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One difference IMHO between many young and old people is the willingness to invest in starting something new. I don't mean money, I mean spending years learning

One difference IMHO between many young and old people is the willingness to invest in starting something new. I don't mean money, I mean spending years learning something, spinning your wheels facing an uncertain outcome, with little progress, income or status while you try to get traction, etc. Many in their early 20s are willing to work crappy jobs, live cheaply, and accept the status of having not much to show while they try for their dream. Think of actors waiting tables, as a simple example. How many 35 year olds would do that? I know it's not that simple: Older people often have obligations, such as children, which make such things more difficult. Also, many businesses are unaccustomed to and thus unwilling to hire older people to entry-level jobs. The (40-something?) intern played by Robert DeNiro was meant to be absurd, but when I saw the previews I thought: Why shouldn't 40 year olds start a new career the same way that 20 year olds do? I can't think of a good reason. And if not, how do they start a new career?

glandium 9y ago
If you're talking about the movie The Intern, the role played by DeNiro is that of a retired 70 years old. Kind of different perspectives, but I do agree that there should be no reason someone in their 40s can't start a new career.
- ataturk 9y ago
  While I agree, it is tougher than you suspect. I have every advantage but haven't been able to make a big change that might put me on a course to greater success. I think we get a lot of smoke blown up our asses about how great we all are. The truth is, most people are just average or maybe slightly above.
stinkytaco 9y ago
I think there's some trepidation in hiring someone older in an entry level job. People wonder why, and what might have made them leave what they were doing for something low status and low paying. Also, they wonder if the person will be hard to manage, because let's be frank, what some companies really want in an entry level employee is someone they can push around. I can't say is haven't wondered these things myself at times, though I have hired people in their 40s and 50s for these types of positions before. We've got several retired folks working in part time positions and they are perfect. Professional, knowledgeable, prompt, hard working, and not looking to jump to full time.
- forapurpose 9y ago
  > Professional, knowledgeable, prompt, hard working, and not looking to jump to full time. Good points. What I meant to talk about was people who are looking to jump to full time; someone that age who wants to start a new career. Isn't what you describe exactly what many people that age say is a problem: They can't get an opportunity to do anything but part-time, dead-end work.
tluyben2 9y ago
I'm not sure if it's so different where you are from, but that happens here all the time. I regurlarly meet Uber drivers in their 40s who did something completely different in their home country and are getting their real estate license (for instance) by driving Uber in the meanwhile. Many more examples like that but it seems to not be that strange. I myself am not very 'normal' but I try many different things, always. So far they make enough to allow to try out something new the next time. I don't see myself stop until I die, but who knows.
- forapurpose 9y ago
  I'm not talking about Uber-like jobs, but entry-level jobs toward new careers. For example, someone getting an entry level job as a developer or actor at age 35, with the plan to progress in those professions.
  - tluyben2 9y ago
    The real estate part is that; going from cook to real estate in another country and doing that by driving Uber in the meantime while learning and practicing how real estate works and getting licences. It is not as clear cut as programming in that way but entry level jobs are not too easy to get over here when you are older as the minimum wage goes up fast. Freelancer wise I do see it happen.
deleted 9y ago
[deleted]

glandium 9y ago

If you're talking about the movie The Intern, the role played by DeNiro is that of a retired 70 years old. Kind of different perspectives, but I do agree that there should be no reason someone in their 40s can't start a new career.

ataturk 9y ago
While I agree, it is tougher than you suspect. I have every advantage but haven't been able to make a big change that might put me on a course to greater success. I think we get a lot of smoke blown up our asses about how great we all are. The truth is, most people are just average or maybe slightly above.

stinkytaco 9y ago

I think there's some trepidation in hiring someone older in an entry level job. People wonder why, and what might have made them leave what they were doing for something low status and low paying. Also, they wonder if the person will be hard to manage, because let's be frank, what some companies really want in an entry level employee is someone they can push around. I can't say is haven't wondered these things myself at times, though I have hired people in their 40s and 50s for these types of positions before. We've got several retired folks working in part time positions and they are perfect. Professional, knowledgeable, prompt, hard working, and not looking to jump to full time.

forapurpose 9y ago
> Professional, knowledgeable, prompt, hard working, and not looking to jump to full time. Good points. What I meant to talk about was people who are looking to jump to full time; someone that age who wants to start a new career. Isn't what you describe exactly what many people that age say is a problem: They can't get an opportunity to do anything but part-time, dead-end work.

tluyben2 9y ago

I'm not sure if it's so different where you are from, but that happens here all the time. I regurlarly meet Uber drivers in their 40s who did something completely different in their home country and are getting their real estate license (for instance) by driving Uber in the meanwhile. Many more examples like that but it seems to not be that strange. I myself am not very 'normal' but I try many different things, always. So far they make enough to allow to try out something new the next time. I don't see myself stop until I die, but who knows.

forapurpose 9y ago
I'm not talking about Uber-like jobs, but entry-level jobs toward new careers. For example, someone getting an entry level job as a developer or actor at age 35, with the plan to progress in those professions.
- tluyben2 9y ago
  The real estate part is that; going from cook to real estate in another country and doing that by driving Uber in the meantime while learning and practicing how real estate works and getting licences. It is not as clear cut as programming in that way but entry level jobs are not too easy to get over here when you are older as the minimum wage goes up fast. Freelancer wise I do see it happen.

deleted 9y ago

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