Anonymous wrote:The good news is that the economy is strong enough and unemployment is so low that the job market for 50+ is far more robust than ten years ago during the recession. Right now using the "I'm too old" card is a weak excuse. Companies are desperate for capable people.

I doubt this.

How’s his skill set, and is it up-to-date? Ageism is real, but if you have in-demand skills, age is much less of a barrier and may not be a barrier at all.

I’m 56 and 2 years ago I was recruited (wasn’t looking at the time) by a place you’ve heard of and respect. I recently submitted an application for a managerial position at a different place, and I’m interviewing next week—doesn’t mean I’ll get the job, but they apparently didn’t toss my CV in the trash.

IMO gig workers, especially on the IT field, are a bigger threats than H1B workers today. These are the people on UpWork who get contract work and the employer doesn’t have to pay benefits to them or give them office space. Of course, while he’s waiting, your DH could check out UpWork too—they use accountants, IT workers, and so on. I believe there’s even a gig platform for lawyers, but I don’t know the name

This is the life of the government contractor. I have been with my agency for 26 years with 7 different contractor companies and 7 different jobs, not overlapping. I've had two occasions where I stayed with a company and switched jobs and two occasions where I stayed with the job when the contractor turned over and moved to the new company.

Most recently, I left jobs at ages 48 and 51. Both times, I interviewed at only companies that contracted with my current agency. Both times, I was rehired within 2 weeks of my termination (both times, I had started interviewing before I left my former position). Due to my seniority and my experience in areas that are very valuable and in high demand at my agency, in both cases, I had two competing offers from two different companies/contracts that I could choose from. However, none of the four opportunities that I found were through my personal networking. In all cases, I had to surf the Internet looking for jobs at my agency that were in my field and I applied on-line. In all four cases, my resume was picked from the on-line applications and I was contacted directly by the HR companies for a further interview. The key is writing a good cover letter and resume. In all cases, my resume was flagged because it fit all of the buzz-words, my cover letter specifically addressed the various skills they were looking for and I had significant relevant experience in my agency to what they were looking for. And I did tweak my resume and cover letter each time I submitted, to make sure that it was specific to the job I was applying for.

In government contracting, especially in the Washington DC area, relevant experience in a specific agency with skills that are hard to duplicate even with similar professionals from other agencies or private sector, is worth so much extra, that companies that are trying to hire a person to fill a position on an active contract will ignore age if you have the right skills so that they can put you onto a contract that has a limited schedule. It's far easier to get someone with agency experience to be productive with a much shorter ramp-up time than to get someone who is cheaper with no agency experience who has to spend an extra few weeks learning how your agency does business. I have actually started a job and been more productive in a shorter amount of time than people coming from outside the agency who have been there months longer than me. I know how to get things done at my agency. Both of the recent jobs I was productive and useful the first week I was on the job because of my experience. In both cases, the contracts needed someone who could jump in running and I provided that.

If you have the right skills to sell, age is not a problem or factor.

Another 54-year-old who recently was hired, after having been a WOHM for 7 years. It took me. Long time to find my gig. Be sure that you help him - watch for depression / anxiety. It is debilitating. Good luck!

At 54 I entered the market because the writing was on the wall that my group was going to be "restructured." I worked my network up, down and sideways. I started the new job about six months after starting the process. That was five years ago and I'm looking to work another five years. THey'll get 10 years from me. Not bad. Sending a message that you will make your boss look good -- or help the company/firm grow -- is excellent advice. Be on the lookout for opportunities where there is an unfilled niche. You bring a lot to the table -- your experience is invaluable.

Someone asked what Gary Chapman's four other love languages are, besides words of affirmation. They are acts of service, physical touch, gift-giving, and quality time. To some degree, we all have these five love languages. However, each of us usually have one or two that make us feel more loved! Also, Chapman supports that we learn our loved ones love languages so that we can love them well. Hope this helps!

OP: Love him. More than ever. Job loss diminishes self worth albeit not like cancer diagnosis or divorce. Now, embrace the opportunity he gets to decide his next great career position, not them choosing him. LinkedIn is amazing. Referrals create 80% of job hires and informational interviewing exponentially gives him more options. PM me. Happy to help explain further. A groove and a rut look the same, without a game plan and positive mental outlook.

Anonymous wrote:I think he's making excuses. It might be harder, sure, but he's making excuses. A 50 year old worker still has 15 years to work if he retires at 65. That's a lot of time.

It may be, but since communication between OP and her husband seems strained on this topic, we don't actually know what is really going on. My husband, late 40s, wants a new job and in his area, choices will be limited. I have to tread so, so lightly! And yeah, as a previous poster said, talking about my own job was making it harder for him to hear anything about his own situation (and my job isn't even going that well -- I'm just more mature than he is and expect less fulfillment there).

I would recommend one other thing - stay in shape. Nobody is expecting a marathon runner to walk into an interview, but if you look like you have not worked out in 28 years and eat three donuts/day, how do you think they will perceive you?

^^ at the Big 4 all of my supervisors were half my age - maybe a little older - but they appreciated my years of experience and valued my input....yes they're fast and innovative but I have all the subject matter expertise....I say bah humbug to all this ageism talk. Then there's likeability, if you're a grumpy/can't nobody tell you anything type of person of course they won't hire you/want you on their team.