Volunteered for 2 years, but can't get hired permanently!

[Anonymous]

I'm 51 and a SAHM. I've been home for 10 years, but my kids are now in middle school, so I've been looking for a job. For the past two years, I have been using my skills in a particular area as a volunteer for an organization I truly believe in. The head of the organization loves my ideas and has implemented almost all of them, which have been very successful. Recently a job opened up in this organization requiring someone with my skills. I sat down with the head of the organization to see whether it would make sense for me to apply for the job. Generally, they hire much younger people, and the head is about 10 years younger than I am.

Because they've loved my ideas and have implemented them, I thought I would have a very good chance of getting the job. When I sat down with the head, she told me that she would "put my name into the mix" and that they have many very qualified candidates, much better than they expected. Because I know many of the people in the organization socially, I decided not to apply, since clearly I had no advantage despite all my volunteer work.

So, they're thrilled with me as long as I work for free (and I've spent hours and hours of time working for this organization), but the minute I want a paid position, WHOA! I'm too old! That's the distinct impression I got, and knowing the organization, which skews young, I'm sure I'm right.

It feels so unfair and wrong to me. I'm going to stay as a volunteer, but it's certainly left a bad taste in my mouth.

I listened to the "much better than expected" job numbers this morning, and thought, "well, not if you're 50 or over!"

[Anonymous]

How do you know if they only want you for free if you didn't even apply? What response were you expecting when you talked to them that you didnt get? I get that it didnt sound very enthusiastic on their part, but if they really do have a lot of qualified candidates, would you rather they 'lead you on' and then be upset if they hired someone else because they were so enthusiastic about you applying?

[Anonymous]

She told you to put your resume in, but gave you a head's up that there was a lot of competition, she was managing your expectations. She didn't say you absolutely wouldn't get the job; so why didn't you apply?

[Anonymous]

OP, being of similar age, I sympathize with your frustration, but under what conditions would you have applied for the job?

[Anonymous]

You can't complain if you didn't even apply for the job!!! You have NO idea now how it would have turned out

[Anonymous]

I sympathize with your frustration but you should have applied. I think she was trying to tell you that you would be considered for sure, but were not a "shoe in."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do you know if they only want you for free if you didn't even apply? What response were you expecting when you talked to them that you didnt get? I get that it didnt sound very enthusiastic on their part, but if they really do have a lot of qualified candidates, would you rather they 'lead you on' and then be upset if they hired someone else because they were so enthusiastic about you applying?

I was expecting a very enthusiastic and encouraging response, not "we'll throw you into the mix". That's a real brush off. I would think that my volunteer work would give me a distinct advantage. I thought the head would say, "Great, that's wonderful, and I will do everything I can to advance your candidacy." It's an organization that hires by committee, so she has only so much power. But her endorsement would go a long way. By comparison, her tepid response was really disheartening, and seemed hypocritical since she practically bobs her head off in agreement whenever I make suggestions, and almost always takes and implements them.

[Anonymous]

Welcome to the new world, you are over fifty. You should have applied, but why should they hire you? You are not going anywhere and you work for free. Maybe you could train up the new employee? Stop volunteering and look for work. It will be hard at your age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, being of similar age, I sympathize with your frustration, but under what conditions would you have applied for the job?

I would have applied if I'd felt she was going to endorse me as a candidate. Yes, I know that I might not have gotten the job, and that's OK with me, but without her endorsement, I definitely will not get the job. I'm upset because I feel that all the work I've done for free is not acknowledged as valuable.

And I really think she wants someone younger. The job would report directly to her, and I'm a decade older than she is. As a volunteer, I'm no threat to her, but were I her employee, it's possible she'd feel intimidated by my age and experience (although we have completely different skills) and possibly feel her authority was threatened. These are my conjectures.

It bothers me that she will take my work for free, and yet when it comes time to actually pay me for it, she seems unable to acknowledge the contribution I've made. And when they hire someone new (and younger), I'm going to be giving this person direction because I have experience with the organization and we are in the process of implementing many of my ideas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Welcome to the new world, you are over fifty. You should have applied, but why should they hire you? You are not going anywhere and you work for free. Maybe you could train up the new employee? Stop volunteering and look for work. It will be hard at your age.

No, I can't apply without her endorsement. I know many people there socially, and some of them might be on the committee. It would be pointless for me to apply without her encouragement and wholehearted support. The committee might (and probably would) choose someone else, and as I said, that's OK, but I felt that all the work I've done ought to have made my candidacy stand out to her.

