Unemployed

Question

I am finding it very difficult to keep my level of confidence up when I have been applying for jobs and interviewing for over a year and I am constantly being rejected.   Yes I may be 61 but I am not ready to retire.  I am still vibrant energetic and eager to learn.  It's very depressing,  Any or suggestions  I have over 20 years in hospitality   All years in Management

Anonymous · Answer

Ageism is absolutely an issue these days. I was laid off at 51 from a software engineer (programmer) job and was panicked.

I made some changes to my resume to omit dates of college graduation and to leave out nonessential experience that also showed my age (e.g., programming in FORTRAN).

I also networked like crazy. Worked very hard on my profile in LinkedIn and other places, and when I found a position that sounded good, found someone I knew who knew someone who worked there. I ended up working in the same group as that person!

Oh, and finally (ugh) I got a really good dye job to cover up all the grey, and a makeover to get professional looking clothes that fit me well. I was looking for 7 months and found a great job at a company with a wide span of ages, short commute from my home, and a passion for collaboration--my strong suit!

Best of luck to you.

Marjorie Randall · Answer

I am 69 and jobs are so hard to find although older workers seem to be more reliable Noone will hire me even tho I have numerous skills and  have been in the same career for 52 years  I took on another pt career and it's a power struggle with men  as a superviser.

Shanita Taylor · Answer

Sorry to hear this, I certainly understand. I see many older personnel's working at Kroger's and Publix often.

Maryana Ivlev · Answer

Hi, Shari, 
My heart goes out to you as I've been in your shoes getting constant rejections. I think your energy shines through! I hope that it shows at your interviews, too. All the books on career I read recently show that people are hired for their culture fit and energy / vibe they show.  As long as your vibe fits, eventually you'd find your match. If you are as energetic as your post suggests, start with that, that you are unstoppable, not ready to retire, a treasure of wisdom! Since most companies do not pay pension anymore, in theory ageism should be less of an issue nowadays. I wish you the best of luck!

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