Comments on: Age Discrimination is the New Reality in Job Market Says Guest Expert Dave Opton http://whatwoulddadsay.com/2009/03/age-discrimination-is-the-new-reality-in-job-market-says-guest-expert-dave-opton/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=age-discrimination-is-the-new-reality-in-job-market-says-guest-expert-dave-opton Just another Diggings site Fri, 15 Jul 2011 13:42:41 +0000 hourly 1 By: Susan http://whatwoulddadsay.com/2009/03/age-discrimination-is-the-new-reality-in-job-market-says-guest-expert-dave-opton/#comment-120887 Susan Sat, 16 Oct 2010 16:12:16 +0000 http://blogs.jobdig.com/wwds/?p=2851#comment-120887 Regarding the y-gen: While compulsively-obssessed and preoccupied with their own vanity, youth, sexuality, perpetual texting and blogging; it will be intetesting to see how they cope with the folly of their own making some day. Texting and blogging is not real communication. It is merely a distraction from reality and from dealing with real people in front of you, in a word, fruitless psychobabble. And why are the y-gens popping out babies like there's no tomorrow?! Just because Angelina and Brad have an endless stream houseful of kids of many colors does not mean the entire y-gen has to. And tax $ pays supports all the families of those who indiscriminately keep giving birth to children that parents can't afford. The y-gen copycats tv, Hollywood, movie stars, and are wannabe's from OUR 70's gen! They're trying to recapture what we created: and yet they have thrown us "older people" away. Regarding the y-gen: While compulsively-obssessed and preoccupied with their own vanity, youth, sexuality, perpetual texting and blogging; it will be intetesting to see how they cope with the folly of their own making some day. Texting and blogging is not real communication. It is merely a distraction from reality and from dealing with real people in front of you, in a word, fruitless psychobabble. And why are the y-gens popping out babies like there’s no tomorrow?! Just because Angelina and Brad have an endless stream houseful of kids of many colors does not mean the entire y-gen has to. And tax $ pays supports all the families of those who indiscriminately keep giving birth to children that parents can’t afford. The y-gen copycats tv, Hollywood, movie stars, and are wannabe’s from OUR 70′s gen! They’re trying to recapture what we created: and yet they have thrown us “older people” away.

]]> By: Susan http://whatwoulddadsay.com/2009/03/age-discrimination-is-the-new-reality-in-job-market-says-guest-expert-dave-opton/#comment-120886 Susan Sat, 16 Oct 2010 15:20:59 +0000 http://blogs.jobdig.com/wwds/?p=2851#comment-120886 In the city.of Philadelphia, not only did I experience age discrimination, but also racism. I am a white professional in my fifties, but I look 20 years younger. Interviewers uses devious, unethical and illegal, intrusive means to procure you age. There may be set anti-discrination laws, but NO ONE abides by them any more! Thusly the wave of lawsuits today. Companies are taking advantage of the recession to ''clean house'', and they are getting away with it AND HOW! I was laid off 2.5 years ago, and have only been able to find low-paying retail part-time jobs. Philadelphia is largely black population, and the NAACP has a strong foothold there. Companies shutter at the abbreviation, and cowtow to the black employees. There are two sets of standards everywhere in Philadelphia: one very high set for whites, and low or none for blacks. At a prominent hospital where I worked I was fired because I refused to,partake in the daily ritual of coffee catty gossip and contributing to the grapevine bs. The same month, a group of black employees who were caught stealing drugs from the hospital closets and selling them on the streets, merely got their hands slapped, and were only suspended for a week. Need I say more? At my recent job, I was passed over in favor of a black for a fulltime job in my dept, because they needed to fill their status quo of blacks in each dept throughout the store. I was evicted and have relocated due to age and racial discrimination. Perhaps it was a blessing in disguise. I dispise Philadelphia and all it represents! In the city.of Philadelphia, not only did I experience age discrimination, but also racism. I am a white professional in my fifties, but I look 20 years younger. Interviewers uses devious, unethical and illegal, intrusive means to procure you age. There may be set anti-discrination laws, but NO ONE abides by them any more! Thusly the wave of lawsuits today. Companies are taking advantage of the recession to ”clean house”, and they are getting away with it AND HOW! I was laid off 2.5 years ago, and have only been able to find low-paying retail part-time jobs. Philadelphia is largely black population, and the NAACP has a strong foothold there. Companies shutter at the abbreviation, and cowtow to the black employees. There are two sets of standards everywhere in Philadelphia: one very high set for whites, and low or none for blacks. At a prominent hospital where I worked I was fired because I refused to,partake in the daily ritual of coffee catty gossip and contributing to the grapevine bs. The same month, a group of black employees who were caught stealing drugs from the hospital closets and selling them on the streets, merely got their hands slapped, and were only suspended for a week. Need I say more? At my recent job, I was passed over in favor of a black for a fulltime job in my dept, because they needed to fill their status quo of blacks in each dept throughout the store. I was evicted and have relocated due to age and racial discrimination. Perhaps it was a blessing in disguise. I dispise Philadelphia and all it represents!

