Will it ever get better?
➔ Statistically you’re more likely to encounter ageism in your age-50-plus job search that not. Some of it will be subtle. Some of it will hit you like a cold slap in the face. But it’s very likely to be there.
Sometimes it will make you feel uncomfortable. Sometimes it will make you think twice about whether or not you want to work for that employer or not. Sometimes it will affect your salary offer and/or your total compensation package. Sometimes it may even outright cost you the job.
How long will this go on?
How long will ageism affect your job search? The Age Discrimination Act was enacted into law in 1967. For the mathematically challenged, that was 55 years ago – more than half a century. And yet here we are all these decades later and we’re still talking about age discrimination.
You would think that after 55 years the ADA would have worked its wonders and that age discrimination would be a thing of the past. And you’d be wrong.
As we near the fourth quarter of 2022, ageism is alive and well and living… pretty much everywhere. If you haven’t encountered it yet, you’re fortunate. But don’t give up hope. Your day is coming.
This series of articles are collectively called “Tips of the Day.” Well. here is your tip of the day. When it comes to ageism, it’s not going away any time soon. Deal with it.
Let’s face it. If some employers have a problem with hiring older candidates, you’re not going to be getting younger anytime soon. You had better face facts. Regardless of how you feel, in the eyes of employers, you’re old and you’re not getting any younger. And ageism exists and it’s not going away.
Do you really want to waste your time trying to convince a hiring manager – who is dead set against hiring you because of your age – that you can handle it? Or would you rather expend your time, trouble and effort finding those employers – and they are out there – who see the value that an older candidate can bring to the table?
You know that you can do the job. You’re convinced that you’re the best candidate for the job. Make the best use of your time finding those like-minded employers who will welcome you into their midst.
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