How I was discriminated against
After 5 years as Executive Director of a small non-profit agency that was struggling because of the economy, the Board laid me off because I was the highest paid person (and, at age 64, the oldest). They made my Asst. Director the interim Director. She is 31 years old, has had only 2 years of college (I have a law degree, a M.S. and a B.S.), and less than 5 total years of experience (I had over 30 years with 15 in upper-level management). They are paying her $20,000 a year less than I made. Now I am collecting unemployment benefits that will only last for 26 weeks -- unless the Congress votes for an extension.
What it's like being an older or younger job seeker
As most of my unemployed cohorts have been doing, I send out 5 - 6 resumes a week in the area where my daughter lives. At my age of 64 1/2, I am reluctant to move far away from family again.
Since I am so well-qualified, I think I come across as "over-qualified" for many of the mid-level jobs for which I am applying. I rarely get called for an interview. In the few telephone interviews I have had, the interviewers were excited and several told me I was a frontrunner for the job. But when I went for a final interview, I guess they had a chance to see in person how old I was and the jobs all went to younger, less experienced people.
It has made me feel very devalued and sad that my "golden years" have been made so stressful! I feel that I have a good 5 to 10 years of working life left, but it is hard to convince interviewers of this.
Lessons Learned
- I have found that people doing the hiring tend to hire people more like themselves who are closer to their own age.
- I have no advice since we cannot chosoe who interviews us except just to try to be enthusiastic and talk about how you want to work for at least 8 to 10 more years (even if you don't).
