I'm facing constant ageism just applying.

38 Comments

1. Kerry RoperAugust 19,2025 at 1:55PM UTC

   PS also tried Upwork, not a single job, and I spent money just to bid on them. I’m getting anxious and I’m only in my second month of unemployment. Thinking of posting on Facebook? Anyone have any luck doing that?

2. AnonymousAugust 19,2025 at 2:03PM UTC

   Curious as to why you believe you are facing ageism just applying. Common guidance these days is to remove dates of education, anything beyond 10-15 years, etc.

3. AnonymousAugust 19,2025 at 2:09PM UTC

   I'm not the OP, but some online applications REQUIRE year of college or even high school graduation. It's easy enough to have an algorithm that discards anyone whose years start with 1-9 instead of 2-0.

4. Kerry RoperAugust 20,2025 at 5:03PM UTC

   AND no matter what, they will still need to meet you eventually, so what is the point of filling out applications when, once they meet you, they decide its not a good "cultural fit"?

5. AnonymousAugust 20,2025 at 8:38PM UTC

   Exactly. "Cultural fit" is a euphemism for "we don't like your kind." It's not fair.

6. AnonymousAugust 21,2025 at 12:49PM UTC

   Don't forget"overqualified".

7. AnonymousAugust 21,2025 at 12:48PM UTC

   That right there is some serious BS. during my last job hunt, I noticed that a few employers would pull that. That shouldn't even be legal!

8. Kerry RoperAugust 21,2025 at 9:44PM UTC

   Legality has zero to do with anything, Corps will do what they want, its called employment AT WILL. Im saying, I will get a call after I apply, the screening will go great, and then the recruiter will call me back within the next day or so and say the position was filled, and they will keep me in mind for other contracts. OR I iwas on a contract at a small business, (30 -35 employees all under 35, and 4 C suite guys over 50) and the finance team was just me and one senior staff accountant. She was about 35. I was very observant, which is what I do when I am new, I dont want to make a big splash, I want to learn the role, and excell at it, and THEN make friends. On my 3rd day there, her hair was a different color, so I said, did you get your hair done, it looks great? She said "no" and the next day I was told my contract wouldnt go past the forty days I signed on for. I had no idea that my team mate changed her hair color daily, (wigs). If she was truly confident in how she looked, I would expect her to say, "no its a wig, I change it up a few times a week". Nope, instead she preferred the passive aggressive route. I expect any day to hear from the COO that they want me to help again, because she seemed way focused on her clothes versus the major accounting issues that needed tending. AM I CRAZY?

9. AnonymousAugust 19,2025 at 4:09PM UTC

   Problem is if someone’s been at a job for 20 years! I’ve edited my resume and if you go by my work history you’d think I was in my late 30’s.

10. AnonymousAugust 20,2025 at 12:35PM UTC

    Because it’s very easy to find out someone’s age these days.

11. Mandy Fard, Executive Recruiter, Certified Resume WriterAugust 19,2025 at 3:10PM UTC

    Hi Kerry, I am so sorry you are experiencing ageism. It's a real problem and I can perfectly relate to you. So much so, that I wrote about it just a few weeks ago. I'd like to show you what I wrote, if I may. You will find it here and I hope you will find it helpful.

    https://www.market-connections.net/blog/overcoming-ageism-while-job-searching

12. Kerry RoperAugust 20,2025 at 4:33PM UTC

    Thanks so much Mandy, I had been searching for a REAL job board that didnt just claim to cater to the over 50 employee. The one you mention in your article, Retirement Jobs. is ACTUALLY posting from employers who are honest in their employment practices and doing something to combat ageism, not just mouth the terms, like most do.

13. Mandy Fard, Executive Recruiter, Certified Resume WriterAugust 21,2025 at 3:41AM UTC

    I am glad you found the informtion helpful. :-)

14. Kimberley Ferretti HammettAugust 19,2025 at 6:30PM UTC

    Hi Kerry! If you are getting contracts, that is great. The good news is you don't have to decide today if you do only contracts for the rest of your working life! If applying is causing you more stress than necessary right now, it can be a good idea to step back and pivot that energy toward keeping a client base flowing. But you can always step back in the market should the environment, or your feelings, or an opportunity change!

    Unfortunately I think 5 year plans are becoming obsolete, at least right now. Everything has been so shaken up and changing so fast, we just don't even know what our industries will look like in 5 years. Contracts can be a "for now" strategy and a great exercise in pivoting and you will know you can pivot again if and when the time comes. Ageism may be a factor, but this is also a terrrible environment for job seekers. I'm hearing more chattering that not only are companies often getting less experienced for less, they are hiring outside the US more frequently so some of those "ghost posts" are just posting in the U.S. then hiring remote outside the states. You're up against a lot in the job market right now. Build a brand for yourself.. it can sustain you on your own AND make you more marketable and employable should you find the right connnections in the future.

