Ageism is a strange thing. I’m 51 and still looking for a job. Companies ask for experience, leadership, and professionalism until an experienced person walks into the interview. Suddenly they're "overqualified," "too expensive," or perceived as a threat by a young hiring manager.

Confidence hires talent. Insecurity hires compliance. Experience isn't intimidating; it's an asset. An experienced professional already knows how to solve the problem. The right company knows the difference.

Let me start by saying I’m very sorry to read this. I’m a 50 year old female. But my resume makes it seem like I’m 42. Dropped early career stuff no one cares about.

I workout hard 5x a week. I’m a size 6 even after having 2 kids. I dye my hair light brown. I spend about $1k at the dermatologist every year. I wear makeup and modern business clothes every day even though I work remotely.

Do I want to do all of this? No. But that’s the game. People think I’m early 40s and I basically have to keep this going as long as possible because ageism is real. And it’s brutal for women.

I play the game to stay in the game. I have a job but have been looking for about a year. I’ve had 3 offers that I turned down. Appearance, skills, experience, demand for your skills, and perceived energy levels all play into the hiring decision.

Nothing changes if you change nothing. Can you do anything new to fight the ageism? Maintain a healthy weight? Tone down some of the gray? Upgrade your wardrobe to include a few modern business wear pieces. Again I’m not saying any of this is right but if you need a job and you think the root of the problem is ageism then anything you do to appear more youthful in the 1st 30 seconds they meet you will help with the first impressions.

I hate to say this, but you have to appear as young as possible. Age-proof your resumé by going back no more than 15 years, preferably no more than 10 with your work experience. Eliminate graduation dates on your resumé, unless they are fairly recent. If you haven't been to college or received certifications in the past 10 years, go back to school part-time or get certified in something related to your field. This shows you are committed to improving yourself and you're capable of learning new skills.

Make sure your business attire and hairstyle are up-to-date. Dye your hair, if necessary. If you are a man with facial hair, consider going clean shaven, if you have gray in your beard. Use anti-aging products. I've been using Principal Secret products for years and they make a difference. For the record, I got an entry-level job in HR when I was 52 and a super good job with a great company at 54. When I was 62, the company right-sized laying off 492 employees, including me. I went back to school for an MBA at 63. I started a new job as an admin assistant in oil and gas at 64. COVID took that job nine months later. The company closed my site and never reopened. I started a new job in the aviation industry at 65, and started my current role in a radiopharmacy at 66. I'll be 70 this summer and am looking for my next opportunity. I must be doing something right. Btw, I live in a state that is economically disadvantaged, so jobs are not all that abundant.

Kee your head up. Keep pushing. The right career/job will come. They missed out, but you were protected.

I’m 58, fresh bachelors in hand and keep hitting the wall. It’ll happen, someone will see just what I’ve become and what i will be. Chin up OG, you got this

I’m 56; just got a great job in NY. I invested in my appearance and removed dates from my graduation/post grad, and enhanced my achievements and how updated I am.
Nobody moves from Florida to NY, I did and am enjoying a lot the experience.
Just for moving, I’ve been approached by headhunters in this area every month.
Good luck to you.
You can’t erase ageism, but can play with experience and a positive attitude.

I am 70 and recently decided I needed to go back to work. Ageism had me dreading it. I am fortunate in that my experience covers quite a few industries. I needed remote work so my hopes were not high. I did get a few critiques on my resume before applying, especially since A! now has first crack at it.

Much to my amazement I not only was contacted by several companies, I also was offered four jobs. Before the offer, I had to do the Zoom interview part and thought my grey hair would be the kiss of death but it wasn't. I was just my confident self and it worked.

Of course, I was not looking for a high-powered position, but the job I eventually decided on has those opportunities.

Let me tell you this to whoever you are, do you know that it's against labor standards and labor law for any employee to discriminate against anyone on the basis of their age, that's called age discrimination, and by law no employer whether it's a low level employer a mid-level employer or a high level employer whether city state federal or government, no employer should ever discriminate against the person on the basis of their age. They can be taken to a labor review board or they can be take him to the Department of Labor and they can be hit with fines and levies and they would have to be put out a business by having their business license taken away from them due to them having a history of discriminating against employees or potential employees on the basis of their age, their disability, by their race or by their sexual orientation or sexual preference. No employer has any right to discriminate against anyone on a basis of those that I have just mentioned, and if they do continue to discriminate against you on the basis of your age, than my advice to you is I will call your state's Department of Labor or your state's division of human Rights or contact your local politician and explain your situation to them, because by law no employer has any right of whatsoever to discriminate against anyone on the basis of their age, their gender, their sexual preference or sexual orientation, their disability status, their education status, their housing status or their financial status or whatever. And any company found to discriminate against anyone on those bases will be fined, levied have subsequently have their business license taken away from them. 💯💯💯💯

I am currently experiencing this. I am 61.

