Do you ever get job-itchy?
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I Should Coco
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Good point about asking someone else for an honest opinion about your resume, job skills, etc.
My kids are both young adults who have been working at and applying for positions in the business and legal fields, and hearing them talk about their hiring process and interview experiences, I am way out of touch with how things are done today.
Part of it is me, being a stubborn, 50-something Luddite, and part of it is the newspaper industry being odd and behind the times in all things, including hiring.
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If you get itchy in the next few years -- although, actually, having it happen before then would be better -- talk to, and look into whatever you find that interests you. Particularly if an employer is actually showing interest in you.
Because a point will come when they will not do so -- and that's likely to occur within the next very few years.
The world, especially the world of work, is for the young nowadays. Experience does not count for much, if anything, to most employers, in most fields, anymore. It is not valued. Companies/businesses want youth, energy, stamina, and the interest in and ability to keep up with current technologies, and even to develop them further, faster and better.
Middle-aged and older people are considered old news in most places. They are/will be much less likely to be encouraged, and sometimes, will even actually not be allowed, to lead or promote anymore, whether candidates want to and/or are willing and able to do so, or not.
Nothing will be explicitly said or admitted regarding blatant ageism, but you'll be able to see it in who is hired, who is consistently given more and greater opportunities, and who is, clearly, being considered a potential part of the future, while you are not.
Because a point will come when they will not do so -- and that's likely to occur within the next very few years.
The world, especially the world of work, is for the young nowadays. Experience does not count for much, if anything, to most employers, in most fields, anymore. It is not valued. Companies/businesses want youth, energy, stamina, and the interest in and ability to keep up with current technologies, and even to develop them further, faster and better.
Middle-aged and older people are considered old news in most places. They are/will be much less likely to be encouraged, and sometimes, will even actually not be allowed, to lead or promote anymore, whether candidates want to and/or are willing and able to do so, or not.
Nothing will be explicitly said or admitted regarding blatant ageism, but you'll be able to see it in who is hired, who is consistently given more and greater opportunities, and who is, clearly, being considered a potential part of the future, while you are not.
Ageism is and always was there. The hedge IMHO is whether you provide something that is unique to you and that sets you apart. Somehow I realized that for me to survive in my field I needed to develop my own work and not rely on anyone else to bring me work.
Totally agree. I did this four years ago and helped me land my current gig, which was a major upgrade.
Baron Scicluna
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In the last year. I've found myself on the opposite side of the interviewing table due to retirements and some actual movement by the higher-ups to fill previously empty positions.
Most of the interviews included other people besides me doing the interviewing, although I had a couple of one-on-ones myself. And I was probably more nervous than the candidates.
Quite the experience.
Most of the interviews included other people besides me doing the interviewing, although I had a couple of one-on-ones myself. And I was probably more nervous than the candidates.
Quite the experience.
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It was there, but not obviously and blatantly so, or commonly so.
The ladder of progression in careers used to lead, naturally, to middle-aged and older people being the middle and senior managers, because that was the logical way of things. Now, it is not uncommon for the 20- and early-30s group to be the managers, and the older folks to be the subordinate workers.
Things are backwards now, in a lot of places. Experience and maturity used to be valued. Now? Not so much. The upward movement on career paths is generally much faster now.
I Should Coco
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This is definitely out there ... about 6-7 years ago, when I was in my 40s, I applied for a position at a newspaper whose editor was more than 10 years younger than me. I was never directly told I was too old, but I remember being asked in a second interview if I was comfortable working with, and for, people younger than I was.
Having done that for the past two decades, of course my answer was yes. I'll never know if that was a factor in someone else getting the job.
A good sign. But ... I don't trust anything until it's signed, sealed and delivered.
Deskgrunt50
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Sounds like an excellent beginning to the process.
"You're exactly who we're looking for. Unfortunately, we have to go with an internal (cheaper) candidate."
I Should Coco
Well-Known Member
"You're exactly who we're looking for. Unfortunately, we've been told by management that we're not filling the position."
Heard that one myself about 20, 25 years ago. Still stings.
Slacker
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I interviewed one day for a sports job, they put me up in a nice hotel across the street, and the next day they told me the job had been frozen.
Yeah, whatever. ... But I was lucky there. The paper soon downspiraled and ended up a Gatehouse hellhole.
Yeah, whatever. ... But I was lucky there. The paper soon downspiraled and ended up a Gatehouse hellhole.
No matter how green the grass is, always, ALWAYS take occasional glimpses over the fence.
In fact, talk regularly to the neighbors over the fences. Let them know you're really interested in what they're doing with their yard, how your own yardwork is aligned with their efforts and mission, and what you've done that separates you from the normal lawn superintendent - that is, how you can help them in their yard.
I've been fortunate to have had my last three stops be at what many (used to) call "destination" jobs. All three came about, in varying degrees, because of connections going to bat for me with the hiring destination or at least giving a "this person is worth a look" message to the hiring people. Making those connections at possible next stops, if they don't exist organically, before you need to find something is a huge help.
In fact, talk regularly to the neighbors over the fences. Let them know you're really interested in what they're doing with their yard, how your own yardwork is aligned with their efforts and mission, and what you've done that separates you from the normal lawn superintendent - that is, how you can help them in their yard.
I've been fortunate to have had my last three stops be at what many (used to) call "destination" jobs. All three came about, in varying degrees, because of connections going to bat for me with the hiring destination or at least giving a "this person is worth a look" message to the hiring people. Making those connections at possible next stops, if they don't exist organically, before you need to find something is a huge help.
This is probably worse. Even if no one beat you to get the job, the process was a giant waste of time.
2muchcoffeeman
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Same. Twenty-one years ago from Key West, Fla.
I once asked for $1,000 extra (it amounted to a 4 percent bump), and suddenly the job was no longer available to me, even though I had everything they supposedly wanted (InDesign experience, knew the coverage area pretty well, had interacted with the SE in the past). That's ok, life has worked out fine for me since and the gig went to a college classmate.
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