]]> By: Karen Hunter http://whatwoulddadsay.com/2009/03/age-discrimination-is-the-new-reality-in-job-market-says-guest-expert-dave-opton/#comment-119876 Karen Hunter Sat, 03 Apr 2010 18:50:51 +0000 http://blogs.jobdig.com/wwds/?p=2851#comment-119876 Yes, I've been running into age discrimination for the last 7 or 8 years. I was astounded at first, as I look 10 years younger that I actually am, and I was naive in thinking that people would see all my great experience and hire me right away. I've been told so many times "you're over qualified" which is code for "your too old", that I think my head will explode. I've worked temp assignments, but only those where the hiring manager has more experience and more degrees than me and is not threatened by me ... younger hiring managers take a pass every time. My personal thoughts are that they are intimidated and think experienced older workers might take their job some day. I've also been told that hiring older workers will cost the company more money in healthcare, 'cause older workers will eventually start having health problems. Another perception is that older workers are "set in their ways" and less trainable. Very good people are being forced into early retirement at what I consider extremely young ages. 45 to 50 is NOT old! Yes, I’ve been running into age discrimination for the last 7 or 8 years. I was astounded at first, as I look 10 years younger that I actually am, and I was naive in thinking that people would see all my great experience and hire me right away. I’ve been told so many times “you’re over qualified” which is code for “your too old”, that I think my head will explode. I’ve worked temp assignments, but only those where the hiring manager has more experience and more degrees than me and is not threatened by me … younger hiring managers take a pass every time. My personal thoughts are that they are intimidated and think experienced older workers might take their job some day. I’ve also been told that hiring older workers will cost the company more money in healthcare, ’cause older workers will eventually start having health problems. Another perception is that older workers are “set in their ways” and less trainable. Very good people are being forced into early retirement at what I consider extremely young ages. 45 to 50 is NOT old!

]]> By: What Would Dad Say » Chronic Illness Job Discrimination Pains Me http://whatwoulddadsay.com/2009/03/age-discrimination-is-the-new-reality-in-job-market-says-guest-expert-dave-opton/#comment-117169 What Would Dad Say » Chronic Illness Job Discrimination Pains Me Mon, 23 Mar 2009 16:49:47 +0000 http://blogs.jobdig.com/wwds/?p=2851#comment-117169 [...] the article on this blog, Age Discrimination is the New Reality in Job Market, I couldn’t help but smile. Actually, it was more like a grimace. Living with chronic illness [...] [...] the article on this blog, Age Discrimination is the New Reality in Job Market, I couldn’t help but smile. Actually, it was more like a grimace. Living with chronic illness [...]

]]> By: JOBSEARCH: Age Discrimination? No, really! « Reinke Faces Life http://whatwoulddadsay.com/2009/03/age-discrimination-is-the-new-reality-in-job-market-says-guest-expert-dave-opton/#comment-117034 JOBSEARCH: Age Discrimination? No, really! « Reinke Faces Life Fri, 13 Mar 2009 10:40:11 +0000 http://blogs.jobdig.com/wwds/?p=2851#comment-117034 [...] JOBSEARCH: Age Discrimination? No, really! http://blogs.jobdig.com/wwds/2009/03/11/age-discrimination-is-the-new-reality-in-job-market-says-gue...   [...] [...] JOBSEARCH: Age Discrimination? No, really! http://blogs.jobdig.com/wwds/2009/03/11/age-discrimination-is-the-new-reality-in-job-market-says-gue…   [...]

]]> By: Bill Vick http://whatwoulddadsay.com/2009/03/age-discrimination-is-the-new-reality-in-job-market-says-guest-expert-dave-opton/#comment-117026 Bill Vick Thu, 12 Mar 2009 19:42:16 +0000 http://blogs.jobdig.com/wwds/?p=2851#comment-117026 As always Dave hits the nail on the head in a way few could achieve. Age bias is a fact of life and many times it’s the elephant in the room. A young manager often feels intimidated when interviewing somebody she perceives as a Father figureand far too often many older job seekers do not capitalize on their experience as well as the wisdom and skills times bring. Its almost like PC censorship where they do not want to rock the boat or ruffle feathers. Sometimes that is just what is needed. In the changing economy the experienced and proven worker can have a leg up in the hiring process if they would only take it. Like many things you have to believe in yourself before somebody else will. Attaboy Dave! :) As always Dave hits the nail on the head in a way few could achieve. Age bias is a fact of life and many times it’s the elephant in the room. A young manager often feels intimidated when interviewing somebody she perceives as a Father figureand far too often many older job seekers do not capitalize on their experience as well as the wisdom and skills times bring. Its almost like PC censorship where they do not want to rock the boat or ruffle feathers. Sometimes that is just what is needed.