And unfortunately a company will pass on someone that’s qualified in lieu of a friend or friend of a friend. Someone who will skate by and do the bear minimum while making more than their knowledge.

I feel this so much !!

Let me say this; when I was in my last job (which was my first job — I’m 18) the employer dropped my hourly wage. (I’ll give you one guess on what they said they were going to for…) Yes, that’s right, MY AGE! Here in the UK the council/government give care homes extra money to pay their care staff whom are delivering direct care to people — and that was what I was doing, delivering direct care to people who can’t do it themselves. And, they never dropped anyone else’s wages and there was others in the age range of 18–20 which should all have the same salary. They then paid me the new wage without myself signing the new contract that they said they wanted me to sign. They also dropped my weekly hours without telling me so it went from 24hrs to 16hrs. I was working under my contracted hours — they were meant to give me more work to meet it to the 24hrs contracted, but they didn’t. So I was working less a week for what I agreed on my contract. And I think they were doing that yet again because of my age. But, here in the UK, 18-years-olds can work 12hrs and even night shifts. My colleagues that I become really friendly with (as I was on training with them) said they were really exited to have me on 12hr shifts and nights also. They noticed I was added to the night shift group on the app we use to clock in and out — I thought that was going to be something to look forward too. But no. It never happened. And due to other factors I handed in my notice after working there for only 2 months. It was THAT bad. Wouldn’t recommend the place to anyone.

After 20 years with the same company - let go because of downsizing. Before that I was with a company for almost 10 years. So I'm being looked at as an older person. Having trouble finding anything. Instead of saying we'll call you next week, or so and so will call you. Then hearing nothing how about trying honesty. It would go a long way. I think it's the ups and downs of being hopeful and actually excited to the lows of never hearing another word.

I know of a good company who’s hiring experienced excavators but I just found a job myself after looking for three months and my issue is being female. I was running into the problem of not knowing anybody that worked at the companies and I found that nobody would even talk to me or even look at my résumé unless I had somebody inside the company working there so I started looking for foreman‘s trucks went up to them all and started talking to him until I got my first break, which was last Friday and then now they’re asking me if I know anybody who’s experienced operators so I feel you guys at least you’re men and not women as women sure do have a lot harder trying to find a job in this industry

Sweetie, I don’t do any of that and that wasn’t the issue. The issue for me was getting a foreman to actually take me serious and give me a chance I don’t dress up and I don’t do any of that. I mean I’ve never looked at my age, but I don’t wear outfits like that and I don’t wear makeup.

Ageism is too real.

I'm 56 and trying to find a second career to work for 10-15 more years.

2 of us start on the same day. I am expected to be confident to complete all tasks and help customers in new systems on day 4. The person training clearly respects the 34 year old new hire because she's being acknowledged and spoken to much differently than me. I'm rarely acknowledged even walking in the door each day.

I applied for another job at the same time as this one. I'm declined after 2 interviews and all of my references are contacted. I was told I didn't explain my usage of excel and pivot tables well enough. I guess my stating I've been able to find the missing penny isn't enough either. Amongst other comments on my knowledge.

I'm ready to go work as a cashier so I can maybe find a small bit of joy it giving a simple smile. I'm done feeling stupid after working my way up and proving myself for years. I've started all over once and should probably do it again since after 1 1/2 weeks in feeling defeated.

This is not how I am. I don't quit. I push through and survive to show my value. But am trying to find the positive right now.

Ageism is definitely an issue. At 62 I have tons of experience in the positions I have applied for. I go through the interview process and get the standard thank you applying, but we are going with someone else response. My job skills are all real world hands on learning, no fancy degrees. This has been going on for 6 months. I guarantee that my age is figuring in their decisions.

I'm 56 and am told i look 40ish with significant excel experience. I made it clear during my interview in more than one way. HR said right away. I can see you moving up right away.

My resume shows my accomplishments at my prior job of 35 years. I was asked for references right away and they were contacted. 3 reached out right away saying there's no way I wouldn't get the job while 1 said I can tell based on comments they want a specific person but no reason I wouldn't get it.

I was declined 2 weeks later stating I didn't explain my excel knowledge well enough.

I said really. Have a nice day.

I felt awful and defeated knowing i was more than qualified but also believed the hiring managers didn't like my years of experience on my resume or knowing my accomplishments. I saw the looks on their faces. They need to learn the poker face.

Your loss. My gain i guess.