4 ms·

I didn't have too much trouble last year at 41. Took a couple months to get any traction at all, but then suddenly got a few interviews and eventually some off

I didn't have too much trouble last year at 41. Took a couple months to get any traction at all, but then suddenly got a few interviews and eventually some offers all in quick succession. Maybe I was lucky though. After reading this story I'm definitely more inclined to stick with the position I have rather than to try to go out on my own again. Another talking point: the trend of waiting until late 30's to have kids greatly compounds this problem.

tootie 9y ago
I've been actively searching the last few months and my resume is getting rejected on sight despite many years of experience doing exactly what the requirement states. I honestly don't know if it's agism, their expectation that I'll demand more salary or It's just written poorly.
- justrudd 9y ago
  If you don't mind me, a 40 something taking a couple of months off from work, asking what area of the world you're doing your search?
  - tootie 9y ago
    New York.
- ams6110 9y ago
  When you're past entry level, you need to be getting jobs through your network not by cold-calling or submitting resumes in response to ads. I've changed jobs three times since I was 40, but in all cases I knew people at my new employer who could sell me internally. I don't think it's so much age as it is that employers don't want to take as much risk on an unknown person for more senior level positions.
  - tootie 9y ago
    It's how I got my last job. I haven't actually been hired off my resume in 10 years. Almost all of my network today do the crap I'm trying to get away from.
    - daxfohl 9y ago
      OP here. FWIW I got my leads entirely off of spamming my resume around. For the prior 15 years I'd done freelancing for local companies and had a few-year stint in a small company, so didn't have a network. I was in small-town Michigan so once freelancing dried up I knew moving was going to be a requirement. Thus I was able to spam the whole country. That probably helped my cause a bit. I noticed you mentioned LinkedIn in another thread. FWIW I don't have an account and it didn't appear to hurt me.
branchless 9y ago
I know you just phrased this loosely, but to be clear, the "trend" is due to exorbitant land prices in urban centers.

tootie 9y ago

I've been actively searching the last few months and my resume is getting rejected on sight despite many years of experience doing exactly what the requirement states. I honestly don't know if it's agism, their expectation that I'll demand more salary or It's just written poorly.

justrudd 9y ago
If you don't mind me, a 40 something taking a couple of months off from work, asking what area of the world you're doing your search?
- tootie 9y ago
  New York.
ams6110 9y ago
When you're past entry level, you need to be getting jobs through your network not by cold-calling or submitting resumes in response to ads. I've changed jobs three times since I was 40, but in all cases I knew people at my new employer who could sell me internally. I don't think it's so much age as it is that employers don't want to take as much risk on an unknown person for more senior level positions.
- tootie 9y ago
  It's how I got my last job. I haven't actually been hired off my resume in 10 years. Almost all of my network today do the crap I'm trying to get away from.
  - daxfohl 9y ago
    OP here. FWIW I got my leads entirely off of spamming my resume around. For the prior 15 years I'd done freelancing for local companies and had a few-year stint in a small company, so didn't have a network. I was in small-town Michigan so once freelancing dried up I knew moving was going to be a requirement. Thus I was able to spam the whole country. That probably helped my cause a bit. I noticed you mentioned LinkedIn in another thread. FWIW I don't have an account and it didn't appear to hurt me.

branchless 9y ago

I know you just phrased this loosely, but to be clear, the "trend" is due to exorbitant land prices in urban centers.