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Showing Original Post only (View all)So, I was told today that I am, basically, too old to be considered for a particular job [View all]
So, I met with a hiring manager today.
I had applied for a job and instead of interviewing me in her office, she took me out to lunch. She was very nice. But, what she told me, when you really boil it down, was that they have job openings, but I will not be considered for them. I will not be considered because the jobs are intended for "less experienced" (read "younger" people.
She thought it would be just too awkward to bring in someone who might be older than his boss. I explained to her that, because the position would be in a different (but similar) field, I would not mind taking a step down in order to learn how that kind of environment works. But she was not convinced. She said it would never work out.
So, I am too old for the lower-level jobs. But, when higher level jobs open up, I'll bet anything that I will not be in the running for them either -- because I lack exact kind of experience. Of course, I could get the right experience by doing a lower-level job and learning the ropes. But I cannot get those jobs because I am too old. Wash, rinse, repeat.
She suggested was that, if I want to get into that kind of work, I need to look for a smaller firm that might want someone with my "experience level."
Being laid off in your late 40s can really screw up your life.