15. AnonymousAugust 19,2025 at 7:30PM UTC

    Aside from networking for leads on jobs, there is little you can do past a certain age.

    There is no job security anywhere and no one is will to pay for your expertise.

    Ageism exists. So contracting and consulting removes some of the ageism simply by removing you inclusion in the team. You are an individual contributor in the truest sense. So you pose less threat and operate outside the group.

16. AnonymousAugust 20,2025 at 4:45AM UTC

    What about making small career pivots, by acquiring additional skills?

    If you are already doing certifications, what about adding complimentary ones that are not in your field, yet are very desirable right now?

    For Accounting & Finance, I would recommend Data Analytics, Statistics (like 'R'), software specific certs like QuickBooks, a general Business Analysis course, and depending on the industry you might consider some general overview courses that'll make you stand out. For instance, an agile or scrum course for a software development company, a supply chain course for a logistics company, ITIL for a technology company, securities course for a bank/investment company.

17. Kerry RoperAugust 20,2025 at 4:23PM UTC

    Im in the middle of earning my QB pro cert, and I am going to get one for taxes, as that is not my field but in high demand. I also put myself on LI as offering services, hoping that once I have the certs, it might generate interest.

18. AnonymousAugust 20,2025 at 12:28PM UTC

    You might try looking for a finance director job in a nonprofit or trade association. I see quite a few jobs like that posted on ASAE’s career center. I’m facing a similar issue, except my experience is in membership management and conference planning. I can’t find a job anywhere, on the rare chance I get an introduction or interview, I have been told I am too experienced. I was planning to do contract work but so far I have been unable to even find a temporary client. Good luck to you, this is the worst job market for women over age 50! It is puzzling because when I was younger I worked at many jobs where the leaders were men m, and much older than 50.

19. Kerry RoperAugust 20,2025 at 4:21PM UTC

    I have been applying to non profits for finance director and controller positions, even one that was a referal ---**from one of my former colleagues in my LAST position as a Finance Director in a small non profit.** I sent an email directly to the CEO who worked with her before she left there and I hired her after that. I trained and mentored her and still do. I am not giving up, believe me, I found out yesterday during a MassHire webinar on ageism that right now, Massachusetts is a very tight job market. Just in the last two months or so, this happened.

20. GirlBossanova934974August 20,2025 at 12:35PM UTC

    IF ageism is a serious issue, contracts are a far better option. They are more plentiful and you can start looking for the next contract, the minute you start with the one you are on. In today's very TRIBAL work environment, contracts are your best friend. No one is going to intimidated by your expertise as they know you are not there long term. People are scared for their jobs and thus the need to continue to "dumb down" whom they hire full time.

21. AnonymousAugust 20,2025 at 7:15PM UTC

    What do you mean "IF" ageism is a serious issue.....IT IS!! Its infuriating that these "youngsters" are intimidated by ppl who have experience, work ethic, and soft skills that they do not. They should be looking to learn from others.

22. AnonymousAugust 21,2025 at 12:47PM UTC

    In my current role, I was a temp for eight months, and took the spot because there was a need to hire somebody permanently eventually. I did my job, did it well, but my then-manager, who was about 25 years my junior, seemed to be intimidated by me and would do anything to discourage me from staying there. Nonetheless, I wound up getting hired permanently, and the manager is no longer here, as they lost their job under other circumstances not related to me.

23. AnonymousAugust 20,2025 at 12:39PM UTC

    Not sure if this makes you feel better, but agism is happening in all sectors of employment. I have found that contract jobs are a better option; you may also want to consider changing your career to something that is not dependent on the corporate world.

24. Kerry RoperAugust 20,2025 at 4:16PM UTC

    What wouldnt be dependent on the corp world? Where I can earn even close to what I typically earn? State or Fed govt, health care? I need to network more. I learned that 85 percent of placements arent through the public domain application process, but through a contact or a referal.

25. AnonymousAugust 21,2025 at 12:43PM UTC

    That's not always feasible, but certain industries are less resistant to age, or get into an organization where you will have a number of over 50s still working. If you're temping/contract, also a good way to investigate a company, especially if they may need to hire somebody permanently. Doesn't always happen, but my current job happened that way. (Also did switch fields because it seemed like a better idea than going back to what I used to do, especially with the former field not being friendly to older people.)

26. Jill AllenAugust 20,2025 at 2:10PM UTC

    Have you looked in healthcare?