You are right, she knows she can get my work for free, at least until I find a full time job. I told her I was not going to quit as a volunteer (because I really do believe in this organization), but I also told her I am looking for full time work. She knows my background. There may be better qualified candidates on paper, but this organization has been taking and using my ideas, spending money on things I've suggested, making structural changes to the organization that I suggested. Who could be better qualified for the job than someone who is actually doing the job, in essence, as I have?

[Anonymous]

You're making a lot of assumptions OP considering you didn't apply/go through the hiring process.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you know if they only want you for free if you didn't even apply? What response were you expecting when you talked to them that you didnt get? I get that it didnt sound very enthusiastic on their part, but if they really do have a lot of qualified candidates, would you rather they 'lead you on' and then be upset if they hired someone else because they were so enthusiastic about you applying?

I was expecting a very enthusiastic and encouraging response, not "we'll throw you into the mix". That's a real brush off. I would think that my volunteer work would give me a distinct advantage. I thought the head would say, "Great, that's wonderful, and I will do everything I can to advance your candidacy." It's an organization that hires by committee, so she has only so much power. But her endorsement would go a long way. By comparison, her tepid response was really disheartening, and seemed hypocritical since she practically bobs her head off in agreement whenever I make suggestions, and almost always takes and implements them.

Well, this is where you went wrong. The head's job is to promote the interests of the organization, and in most cases that means opening up a REAL search. It's not her job to "advance your candidacy." You shot yourself in the foot by not applying. They will never take you seriously as a potential candidate now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Welcome to the new world, you are over fifty. You should have applied, but why should they hire you? You are not going anywhere and you work for free. Maybe you could train up the new employee? Stop volunteering and look for work. It will be hard at your age.


No, I can't apply without her endorsement. I know many people there socially, and some of them might be on the committee. It would be pointless for me to apply without her encouragement and wholehearted support. The committee might (and probably would) choose someone else, and as I said, that's OK, but I felt that all the work I've done ought to have made my candidacy stand out to her.

You are right, she knows she can get my work for free, at least until I find a full time job. I told her I was not going to quit as a volunteer (because I really do believe in this organization), but I also told her I am looking for full time work. She knows my background. There may be better qualified candidates on paper, but this organization has been taking and using my ideas, spending money on things I've suggested, making structural changes to the organization that I suggested. Who could be better qualified for the job than someone who is actually doing the job, in essence, as I have?

I know, you feel used. Look she told you what she thought of you. She does not want you as an employee. It's hard to hear, but hear it. It is time to move on. It will be hard to find a job when you are over fifty. The younger ones(yes 10 years counts ) see you as old, not computer skilled, slow, etc. And you have been out of the work force for a while. Start focusing on finding a paying job, stop the volunteering stuff. Every hour you put in there, you could be getting paid or working on getting a paying job. Start thinking about how to get paid for your ideas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you know if they only want you for free if you didn't even apply? What response were you expecting when you talked to them that you didnt get? I get that it didnt sound very enthusiastic on their part, but if they really do have a lot of qualified candidates, would you rather they 'lead you on' and then be upset if they hired someone else because they were so enthusiastic about you applying?

I was expecting a very enthusiastic and encouraging response, not "we'll throw you into the mix". That's a real brush off. I would think that my volunteer work would give me a distinct advantage. I thought the head would say, "Great, that's wonderful, and I will do everything I can to advance your candidacy." It's an organization that hires by committee, so she has only so much power. But her endorsement would go a long way. By comparison, her tepid response was really disheartening, and seemed hypocritical since she practically bobs her head off in agreement whenever I make suggestions, and almost always takes and implements them.

Well, this is where you went wrong. The head's job is to promote the interests of the organization, and in most cases that means opening up a REAL search. It's not her job to "advance your candidacy." You shot yourself in the foot by not applying. They will never take you seriously as a potential candidate now.

I don't know what you are referring to when you say "where you went wrong." Do you mean that I shot myself in the foot by not applying? Or by expecting a more positive endorsement by the head?

I think it would be in the interest of the organization to hire someone whose energies and ideas have been greeted with enthusiasm and implemented in this particular area.

There is a real search going on. As I mentioned in an earlier post, she does not have the power to hire for the position. That is done by a committee.

At the very least, she might have said, "I am delighted you are interested in the position. There are other candidates, but I think you are a very strong candidate." That would have been encouragement to me to apply. As it was, she was very neutral, which was terribly disappointing to me.

[Anonymous]

At the very least, she might have said, "I am delighted you are interested in the position. There are other candidates, but I think you are a very strong candidate." That would have been encouragement to me to apply. As it was, she was very neutral, which was terribly disappointing to me.

I understand that, and your disappointment is reasonable, but you should have applied anyway. What would it have hurt? She might have just been concerned about misleading you into thinking she could definitely get them to select you.