to get job done. No complaints about that. He is type of guy tell him what to do he does it. But not a free thinker.

What happens when he is let go at 55?

I would be expecting by 55, he managed staff, had a certification, MBA, good dresser, professional LinkedIn profile, maybe spoke some conferences, some name brand companies, worked in some interesting things.

It is a pyramid scheme there are way less VP and up jobs than staff. So at 55 he is way too old staff and way less qualified than the other 55 year olds

He most likely if stays my company does his little job he may find we merged, got a new boss and out he goes.

But his little pee brain at 38 does not realize he is 12 years to 50 and once 50 he is toast unless he ups his game

So ageism is okay because he’s too old to be staff?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cost. Perception is experienced people want more money than young people.

+1. If older people are willing to accept a starting salary, then they will be hired more easily.

Untrue. Younger workers are afraid older workers will take their jobs and refuse to hire them. Younger workers grew up with little exposure to people outside their age cohort. So, they can’t see der workers as anything but their parents or parents’ friends instead of seeing them as colleagues. I’ve seen this dynamic become more and more prevalent over time. They are angry if a person in their 60s/70s who still needs to work. This week I saw that play out on LinkedIn. It was awful. This 70yo shared his experience finding job at visage after a layoff. He gave people encouragement — and they took him down like a pack of wolves. It was awful.

Millenials have had a blessed job market since GFC, enormous stock market and crypto wealth. They figure if you are 60 and didn’t make a killing and living on easy street, you are an idiot or have a drug problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cost. Perception is experienced people want more money than young people.

+1. If older people are willing to accept a starting salary, then they will be hired more easily.

Untrue. Younger workers are afraid older workers will take their jobs and refuse to hire them. Younger workers grew up with little exposure to people outside their age cohort. So, they can’t see der workers as anything but their parents or parents’ friends instead of seeing them as colleagues. I’ve seen this dynamic become more and more prevalent over time. They are angry if a person in their 60s/70s who still needs to work. This week I saw that play out on LinkedIn. It was awful. This 70yo shared his experience finding job at visage after a layoff. He gave people encouragement — and they took him down like a pack of wolves. It was awful.

Millenials have had a blessed job market since GFC, enormous stock market and crypto wealth. They figure if you are 60 and didn’t make a killing and living on easy street, you are an idiot or have a drug problem.

They could not be more wrong. How insulting. For all their complaining, many o Millenials with that attitude started with money from mommy and daddy who share phone plans and streaming services with adult (often married) children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A lot of workers are lazy in their 20s to 40s and it bites them later in career.

For example I have a 38 year old guy in my dept, nice enough, mediocre college, mediocre grades, bs major. Likes to WFH most days and when comes in he is running for door like building in fired at 425 pm.

No certifications. No graduate degree, no name brand companies on resume, half ass LinkedIn, does zero networking in work or out of work, little sloppy of a dresser.

He is good enough to get job done. No complaints about that. He is type of guy tell him what to do he does it. But not a free thinker.

What happens when he is let go at 55?

I would be expecting by 55, he managed staff, had a certification, MBA, good dresser, professional LinkedIn profile, maybe spoke some conferences, some name brand companies, worked in some interesting things.

It is a pyramid scheme there are way less VP and up jobs than staff. So at 55 he is way too old staff and way less qualified than the other 55 year olds

He most likely if stays my company does his little job he may find we merged, got a new boss and out he goes.

But his little pee brain at 38 does not realize he is 12 years to 50 and once 50 he is toast unless he ups his game

Not everyone is born with that knowledge. Have you stopped and explained any of this to him?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of workers are lazy in their 20s to 40s and it bites them later in career.

For example I have a 38 year old guy in my dept, nice enough, mediocre college, mediocre grades, bs major. Likes to WFH most days and when comes in he is running for door like building in fired at 425 pm.

No certifications. No graduate degree, no name brand companies on resume, half ass LinkedIn, does zero networking in work or out of work, little sloppy of a dresser.

He is good enough to get job done. No complaints about that. He is type of guy tell him what to do he does it. But not a free thinker.

What happens when he is let go at 55?

