Ageism
#1
Ageism
Seems ageism is alive and kicking in Ontario.
Hubby has had several interviews recently and not been offered a single job.
He kind of looks older than his age (53) and just keeps getting knocked back.
He's getting very depressed and I don't what to say to him.
Anybody else having this issue?
I on the other hand seem to get a lot of interest in my resume and get offered jobs. People tell me I look about 5 years younger than I am (50)... coincidence maybe?
Hubby has had several interviews recently and not been offered a single job.
He kind of looks older than his age (53) and just keeps getting knocked back.
He's getting very depressed and I don't what to say to him.
Anybody else having this issue?
I on the other hand seem to get a lot of interest in my resume and get offered jobs. People tell me I look about 5 years younger than I am (50)... coincidence maybe?
#2
Re: Ageism
I read this so much - in Canada, not just Ontario - that there must be something in it (UK too). At the same time you always read of an acceptance that older folk have things to offer that younger ones don't. So where are these employers who think that way?
Weirdly there appear to be far more older people in Canada who carry on working.
Weirdly there appear to be far more older people in Canada who carry on working.
#3
Re: Ageism
What kinds of things? I would think they're prone to being sick, unmotivated, out of touch with technology and to having unrealistic financial expectations.
(I don't say this is true of anyone in particular but, as a class of potential employee or as a service provider such as a lawyer or accountant, I'd avoid the aged).
(I don't say this is true of anyone in particular but, as a class of potential employee or as a service provider such as a lawyer or accountant, I'd avoid the aged).
#4
Re: Ageism
What kinds of things? I would think they're prone to being sick, unmotivated, out of touch with technology and to having unrealistic financial expectations.
(I don't say this is true of anyone in particular but, as a class of potential employee or as a service provider such as a lawyer or accountant, I'd avoid the aged).
(I don't say this is true of anyone in particular but, as a class of potential employee or as a service provider such as a lawyer or accountant, I'd avoid the aged).
You're about his age. Is that what you'd expect of an employer?
#5
Re: Ageism
Sorry to hear those troubles. Ageism exists everywhere, despite official efforts to reduce it. If hubby is getting interviews that's a good sign, many older job seekers won't even get interviews. Having said that, the success rate of those interviews are unlikely to be the same as someone ten or twenty years younger. So the expectation has to be to go to far more interviews than in earlier decades. I think for women there is an established pattern for re-entering the workforce in middle age, as family responsibilities reduce, and often women are seen as non-primary earners, and so assumed willing to put up with lowered career paths or reduced earnings. So you can add sexism to the reality check too. What type of work is hubby looking for? Is re-training an option?
#6
Re: Ageism
Seems ageism is alive and kicking in Ontario.
Hubby has had several interviews recently and not been offered a single job.
He kind of looks older than his age (53) and just keeps getting knocked back.
He's getting very depressed and I don't what to say to him.
Anybody else having this issue?
I on the other hand seem to get a lot of interest in my resume and get offered jobs. People tell me I look about 5 years younger than I am (50)... coincidence maybe?
Hubby has had several interviews recently and not been offered a single job.
He kind of looks older than his age (53) and just keeps getting knocked back.
He's getting very depressed and I don't what to say to him.
Anybody else having this issue?
I on the other hand seem to get a lot of interest in my resume and get offered jobs. People tell me I look about 5 years younger than I am (50)... coincidence maybe?
I worked in the recruitment industry and ageism and racism are rampant in Ontario. Imagine if you were over 50 and of an ethnicity and the problem would be compounded.
I don't really have advise. In my profession I'm feeling over the hill and I'm 38.
Times are changing and the problem is getting worse.
#8
Re: Ageism
I think the way for older people to find new work is to go for jobs that can be done remotely and to take 100% commission or paid-by-hour positions.
#10
Re: Ageism
Sorry to hear those troubles. Ageism exists everywhere, despite official efforts to reduce it. If hubby is getting interviews that's a good sign, many older job seekers won't even get interviews. Having said that, the success rate of those interviews are unlikely to be the same as someone ten or twenty years younger. So the expectation has to be to go to far more interviews than in earlier decades. I think for women there is an established pattern for re-entering the workforce in middle age, as family responsibilities reduce, and often women are seen as non-primary earners, and so assumed willing to put up with lowered career paths or reduced earnings. So you can add sexism to the reality check too. What type of work is hubby looking for? Is re-training an option?
I hate to see him like this. I feel there's nothing I can do to boost his moral. I just have to pick him up every so often...almost literally!
#11
Re: Ageism
Yes. Employers are capricious, they pay more for men than for women, they prefer the young to the old, they do not want anyone who is likely to make use of "their" benefits. I work now without someone of a similar age who was a long term employee of a large Canadian firm who was dumped for having a heart attack. I can see both sides of that, he had been loyal to the firm so one might say that they had a moral obligation to take him back when he had recuperated, but he'd taken weeks off over it, the employer wouldn't want to pay someone to not work and to pay someone else to actually do the work.
I think the way for older people to find new work is to go for jobs that can be done remotely and to take 100% commission or paid-by-hour positions.
I think the way for older people to find new work is to go for jobs that can be done remotely and to take 100% commission or paid-by-hour positions.
I feel guilty as if anything my work life if probably better than it ever has been.
He's got to get beyond this stupid male pride. Then I think he'll see clearer!
#12
Re: Ageism
Older people are, I submit, less reliable due to being more established. People who can make the rent without working the statutory holidays tend to decline the opportunity to work Christmas. Of course, one can point to the youth of today as being feckless and hung over at work, which is why I think employers want people who are aged approximately 35-45 and who don't have children.
#14
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 2,900
Re: Ageism
Ageism is alive and well.
I worked in the recruitment industry and ageism and racism are rampant in Ontario. Imagine if you were over 50 and of an ethnicity and the problem would be compounded.
I don't really have advise. In my profession I'm feeling over the hill and I'm 38.
Times are changing and the problem is getting worse.
I worked in the recruitment industry and ageism and racism are rampant in Ontario. Imagine if you were over 50 and of an ethnicity and the problem would be compounded.
I don't really have advise. In my profession I'm feeling over the hill and I'm 38.
Times are changing and the problem is getting worse.