In the changing economy the experienced and proven worker can have a leg up in the hiring process if they would only take it. Like many things you have to believe in yourself before somebody else will.

Attaboy Dave! :)

]]> By: Conrad http://whatwoulddadsay.com/2009/03/age-discrimination-is-the-new-reality-in-job-market-says-guest-expert-dave-opton/#comment-117025 Conrad Thu, 12 Mar 2009 18:23:14 +0000 http://blogs.jobdig.com/wwds/?p=2851#comment-117025 GL, good extension of my idea. I agree with you that experience is often valued, but must become more of a priority in troubled times. It's a hard decision for companies to make, kind of a leap of faith in creating the future by taking advantage of experience with the past. GL, good extension of my idea. I agree with you that experience is often valued, but must become more of a priority in troubled times. It’s a hard decision for companies to make, kind of a leap of faith in creating the future by taking advantage of experience with the past.

]]> By: wwds http://whatwoulddadsay.com/2009/03/age-discrimination-is-the-new-reality-in-job-market-says-guest-expert-dave-opton/#comment-117024 wwds Thu, 12 Mar 2009 18:13:42 +0000 http://blogs.jobdig.com/wwds/?p=2851#comment-117024 Conrad, lastly, but I wanted to jump and add to Dave's comment. I think our society DOES value experience, generally, except in politics perhaps. The military, as much as I hated my own experience there mostly due to the seniority rules concept, does a great job of rewarding and sharing leadership experiences based on real world and practical results. When i was younger, and a bit more full of myself, I thought I could do as well in my Colonel's job as he could. I probably could, with the day to day stuff. But you also must pay up for leadership and experience when troubled times hit, or stress, or a bad economy. Conrad, lastly, but I wanted to jump and add to Dave’s comment.
I think our society DOES value experience, generally, except in politics perhaps. The military, as much as I hated my own experience there mostly due to the seniority rules concept, does a great job of rewarding and sharing leadership experiences based on real world and practical results. When i was younger, and a bit more full of myself, I thought I could do as well in my Colonel’s job as he could. I probably could, with the day to day stuff. But you also must pay up for leadership and experience when troubled times hit, or stress, or a bad economy.

]]> By: wwds http://whatwoulddadsay.com/2009/03/age-discrimination-is-the-new-reality-in-job-market-says-guest-expert-dave-opton/#comment-117023 wwds Thu, 12 Mar 2009 18:09:07 +0000 http://blogs.jobdig.com/wwds/?p=2851#comment-117023 Gary-- This was good, clear practical advice for the older job seeker. I am curious, have you found the older job seeker is better at job searching? About at proving his value to the hiring manager? Are there some positive things you have seen from the older job seeker that may help everyone? My bias is that they do a better job of networking, of selling themselves, of demonstrating how they can help RIGHT AWAY, and of even being more likeable. Is that true or am I smoking something I shouldn't? Gary–
This was good, clear practical advice for the older job seeker. I am curious, have you found the older job seeker is better at job searching? About at proving his value to the hiring manager? Are there some positive things you have seen from the older job seeker that may help everyone?
My bias is that they do a better job of networking, of selling themselves, of demonstrating how they can help RIGHT AWAY, and of even being more likeable.
Is that true or am I smoking something I shouldn’t?

]]> By: wwds http://whatwoulddadsay.com/2009/03/age-discrimination-is-the-new-reality-in-job-market-says-guest-expert-dave-opton/#comment-117022 wwds Thu, 12 Mar 2009 18:06:17 +0000 http://blogs.jobdig.com/wwds/?p=2851#comment-117022 Mr Rummuser----yes, you are exactly right. There needs to be a re-benchmarking of expectations on everyone's part. I know a very successful retired man who is now a check out guy at Home Depot, a big hardware-type store here in USA. He loves that sort of stuff. His biggest issue has been learning how to keep a bit quiet; he has run operations much bigger than a single store, but has found that he has to temper his own desire to share information and ideas. It is too bad, but with age often comes the reality that no one thinks to ask for your opinions. Maybe he should start a blog then? Good contribution here. Mr Rummuser—-yes, you are exactly right. There needs to be a re-benchmarking of expectations on everyone’s part. I know a very successful retired man who is now a check out guy at Home Depot, a big hardware-type store here in USA. He loves that sort of stuff. His biggest issue has been learning how to keep a bit quiet; he has run operations much bigger than a single store, but has found that he has to temper his own desire to share information and ideas. It is too bad, but with age often comes the reality that no one thinks to ask for your opinions. Maybe he should start a blog then?
Good contribution here.

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