Over 50 and jobless?

That's gotta suck, cuz it's tough to get serious consideration if your over fifty.

I am 54, and if I had to go look for employment right now, I'm afraid I would slip into depression quickly. When I was hiring workers for a blue chip company, I actually preferred workers over fifty because they were more reliable when it came to showing up for work. They took fewer days off, were more productive, and needed less supervision. I'm sure a lot of companies experienced the same problem we had with hiring younger workers.... we were nothing more than a training program, and when they learned the trade, they were off for greener pastures and higher wages.

This was my experience twenty years ago. In today's world, healthcare costs are so expensive, I'm sure that weighs heavily on anyone doing hiring. Why hire a person that is likely to cost you more in healthcare? I suggest you look no farther than attendance and production records. If they look anything like mine did 20 yrs ago, there is no excuse not to hire someone over fifty. The benefits far outweigh the extra healthcare costs.

Most companies shop insurance rates annually these days. Plans change quicker than Dick Cheney can tell a lie! I left the world of the employed 10 yrs ago and I still have four or five old insurance cards from where my employer changed plans. It got to where I couldn't even remember who we had coverage with!

Any tips for getting those over fifty hired? I don't plan to rejoin the workforce, but I know there are a helluva lot of folks here in that boat.

I have 3 over-50 inlaws who are unemployed.

My dear s-i-l is 54, single, homeowner, needs prescriptions, has been unemployed since November.

I honestly don't know what will happen to her or her home.

It's not just individuals, but where they live and how many other people are looking for work in a market where there's nothing happening. :(

October 1st. Her employer let her know that he was not at all interested in training inexperienced new hires and only granted interviews to those with more than 10 years in the industry.

Where my lady works, they've got about three women who are pregnant, and the amount of disabilty leave they will take could really add up.

An employer is not permitted to ask you questions about marital or family status, but if you have an advantage in those areas, you may as well use them in an interview. During my last interview, I mentioned my vacation out to the Northwest, where "thank goodness, my kids are now all their spouses' problems!" It was a subtle way of saying, "I'm not going to cost you money because I have to take care of a sick kid, or get off early to go to little Johnny's concert recital."

One frequent interview question I've encountered is, "What are your strengths?" That's the time to mention that you are rock-solid when it comes to attendance. That lets an employer know that you're not suffering from chronic illnesses that cost them in productivity. Bragging about how well you did A,B and C on your old job might not make a lot of difference if what you're going to be doing on the new job is X, Y and Z, but dependability is a quality that transcends every workplace.

Certainly, if you have healthcare from a spouse or significant other, that can be mentioned, as well. There's always a part in the interview where the interviewer talks about the wages and benefits of the job, and you can slip in there that it sounds fine, but even if it is not, your spouse has great insurance. Then they know that there will be a coordination of benefits, and their plan won't get dinged as hard as if they were your only plan.

My lady works at a place that offers it to a domestic partner. That covers both same-sex and opposite sex relationships.

I'm starting to see more of this, although, of course, it would be far more common in the case of a spouse. I was just trying to be inclusive here.

Recent news articles cited that people over 50 took 8 weeks longer to find employment than those under 50, without taking into consideration that the types of jobs the 50+ person is likely to be looking for initially are higher level jobs. Senior level positions are fewer in number and always take longer to find at any age. Nevermind the fact that the Baby Boomer generation is significant larger than the younger generations, meaning that there are more older workers competing for the exact same type of job. Eventually (and sadly), those people eventually settle for lesser jobs because they need an income - and two months sounds about right for how long that realization would take.

But every hiring manager I've ever talked to has outwardly looked for older Americans to fill jobs because a) they're more loyal to the company and b) they typically do a better job. That said, the general aging of our workforce is something that's of great concern to a lot of people, and having a company that heavily dependent on workers that are approaching retirement is not exactly a sound business practice. You need people in place that are capable of running the show once that happens, and as such, yes, you will find some employers that are more likely to hire a younger candidate.

If I were advising an older worker on how to find a job in today's market, I'd recommend emphasizing whatever computer skills you have (if there's any discriminatory concern that hiring managers have over older workers, it's that they think they don't know how to use computers), remove specific dates from the resume (for example, say that you were employed by Company X from 1990-1996 rather than January 1990 - September 1996), remove the years from when you were in school, and remove non-relevant/entry level jobs that you've had that are far enough in the past. In this manner, you're not lying at all about your age - you're just not making it a red flag.

when times are good one would have a decent chance to find work but now it`s just about impossible. after drawing unemployment for all most 2 years i decided to "retire" at 62. my ss check pays our mortgage so at least we`ll have a roof over our heads.

Sucks too...considering that it was mostly the current crop of "wunderkind" that got us in to this economic meltdown in the first place by treating mortgages as trade-able commodities.

Maybe stress loyalty and dedication. And the reliability thing as you point.

I was laid off at age 55 and was fortunate to find a job two months later. When I came out of my interview for this job, there was a sweet young thing, pretty, sitting there waiting for her interview, and I figured I was done for. But they did offer it to me after all. I was sure they would want someone who was not so close to retirement.

When I rewrote my resume in my hunt for work I did stress loyalty and dedication --- I had been at my previous job 25 years. If that helped, I don't know.

