Who will hire me when I turn 50?
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Anonymous
| You also have to remember that increase productivity means less need for middle and upper level jobs. This hits people in their 50's hard(b/c that when you are in these positions). People hire Ivies for their connections, if you are looking for a job in your 50's, you don't have the connections. |
Anonymous
| It can be worst to have an Ivy on resume at that age...people think what happened? |
Anonymous
| Such a depressing thread. I've been at my current company far longer than I wanted to but it looks like I may have to hang on here until retirement -- mostly because I have a disabled family member so I need the money and the stability. But I wish I could afford to take a pay cut and go elsewhere. And, of course, if we lost the contract, then, well, there's no counting on anything, is there? |
Anonymous
Agree. I had no idea that finding and keeping a job was so difficult for 50+ set. This thread has been weighing on my mind heavily the past few days. I'm only 32 but I'm filing this info away for planning purposes. |
Anonymous
| Starbucks,retail stores, Safeway-stocking shelves is stress free! |
Anonymous
This is also a thread where the posters are self-selecting. You have to keep re-inventing your skills to stay relevant. |
Anonymous
No places just don't need as many people in middle to upper management anymore. The two exception are law firms(but they are changing) and the government(slow to adapt). |
Anonymous
OP, I would take the guidance here with a grain of salt. If you're 50 and looking for something lower gear and willing to make less money for it, non-profits and government agencies might be the way to go. Would also look at private firms that are smaller and interested in your expertise and willing to exchange that for more flexibility / less demanding work environment. You're smart to start thinking about this now. No, 50 is not a career killer. However, I would also think about making your move in the next 4 - 5 years. I wouldn't necessarily wait until 50 hits to angle for the next job. Yes, hanging your own shingle is an option and there are many firms that will arrange for SME consultants or work on call. But there's less stability in that and being your own boss has advangtages but running your own business and doing it well is VERY demanding. Especially if you're seeking contracts, etc (not sure what business you're in but many beltway jobs are government dependent and, as you likely know, the contracting process is laborious). |
Anonymous
Huh? I don't have an Ivy degree so no skin in that game, but certainly people aren't thinking "what happened" when someone with an ivy education submits a resume. Sure, if you're submitting a resume to work as a Starbucks barista, then yes. But a resume from an experienced professional with 25+ years under his / her belt for a management role at a company? No - very normal and very respectable. Sometimes I wonder about the "wisdom" on these boards. Lots of bias and anecdotal "evidence", but not real world experience from a recruiting / hiring perspective. I am a hiring manager for a big 4 consulting firm, by the way, so I'm basing my response on experience with a big name firm. We are constantly bringing on SMEs from industry and other consulting firms who are 50 -55 years old and who are looking to wind down their careers. These men and women make great money, can apply their expertise and industry relationships, and have a good deal of flexibility. That said, an ivy education isn't the determining factor in these hires. It's all about experience. |
Anonymous
There has to be a point where what you did on a job is more important than the school on the resume. I am late 50's, not looking to wind down, but instead of something more consulting oriented so that I can work out of the house with more flexible hours. Cannot stand to think of just golfing or traveling, but want to kick back a little bit. |
Anonymous
Agree. Your experience becomes far more important than your academic pedigree about 5 - 7 years out of school. Really, unless your eyeing a spot on the SCOTUS, the ivy league degree is really only critical for most fields for the first two or three gigs. After that, what you've done with yourself is far more important. Of course there are exceptions, but I think that's true for a vast majority of employers in a vast majority of fields. Now connections and network is another thing. But again, you build a network with your colleagues and professional peers as much if not more than who you went to undergrad with. |
Anonymous
| I feel like there is an opportunity here -- for someone to start a consulting firm where all of the consultants are actually worth their bill rate. Probably some age discrimination in there (hiring old vs. young) but think of it. I mean my firm hires college grads and bills them out at $2-300, and they know nothing. |
Anonymous
| Hmmm -- I'm actually hoping to go into consulting and would be prepared to work more hours, and be in a stressful environment, around 50 when my kids will be over 18 and 80% travel wouldn't be a problem. I'm in financial regulation, so I'm hoping that there will still be lots of work then, although if not, I can stick with the government. I suppose it's hard to say now whether that is realistic. I know quite a few people have been hired as consultants at 50+ out of our agency. |
Anonymous
Has your big 4 consulting firm also outsourced to India? Real world experience with Accenture and SOA consulting group. We have been working with Accenture for SOA development. Accenture started with people from Reston,VA and Raleigh,NC but recently as the calls have progressed they have been going to the "outsourced" experts in Bangalore India. Seems they have americans to do the sales but once the work starts it gets outsourced to their shop in bangalore. And no one at Accenture is over 40 that we have been talking with. |