It really, really was awful.

-JB

I have looked at freelance sites but, admins are usually hired through temp agencies if they aren't provided benefits by the company which is the current trend.

But, thanks for the tip.

-JB

I gave up in 2010 even after going to the expense of getting another degree to provide additional certification. The last interview I went to was horrendous. Oral exams in graduate school were preferable to it. They don't want to hire older workers and they don't want us really to collect any retirement monies we have accrued. We are being culled. I'm just really fed up.

Good luck.

One wonders what kind of "education" they're ultimately delivering, if that's typical of how disengaged they are.... (and typical of how little empathy they have...)

and, thanks.

-JB

Age-ism is illegal.
However, all they have to do is look at your CV to determine when you went to college and presto, they don't want you because they can get someone younger to do it cheaper which is the bottom line for HR. Never mind that an older worker brings a lot to the table and, in my experience, is the better employee and costs less in the long run.

Of course I don't put the years I attended college on my resume, but their application asks for dates.

-JB

Do hiring managers really figure because you are older you have to be paid more? I'm on a job hunt right now and I'd be happy to work for less to get a decent position. I somehow doubt anyone would take that into consideration though.

It is a mind set.
Younger may be cheaper in wages but it doesn't seem to be in the long run. Back when I started in corporate life when steam was king, entry level jobs were exactly that, entry level; a place to start. Now they treat every position as entry level even if it calls for ten years of increasing experience and responsibility. I understand the bottom line but I see some serious cognitive dissonance coming from HR.

No one will ever admit that they did the math on your CV or whether they looked at your older countenance but the bias is there and it is not subtle.

You know it's happening; almost every resume submission scores a phone interview, most of those result in a face to face interview., but then for whatever reason, you drop off the short list. Not a good fit, no experience with some particular piece of software or, just "sorry, no." All code for "we really need someone younger and hotter."

The whole hiring process has become a tedious mashup of endless forms, skills assessments, and background checks. It is a futile self-mass-marketing campaign. A whole bunch of jobs are simply not worth the level of work required to get hired.

My experience from both sides is that the interviewers want to be there even less than you do. But they could chug a can of Red Bull and at least pretend to give a shit.

You know, you always see these articles like "12 Stupid Things Job Applicants Say During Interviews.". I haven't seen one from the other side. (Yeah, I know Google is my friend, I just don't feel like looking right now)

If they treat the applicants that badly, it's a sure bet the employees have it worse.

The fact that I did well on the first test which was 'blind', really makes me think I should hire a stunt applicant to go in my place next time.

Heh, heh.

-JB

full time position when I'd reached an age that I figure I'd never get one.

Also, I'm about to hire a 60-something for a part-time job.

I know how hard it is. I'm 67 and was hired where I work now in 2009 when I was 60 or 61. Some places like the experience.

By the way, if they're asking you your age that's illegal. And maybe you should pursue this issue with the company. What can you lose since they've already turned you down. It's not like you'll have to use them as a reference.

They can tell from my years of experience, the year I graduated and then when they finally meet me.

What I have to lose is my sanity. The bastards have won.

-JB

They probably already knew who the they were hiring, but had to meet certain rules. I've had my time wasted like that before too. It's very irritating - especially when the interviewers are jerks who didn't even read your resume and/or show no interest in you from the start.

The panel informed me when I sat down that they have not seen any information on me or my experience (nor my resume). This is by design, they told me, and it's up to me to "paint a picture" of my experience and skills.

Never been through anything like that before. Never want to do it again.

-JB

I had a great job lined up, something I wanted to do for a while now - yet I had to quit my old job first! JUST for a CHANCE to get the news job! Um...NO...not happening, you offer me the job THEN we talk.

So it is BAD out there right now and automation just makes it worse in some ways imo. I've been very disappointed too with interviewers...they don't make them like they use to.

I am 40ish, looking for work in my degree field, and I already feel too old! That's the tech sector for you.

I'm not saying this is what's going on with yourself, but here is something I saw the other day...
I was in a group interview (informational) and an older lady was sitting across from me. She had her pen and appointment book out on the table, ready to go. Everyone else had either just a pen and paper or a smartphone. Needless to say, she stuck out like a sore thumb for this. Also, at the end of the presentation she mentioned with some incredulity all the reminder emails the interviewer's office had sent out to her, as if it was some sort of amazing thing. ...Really these were just automatic email reminders. I felt bad for her, since she came off as technologically challenged or at the least a little naive.

Again, I don't think this instance is the same for you, but I would keep in mind that the interview process is all about first impressions. Sometimes subtle things. And yes, no doubt at all about the ageism. It is real.

While age discrimination is a real thing, it's still very possible to get hired over the age of 60. I got at least four different jobs at such an advanced age, and recently turned down a part time job because it wasn't sufficiently part time, but closer to full time, and I've just turned 67.

I haven't put dates on a resume in years, just the relevant experience, including how long at a particular job.

It was beyond rude that the one employee kept on dozing off like that.