Need advice!
Posted by gingerbreadrabbit@reddit | GenX | View on Reddit | 27 comments
I am 53 and live in a rural area. My job recently cut my hours, and am now looking for work. I have a fun personality and answer all of the questions that experience has given me. I have never had a problem getting a job, until now. Countless interviews with great feedback, then nothing. I do have long, white hair that is nicely combed....but could that be a deterrent? If ageism is a real thing, should I wear a hat or dye it to a natural color? Would like to know if you have felt a similar situation. It is tough out there, but thankful for the support of friends that keep me smiling through the challenges! Best to everyone out there.
ALifetimeOfLearning@reddit
I just wanted to reitterate about the resume adjusting.
Def no more than 10yrs on there.
Don't over complicate the positions unless those things actually address the job req.
Bullet points are good, don't write a paragraph for every position.
No address. But city or town and state can be good.
Email should def be something formal, like, FirstName-LastName @ gmail or similar.
Create or redo or cleanup and buffup that LinkedIn page, make it match the resume - some online job req applications will allow you to connect it to LinkedIn and it'll port that info over too.
Don't stress out. Depending on what you're looking for it can def take 1-6mo or more to find that good real job.
Also don't worry about being no-replied to on your job apps, most places prob just won't respond. Or may take weeks or longer to reply.
Yes, some job reqs are "fake". HR needs to post a position they are filling internally, or are trying to gauge interest, or are just collecting names for poss future reqs, or they are doing something where they show 'the right people are just not applying' so they can't fill the roll (such bs).
Anyway keep your chin up and it's a bit of a numbers game.
gingerbreadrabbit@reddit (OP)
Thank you, dear friend, for your response. I am making severe edits to my resume and feel more confident in its presentation. I went to another interview yesterday and felt a strange sense of calm. I answered all the questions without demanding an outcome, and the words flowed out to fit the needs of the interviewer. I am so proud of us! We are a wonderful group of people who will continue to contribute to helping others. I appreciate you for helping me. I am no longer afraid and am looking forward to the next interview! Thank you for your insights and the very Best to you.
SouthFish200@reddit
Get into car sales. They'll train you and most large dealerships offer full benefits, including retirement.
Appropriatelylazy@reddit
Of course agism is real. I'm 58, it took me almost 2 years to get another full-time job after being laid off. I worked temp jobs. Part time, anything to bring in cash (I'm single). Do yourself a favor and review your resume to remove any job older than ten years ago, don't list your year of graduation if degree is required and while I don't have enough gray hair to be an issue, it might be a good idea to think about coloring it for yourself? Good luck. Job hunting is horrible
gingerbreadrabbit@reddit (OP)
Thank you for your recommendations. I will definitely look over my resume and find some hair dye! Yes, ageism is real. It is just difficult to accept. Take care, and appreciate your wisdom.
Appropriatelylazy@reddit
Sorry for the multiple posts. reddit glitched on me when i posted! 🤣🤣
Paperbackpixie@reddit
Yes, ageism is real. Both for male and female alike. I’m currently unemployed and nervous as hell.
If you decide to go by the way of dying your hair depending on what color your hair is naturally, please go to a professional and speaking for me personally, I love a salt and pepper.
Grab a gentle exfoliant that’ll remove any dead skin brighten the skin. Apply a good moisturizer.
gingerbreadrabbit@reddit (OP)
Excellent advice! I would like to embody my hair, but if I feel I need to, I will go to a salon. I understand I need to tell a story to the interviewer to give them confidence in hiring me. I love the idea of exfoliating to brighten my skin! Thank you for that!
BeepBopARebop@reddit
Take a look at your wardrobe too. Make sure you are not wearing clothes that age you. One thing to keep in mind is that if you have gained a bit of weight and your clothes are too small, it looks bad. Not saying this is you but it's something a older folks need to consider.
gingerbreadrabbit@reddit (OP)
Wonderful advice about the wardrobe and researching jobs instead of grabbing at anything out of desperation. This makes complete sense. Thank you very much!
modalkaline@reddit
Ageism is real, but you are also in the midst of a remarkably terrible job market in general. Before you start changing your look (which you otherwise sound happy with), you might put look into how the job market has changed in recent years, and what employers in your sector might be looking to hear about in interviews. It's also possible that you are ready to jump up in your career and don't realize that you're applying for jobs below your experience level. This can also make you seem old in an out-of-place way.Â
Point being, it's a strange enough employment landscape that it's worth taking a some time to do an overall assessment of yourself as a candidate in this market. You might find that you can keep your glorious hair with some tweaks to other areas of your general candidacy.
gingerbreadrabbit@reddit (OP)
You are so kind! Yes, I love my hair and know that younger folks pay big bucks to get it! I feel that we have earned that platinum badge of being our own Superhero. But you are right. The dynamics have changed. Interesting point about applying for jobs below my experience level. This is a good lesson to take a few classes on LinkedIn to sharpen my skills! Thank you So much, deeply appreciated!
