2023 has been the strangest most challenging job market.
What's everyone experiencing around women and ageism and length of time it takes to land a new role? Is anyone else perplexed about the 'low unemployment' rate and the real stories & experiences of women? (40+)
Clarissa McMickens-Thomas
40
10/05/23 at 7:28PM UTC
Yes, I totally understand where you are coming from but I just know and have faith that things are going to work out. It’s a different type of environment when you are not the youngest person on the team anymore. I actually changed my career in my 40s and still thriving but I have experienced some ageism or biases but I keep pushing forward. No one can stop me but myself!! It’s me against me and I’ve always got my back. Be encouraged and look for organizations that value diversity in different generations of workers.
Courtney StewartClinical and Translational Sciences Institute
100
10/04/23 at 1:25PM UTC
For those who mentioned dropping out of the workforce I'm curious if that means these folks just don't need to work/have money to support themselves.
Anonymous
10/04/23 at 9:39PM UTC
Courtney, my guess is that many/most of those who drop out of the workforce have one or more of the following:
1)At least one other family member working.
2)Social Security and/or other retirement benefits. (The earliest age to collect Social Security is 62.)
3)Savings.
You can assume that the standard of living experienced by most involuntary retirees and their families drops. This is usually not a good situation.
User deleted comment on 09/30/23 at 3:33PM UTC
Drea RahmingAdministrative Assistant in South Florida
80
10/01/23 at 3:37PM UTC
Honestly the words you wrote encompass what both me and my husband are going through have gone through this past year alone
Anonymous
09/30/23 at 7:13PM UTC
It’s truly awful out there - I guess the question for all is what can be done about it or is it about accepting this nightmare of a job market is permanent. Job searches are taking months if not years on end for experienced candidates - if unemployed it’s especially brutal, and biased. No one is telling the real story of what the job market is like - just false ‘low’ historic unemployment numbers. With inflation, rising gas prices, and an election year no one is excited about - there seems little hope for the job market to turn around.
Anonymous
09/29/23 at 12:58AM UTC
I don't know whether it is ageism or maybe when we are over certain age typically we are at a higher paying position and request higher pay grade and higher compensation. So there are less available positions. Also, there is reluctancy to hire for lower level positions if they consider you overqualified. I sometimes dum down my resume if I am interested in lower level position. I just want to have a stable job for the next 5-7 years, but for some reason employers don't trust I would be motivated. Also, younger managers don't feel comfortable managing older workers.
Anonymous
09/28/23 at 1:06PM UTC
It is confusing . I have had trouble getting temp jobs just to tide me over and I have been looking for over a year!!
Anonymous
09/28/23 at 12:44PM UTC
As I reflect on this post further, I think back to 2008-2009. After leaving a job I was miserable in end of 2007, finally getting my 4-year degree in 2008, then laid off from another job mid-2009, I had a much more frustrating time then. My problem at that time, my struggle, was I didn't have the experience to get the job but needed the job to get the experience because I didn't realize the value of a good internship (as a non-traditional student it was that much harder). When I found myself unemployed beginning of 2022, it did take nearly 4 months to land my current job but I had greater success overall in my search. And now, out of concern about the future of my company (I am work for a supplier in the auto industry), I have kinda passively been searching (I have to because I am 50 and I know that yes ageism does in fact exist), have had several recruiters reach out (for roles that I wasn't entirely interested in) and now have 3 phone screens lined up over the next week.
Anonymous
09/28/23 at 6:17AM UTC
Many older women (especially those aged 50+) have dropped out of the workforce in frustration.
The U.S. has very low unemployment, but labor force participation is also lower than in past decades and economists have professed to be puzzled by the relatively high rates of retirement among workers in their 50s and 60s.
My view is that lower labor force participation and higher retirement levels reflect involuntary “retirements” by those who can’t find jobs due to ageism.
This is a tremendous problem that is being overlooked.
Anonymous
09/28/23 at 1:26PM UTC
Agree with this 150% - it's devastating for those who both want and need to work in their 50s and 60s. This issue needs to be elevated to an urgent national conversation.
Anonymous
09/28/23 at 1:43AM UTC
I am 48 and my search took three months to land a job, which is on-par with my past job searches. I credit two things for this: 1) a specialized skill and 2) job seeking experience. Unlike many in my generation, I have not been resistant to changing jobs throughout my career, and it has served me well.
Anonymous
10/04/23 at 9:40PM UTC
Congratulations!
Jacquelyn UngarinoProduct Manager in San Diego
18
09/27/23 at 9:31PM UTC
I have been unemployed since May. I am 31 years old and have been actively applying to jobs every day and I have had many interviews. The job market is SUPER competitive and saturated right now. I have not peronsally experienced any type of sexism or ageism to my knowledge, but it does seem that a lot of people are unemployed right now .. and in general, it is a very difficult time to be unemployed and in the job market.
Grisel Scarantino, Career and Work-Life Fulfillment CoachCareer Coaching for Work-Life Balance
299
09/27/23 at 8:52PM UTC (Edited)
I work mostly with professional women who are over 40 and they are successful in quickly landing the types of roles they're after.
The average length of time from the application process to an offer is 3-4 months. Ageism might exist, but it becomes more of a barrier when the applicant believes it to be true. It's a self-limiting belief that prevents them from confidently showcasing the incredible value they bring to the table in terms of their skills and experiences. Don't let that happen to you. Know your worth, know why you are the best candidate for the roles to which you're applying, and speak to that with confidence.
Anonymous
09/28/23 at 6:20AM UTC
I am so pleased for you and your clients! Good for you!
FWIW, though, ageism gets worse as workers hit their 50s and 60s. And it’s not all in our heads.
That said, you are entirely correct that self—limiting beliefs are detrimental and drag us down.
