age discriminationAny males 50 and over experiencing this in this job market ? On a recent interview, I was given a really dumb "intelligence" test that is usually given to clerical-level jobs. I was very taken back by this....as I have an advanced degree. After the stupid tests, the recruiter asked if I had any questions and then I left.....very strange since I know I did well on those tests. It was almost as if I was interviewed to make a quota or something. It was almost as if I was interviewed to make a quota or something. You probably did. And this happens to females and males of all ages. What job were you applying to or was it just a general interview to get your name on a list that nobody refers to anyway? Not that I am advocating for recruitment firms of any type or nature, but there are some that specialize in specific industries. Which basically means that the "intelligence" tests they give are industry oriented. Sometimes. P.S. I don' t like recruiters and have nothing but contempt for them. They advertise that there is a job available and then when you apply, they tell you the "job was filled that morning, but we have your name in case something comes up." This was a small, high-growth company in the Philly area....not a recruiting firm. I think I pretty much have decided this job market, especially in my area of expertise (IT Consulting), has simply dried-up to such a degree that practically every HR dept and every recruiting firm is aware of it. It' s all about the effect of out-sourcing.....and the attendant reduction of available jobs in the USA. Strange that other job specialties have not been hit nearly as hard. After 250+ resume submissions over the past 3 years and 6 no-offer interviews, I would say I better take a new approach and find a new specialty. You don' t have to be 50. I' m "only" 45 , yet I' ve been facing more than my fair share of age discrimination. Heck, employers aren' t even afraid to admit age discrimination! One interview I had a few months ago (with a major international financial services firm), first HR mentioned my "age", then the hiring manager expressed surprise at my ' youth' (position required FOCUS programming experience) stating that he needs someone young enough to fit in with the department, but experienced enough to understand the importance FOCUS (read he was concerned about his own job security). Even the hiring manager' s supervisor EXPLICITLY told me that she specifically needed someone who could "fit in" with her team (average age = 25). Needless to say, I didn' t get that position. I have had other interviews which either mentioned or hinted at age being an issue, but nothing as blatantly obvious as the above mentioned position. Oh, as for IT. Unfortunately, I have some IT experience - limited to FOCUS & JCL, yet I get 5-10 emails and 2-3 phone calls per day for IT positions - CONTRACT work only, usually 3 to 6 months assignments 500+ miles from my home. IT jobs that aren' t already outsourced are being taken by foreigners on work visas. My previous employer, then entire IT department consisted of Indian nationals on work visas. A previous employer more than 85% were Russian nationals on work visas... Why? Because immigrants are more willing than Americans to live as nomads, wandering from one contract assignment to another. | |
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