Appropriatelylazy@reddit
Of course agism is real. I'm 58, it took me almost 2 years to get another full-time job after being laid off. I worked temp jobs. Part time, anything to bring in cash (I'm single). Do yourself a favor and review your resume to remove any job older than ten years ago, don't list your year of graduation if degree is required and while I don't have enough gray hair to be an issue, it might be a good idea to think about coloring it for yourself? Good luck. Job hunting is horrible
Man-e-questions@reddit
Yep all this. When i was laid off my work hired a company to help us get jobs, and the lady who specialized in this stuff told me all of this and rewrote my resume and rebuilt my linkedin profile and i landed a new job in 4 months.
gingerbreadrabbit@reddit (OP)
Thank you for this. I see that redoing the resume is very crucial. I appreciate you!
Ok-Satisfaction1940@reddit
I recently turned 54, and have been trying to get a job since June. I’ve worked in I.T. for 24 years now, tons of experience and can’t get hired anywhere in a non-rural area. It’s maddening.
gingerbreadrabbit@reddit (OP)
Wow, I empathize with your situation and am saddened that you are going through this. What keeps me from screaming in the dark is my friends as support. Hope you have that as well. Thank you for sharing and optimistic that this hell is only temporary.
Finding_Way_@reddit
Ageism is real. There have been lots of posts like this.
When my heart partner was out of work My Zoomer kids helped him in these ways:
Revamped his resume: change the style and font, had him get a more currently used email and get rid of his very dated one ( which they said SCREAMED his age) and removed his address from the resume... They said no one cares where you live.
Had him practice zoom interviews with them. Got his screen adjusted to the appropriate height (My zoomer who often interviews older workers for positions said he finds them staring way up at the screen or looking way down at it, which is not a good look as they need to be comfortable with virtual meetings)
Worked on his wardrobe, specifically telling him not to look so stuffy (i.e, old). He was wearing a sports coat and tie. They wanted both gone, he compromised and got rid of the sports coat.
Not sure if any of those specific things made a difference, but I will say that after their intervention he did get something.
gingerbreadrabbit@reddit (OP)
What an incredible response! I see now how a resume can look antiquated. I will go through my closet and find something not so stuffy, too! This has been so therapeutic, I feel so much better. Thank you for your advice and hugs to your heart partner for also assisting me!
HatlessDuck@reddit
I dyed my hair and lost 10 years off my resume. Then got hired.
gingerbreadrabbit@reddit (OP)
This is a great recommendation! Thank you very much. Looks like I am making an appointment tomorrow!
Longjumping-Date-181@reddit
Yeah, I was given feedback on a position I applied for including that I was too "old school" They hired a younger guy with dark hair and a touch of grey, vs. my whole head of grey.
So yeah ageism is real.
Jokes on them he turned out to be a recovering junkie and although younger he didn't meet their needs and they had to fire him.
gingerbreadrabbit@reddit (OP)
I love this! Thank you for sharing your story. Of course, at the time you needed the job, but their lousy judgment saved you from a potential mess. I know you are moving forward, and wish you the best 👌
Degenerate_Lunatic12@reddit
I am in my early 50s. Yes, ageism and age discrimination are real; also the toughest to prove. After a a round of layoffs in the spring, I find myself unemployed (along with 1200 other people) after 12 years at my employer. I also never had trouble getting work until now.
The only advice I can offer is to absolutely dye your hair. It really has helped me because I feel a bit younger and a little more confident in interviews with younger hiring managers. Having a better attitude and less anxiety about age helps a lot. We can always go natural again after securing a job.
The other piece of advice: Remember the resiliency of this generation. We are the kids who were supposed to fail at just about everything in life but we kept at it all our lives. Do not stop now. The job market is awful, no matter the age of the candidate. I know 20 somethings who are struggling to find work after graduation college. No matter how many rejections you get, you won' t fail unless you give up...and we never give up.
Best of luck to you in your search.
gingerbreadrabbit@reddit (OP)
I love your response so much! Thank you for the Powerful message. It is easy to forget our accomplishments in difficult times. You are correct. We must stay resilient and love ourselves. Thanks again, you have given a stranger hope!
lawstandaloan@reddit
Was there a sign indicating whether long-haired freaky people should apply?
Appropriatelylazy@reddit
Of course agism is real. I'm 58, it took me almost 2 years to get another full-time job after being laid off. I worked temp jobs. Part time, anything to bring in cash (I'm single). Do yourself a favor and review your resume to remove any job older than ten years ago, don't list your year of graduation if degree is required and while I don't have enough gray hair to be an issue, it might be a good idea to think about coloring it for yourself? Good luck. Job hunting is horrible