Old fellows don't have a chance!

[Getback]

I work as a contractor for a large corporation. I'm 54 years old. Recently they have had 3 employees leave for other jobs. Now when you get there the first thing you notice is that everyone is around 22 years old. Guess who they are interviewing for the job. You guessed it. All 20 somethings. They are condescending little brats too. I get many interviews but I don't get the job. I now know why.

[Shamus]

They get paid less?

shamus

[Getback]

I don't know what they make. I don't make much and I have a Masters degree. I'm glad they are getting a good start in work. I think a lot of it is healthcare costs. Older workers get seriously sick more.

[FBplmmr]

Where I work, every year there is a free employee Health Fair.  You can get anonymously checked for cholesterol, blood pressure, etc
Every year, 2 months after the Health Fair, the employee share of the fees for the provided health insurance goes up. 

[storch]

I work as a contractor for a large corporation. I'm 54 years old. Recently they have had 3 employees leave for other jobs. Now when you get there the first thing you notice is that everyone is around 22 years old. Guess who they are interviewing for the job. You guessed it. All 20 somethings. They are condescending little brats too. I get many interviews but I don't get the job. I now know why.

that's why you have to hire yourself.

[Getback]

that's why you have to hire yourself.

That is exactly what I was thinking Storch.

[xbrit]

I work as a contractor for a large corporation. I'm 54 years old. Recently they have had 3 employees leave for other jobs. Now when you get there the first thing you notice is that everyone is around 22 years old. Guess who they are interviewing for the job. You guessed it. All 20 somethings. They are condescending little brats too. I get many interviews but I don't get the job. I now know why.

I agree, for the last 15 months I have had interviews galore. Recently saw a job posted that matched a job I held for 12 years, even down to the same programs to be used. I applied and within a day got the rejection letter with the reason being they found someone more experienced. After finding out from a friend who they hired I wonder how that 22 year old had more experience ?
Oh well still doesn't stop me from keep trying.

[MiloMorai]

Posted a few days on SimHQ,

After 22 years of doing everything that has been asked of me by my company, I've found out I'm no longer required. I've been told that no other company within the corporation (13 companies) has it's own internal IT person, all others has been out sourced, so I'm gone. Years of service mean nothing these days. I've got a 15 year old son that I desperately want to put through college. I've only got a AS degree that I payed for myself. What a feeling of being kicked in the balls this is. I know others have been through this, but right now I feel like I'm alone in the universe.

I once worked for a company that when you got close to pension age you were let go.

Companies want loyalty from their employees but show none in return.

[storch]

Posted a few days on SimHQ,

After 22 years of doing everything that has been asked of me by my company, I've found out I'm no longer required. I've been told that no other company within the corporation (13 companies) has it's own internal IT person, all others has been out sourced, so I'm gone. Years of service mean nothing these days. I've got a 15 year old son that I desperately want to put through college. I've only got a AS degree that I payed for myself. What a feeling of being kicked in the balls this is. I know others have been through this, but right now I feel like I'm alone in the universe.

I once worked for a company that when you got close to pension age you were let go.

Companies want loyalty from their employees but show none in return.

that's why you hire yourself

[lasersailor184]

   I'm actually one of those brats that you described.  But I have learned that older contractors know a hell of a lot more, even if I can beat them in AutoCAD.



So go into business for yourself.  That's my ultimate dream, but I don't tell any of my employers that.  Apparently they don't like to hear that I want 10-15 years of experience, where I then abscond with the knowledge to make my own money.

[storch]

  I'm actually one of those brats that you described.  But I have learned that older contractors know a hell of a lot more, even if I can beat them in AutoCAD.



So go into business for yourself.  That's my ultimate dream, but I don't tell any of my employers that.  Apparently they don't like to hear that I want 10-15 years of experience, where I then abscond with the knowledge to make my own money.

the intelligent route to take is the one where you learn your craft and you learn the sources of your materials.  you must also be in a position of having a good relationship with the suppliers in order to have ytour door opened for you.

or you could work for someone in a small business and become invaluable to them and in time they might sell you the business for one dollar.   

[lasersailor184]

the intelligent route to take is the one where you learn your craft and you learn the sources of your materials.  you must also be in a position of having a good relationship with the suppliers in order to have ytour door opened for you.

or you could work for someone in a small business and become invaluable to them and in time they might sell you the business for one dollar.   

Well, I could take over my father's business of small time renovation / residential construction anytime I want, however I don't think I'm ready for it. 

[MiloMorai]

I did work for myself in the cut throat high tech industry. You work 24/7 to get the the job done for them yesterday besides trying to line up the next job. The government nickels and dimes you. All the perks company employees get comes out of your pocket. Vacation. What is that.

[sluggish]

Reading the posts in this thread I can see why so many of you are against the workers right to organize...   

[Stixx]

I feel your pain. Been interviewing since February when I lost my job. Six months later I'm still unemployed.
When we got the word that we'd lost our contract I figured, what the hey, I've got plenty of experience,
shouldn't be too hard to find a half decent job. Yeah right!
I've worked for myself in the past, construction, unfortunately the arthritis in both legs prevents me from
returning to that field. (It's the reason I got out of it to begin with.)
Too young to qualify for retirement, obviously too old for the local employers, savings have been exhausted,
and I'm on my thirteen week extension for unemployment which doesn't even come close to covering my
living expenses.
Something don't break soon I'll be pissing off my creditors when I tell em to get in line and I find myself asking
if the customer would like fries with their order.

Ain't life grand!