27. Kerry RoperAugust 20,2025 at 4:15PM UTC

    I havent, I have looked in State govt, isnt that bad enough?

    just kidding, Im wiling to interview for anything. I mean, I talk to a recruiter, on an initial phone screen, and I would love to know what I am saying that makes them immediately change their mind about even SUBMITTING my resume to a client?

28. Kerry RoperAugust 20,2025 at 4:37PM UTC

    I dont have my CPA, in fact thats why I am working on these certs. Everything I learned was on the job, took a few accounting theory courses, when I was just starting out, to learn what OUGHT to happen in the background of an accounting program, when they were first intruduced and put into use for most businesses. The basics that I know have gotten me this far. I am a terrible student.

    I dont beleive the hype about how much of the job can be automated, while some things can, AP and Payroll, lets say, you still need a human pair of eyes to review it once it gets to the financial report stage. I have first hand experience with this. A contract I just finished needed me to help untangle the mess that Bill.com created when syncing with QBO. Duplicate vendors and transactions....

29. JoAnna BlackAugust 21,2025 at 1:40PM UTC

    I work in public accounting and many firms are doing layoffs and have been for the past year or so. Unfortunately your job hunt may reflect the fact that there are many people with professional designations applying to the same positions you are. Seeking certifications is a great way to move to the top of the candidate pool but ultimately you can't control who else might be applying.

30. AnonymousAugust 21,2025 at 1:06PM UTC

    I hear you Kerry! I have opted to lower my years of experience where I am not lying (state over 5, 7, 10 years experience) and if I get an interview then I elaborate with the team. Other than that, independent contracting it is and I have gone to working multiple contracts to minimize the impact of the dreaded "contract end."

31. Diane OswaldAugust 21,2025 at 1:30PM UTC

    careers.bankofamerica.com

    I was hired in my 50’s

32. AnonymousAugust 21,2025 at 2:16PM UTC

    Maybe you could run as President— that’s about the only position where those over a “certain” age seem to find employment with benefits. Honestly I face same situation. I was advised to take the temp positions , save as much as possible and keep plugging away knowing others face the same situation—it’s not you.

33. AnonymousAugust 21,2025 at 2:27PM UTC

    I would recommend only going back 10-15 years on your resume. Unfortunately, recruiters don't care much about before that. Also, if you have dates you graduated from colleges on your resume, remove them. Just put the degree you received, E.G BS in Economics from xyz university and MBA, Finnce from abc university. Ensure you do the same with your LinkedIn

34. Kerry RoperAugust 21,2025 at 9:32PM UTC

    Yes, I do that, only the most recent ten years, no dates. I am also saying that I read and was told that 85 percent of roles are filled through referals, not direct applicants from a public job posting. Is that what most HR would agree with? Are public postings just to comply with the company policy, just to show that they don't discriminate?

35. AnonymousAugust 22,2025 at 12:17PM UTC

    I have been in HR for over 15 years and would not necessarily agree with that number. What I have seen is roles created for referrals, roles that were never publicly posted - and a handful of times, I have seen that crash and burn.

36. Rita PalanjianAugust 22,2025 at 1:21PM UTC

    Kerry, I searched for you on LinkedIn. I am pretty sure I found you. I would suggest the following with LinkedIn (LI bugs me, but it is a crucial element of getting visibility).

    • - Add keywords tags in LinkedIn, because when recruiters search, the keywords, or tag lines, are the ones that are going to get you searched by recruiters. For example, add these types of tags: "Accounting & Bookkeeping - GAAP - Internal Controls ..." Keep adding whatever is in your resume as top skills from your "About" section
    • 
      
    • - I would take the time to grow your network.
    • 
      
    • - I would comment on others' posts, like their posts, or create new posts.
    • 
      
    • If you want to learn a better way with LinkedIn. I follow Brenda Meller. I know she had Friday morning (free) networking and knowledge-building sessions. You have a chance to network with the attendees. Brenda is a LinkedIn expert and has cheat sheets as resources.
    • 
      
    • If you want to attend networking events. There is one on Thursday nights (7:45 PM), search for Pat Romboletti. You have a chance to network during this event (you post what you're looking for and a little bit about your background).
    • 
      

    Hope these help.

    • 
      
37. Kerry RoperAugust 29,2025 at 7:10PM UTC

    I think LI is getting rid of Tags? Am I right? I have all of those keywords, or dont I, what are you seeing that isnt there? Thanks for your help!!

38. Rondinella OlsenAugust 24,2025 at 12:51AM UTC

    Don’t give up hope. I just started a new position at the age of 64. But linked in is important.