I think my age is starting to bite me on the bum

[nyxalinth]

I've not been on many interviews since December, and the ones I do get, I suspect I'm beginning to experience age discrimination. I get the call for an interview (so obviously they like my resume and cover letter), I dress professionally appropriate to the job, I interview well (so far as I can tell, and feedback I've had seems to indicate this

Comments

[gradeafan]

You know I have to point out that yeah age may have something to do with it, but I'm betting its a financial decision too. Someone with your (and my) years of experience and already having been in the workforce I would expect to come in at the top of the payscale. But a 20 - 25 year old perhaps fresh out of college with not a lot of experience probably would expect to work at the entry level of pay.

Even tho the media would have us believe that the economy is bouncing back and unemployment has reduced, I believe that the people getting these jobs right now are actually taking cuts in pay from what they had previously earned. In my family experience and business relationships in three states at least 80% of the people I know who are working are earning less than they did five years ago, myself included. The few who are earning more are the neices and nephews all in their early 20s who are just happy to have a job barely paying more than minimum wage.

I would say the only advantage people of our age have against the younger worker is that because of our advanced experience we will likely be more efficient on the job, helping to save the company money. And might (or might not) be more reliable. My youngest is 15 now so I don't have as many child-care issues or family commitments as when they were younger. Also, the employer won't have a concern as a female employee that I will need maternity leave at some point as a woman 20 years younger than me in the same job might.

I wish you luck.