I would be expecting by 55, he managed staff, had a certification, MBA, good dresser, professional LinkedIn profile, maybe spoke some conferences, some name brand companies, worked in some interesting things.

It is a pyramid scheme there are way less VP and up jobs than staff. So at 55 he is way too old staff and way less qualified than the other 55 year olds

He most likely if stays my company does his little job he may find we merged, got a new boss and out he goes.

But his little pee brain at 38 does not realize he is 12 years to 50 and once 50 he is toast unless he ups his game

Not everyone is born with that knowledge. Have you stopped and explained any of this to him?

I think many LMC people who are smart think they get a job and do it well but they don’t have to advance but stay in their niche (often times they prefer the IC work rather than managing people — I mean an MBA and certificates are such worthless things 90% of the time). But their world experience is from family working in factories or as teachers or whatever where you mostly stay in your one role.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I work with a bunch of people under 35 and they are totally clueless. I would hire someone in their fifties or sixties any day over these insufferable twits.

Accurate

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of workers are lazy in their 20s to 40s and it bites them later in career.

For example I have a 38 year old guy in my dept, nice enough, mediocre college, mediocre grades, bs major. Likes to WFH most days and when comes in he is running for door like building in fired at 425 pm.

No certifications. No graduate degree, no name brand companies on resume, half ass LinkedIn, does zero networking in work or out of work, little sloppy of a dresser.

He is good enough to get job done. No complaints about that. He is type of guy tell him what to do he does it. But not a free thinker.

What happens when he is let go at 55?

I would be expecting by 55, he managed staff, had a certification, MBA, good dresser, professional LinkedIn profile, maybe spoke some conferences, some name brand companies, worked in some interesting things.

It is a pyramid scheme there are way less VP and up jobs than staff. So at 55 he is way too old staff and way less qualified than the other 55 year olds

He most likely if stays my company does his little job he may find we merged, got a new boss and out he goes.

But his little pee brain at 38 does not realize he is 12 years to 50 and once 50 he is toast unless he ups his game

Not everyone is born with that knowledge. Have you stopped and explained any of this to him?

I think many LMC people who are smart think they get a job and do it well but they don’t have to advance but stay in their niche (often times they prefer the IC work rather than managing people — I mean an MBA and certificates are such worthless things 90% of the time). But their world experience is from family working in factories or as teachers or whatever where you mostly stay in your one role.

Yes that is me and now I’m 50 and screwed. Now what? Just accept poverty or can I start fresh at this age?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The age 50+ people at my job are almost always tech illiterate.

This makes zero sense. My 70yo mother was a first computer buyer. Stayed with every form of tech as it came. Learned every new feature along the way.

It’s an old idea that older people don’t know tech. You’re thinking about 70yos from 25 years ago.

I’m 40 and I know all of it too. 40, 50 were kids like the now iPad kids. I would say we know more bc we were in layers of computing that young people just expect to push an app feature and fix (that doesn’t work).

Gen z etc is more experimental with app features, I’ll give you that. Because they were like 13 and didn’t give a $*** if they published an awkward video at first. They got better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cost. Perception is experienced people want more money than young people.

+1. If older people are willing to accept a starting salary, then they will be hired more easily.

Untrue. Younger workers are afraid older workers will take their jobs and refuse to hire them. Younger workers grew up with little exposure to people outside their age cohort. So, they can’t see der workers as anything but their parents or parents’ friends instead of seeing them as colleagues. I’ve seen this dynamic become more and more prevalent over time. They are angry if a person in their 60s/70s who still needs to work. This week I saw that play out on LinkedIn. It was awful. This 70yo shared his experience finding job at visage after a layoff. He gave people encouragement — and they took him down like a pack of wolves. It was awful.

Millenials have had a blessed job market since GFC, enormous stock market and crypto wealth. They figure if you are 60 and didn’t make a killing and living on easy street, you are an idiot or have a drug problem.

They could not be more wrong. How insulting. For all their complaining, many o Millenials with that attitude started with money from mommy and daddy who share phone plans and streaming services with adult (often married) children.

I wish. That sounds more like the gen xers who are raising crappy gen zers

[Anonymous]

I would take gen x over gen z any day! The recent grads we are hiring are so clueless.

We just can’t afford to pay what gen xers would want.