They are the people that stand between affordable premiums and what employers pay. Small businesses seem to depend on them.

My Daughter had an HSA policy for $69 per month and a $3000 deductible. I suggested that she ask her employer to pay her premium and put $100 per month into the HSA account. No can do. She could take what they offered and were willing to pay $300 per month for or nothing.

Long winded? You aint seen nuttin yet! Ha ha!

My wife had a bout with cancer 6 yrs ago. She has been fine since and hasn't even been to a doctor in three years, but having a pre-existing condition sticks out like a gun-totin republican at an Obama appearance!

I am fortunate that I can afford the exorbitant rates the ins co is charging me for a catastrophic policy, $1550/mo!

I am retired with a private policy and cannot get insurance anywhere else, so a public option is my primary concern. I will not vote for any dem who does not back the public option, much less donate to them. HAving 8 yrs to go before Medicare kicks in, I may go broke before I get there! The best deal would be to offer to let people buy into the Medicare system at a younger age.

I've actually been here since the day after the Idiot Son was
??re-elected??. I'm shy and my father always said that it's better to listen and learn. If it wasn't for this site, I don't know what I would have done for the REAL news and events in the world. I'm almost glad that we only have basic(very) cable since I usually end up screaming at the TV when I try to watch the Corporate run news. If I had to watch Faux or CNN I'd probably sell our TV's. (after smashing them)

Like most here, it was nice to find a place with like minds and not having to argue e.v.e.r.y. d.a.m.n.e.d. p.o.i.n.t !

It to0k me 7 yrs to get to a 1000 posts, but they came more frequent the last election. Don't be afraid to weigh in your opinion.
We don't all agree on everything, but we do agree on one thing......blue is better than red!

At least now my poor wife will be happy that I have another outlet for my
contempt of anything related to the Gang Of Pinheads. After taking part in Senator Casey's tele-forum on health care last night, I actually feel as though there is a reason for hope in the future. How did this state ever elect Santorum?

Have you talked to a lawyer about this? Sounds like a possible violaation of the Americans with Disabilities Act to me.

That's what my Doctors and I thought too. My PCP said that it was about the strongest case that he'd seen in his many years of practice.
I did file a complaint with the EEOC and they said that it would be impossible for the company to comply because the employer said that my job could not be done in the office (which was smoke-free). About 95% or more of my job involved computer entry, phone calls and faxes which oddly enough could all be found in the office. The few lawyers that would even return my calls were very understanding but let it be known that there just wasn't enough money in it for them. And for some strange reason, I am more than a little bitter about the whole affair. Is there any doubt that the little guy is over-matched when it comes to taking on a corporation?

Check to see if it's in your state. Mr Gray (60's) just created his own job through them.
http://www.nationalable.org

I'm a former newspaper reporter.

Some have found a niche online - I'm not sure how they are making it pay but I guess if they can generate enough page views, the ad revenue can add up.

Gary Fineout was an excellent Florida reporter for years and covered Florida politics thoroughly, especially during Jeb Bush's tenure. He's now got a blog (and a Twitter page, it seems) and still does some really good research and wonderful articles on politics: http://findout.typepad.com/the_fine_print/

Maybe you could make your own page and make a go of it?

A contract is more likely than a permanent job, at my age. And a contract is not very likely.

If he were 55 he could get help finding a job from the county, but at only 54 he's not eligible right now. If he hasn't found anything by his 55th birthday, I will be reminding him the day after to go to the county.

"If he were 55 he could get help finding a job from the county, but at only 54 he's not eligible right now."

He found the information at the county library. It's throught the county's office on the aging.

and retired.

He had worked in IT for over twenty years, but he couldn't even get hired for a temporary position. After two years, he gave up looking for work, and we just say he's retired.

Your story is nearly the same as mine. And I'm 54 as well.

I lost my last good paying job in 2002.

After two years on unemployment, I finally got a seasonal job in customer service call center as a temp. The job had no benefits and paid ten bucks an hour.

Now I drive a delivery truck. I make less than eleven bucks an hour and only work maybe 35 hours a week.

If I had a tip about how to get hired at 50+, I'd tell ya.

We need to get the insurance burden off the backs of employers.

My DW was laid off her full time job and has spent months looking for another good job. Right now she is working part time for $9/hr with no benefits. She has a college degree, but she is over 50.

I ahve filled out maybe 5000 applications. no takers. We are the worst case scenario for employers. We file most of the Comp claims. We are more expensive to insure.

Add to my resume, that I have no verifiable employment history,have been self employed in about a thosuand different things..and shoulders that are not bad enough to get disability, but are so bad that I cannot sleep of swim, or play golf, or do anything at all dealing with my arms........and you got a person that will not be employed anytime soon.

I am 70 and working full time with great benefits. I am also collecting social security. I work mainly for the medical coverage that I have that not even Medicare could provide. Medical, dental, eye care and life insurance, disability and more all for about $200 a month. It was $120 a month, but the company switched insurance carriers to CIGNA and it is more expensive. I enjoy working because I would be bored to tears if I wasn't working. I also could not live on only social security. I have a 401K, but that went way down in value, so I will have to try to build up some more into it. So I will be working for a while as long as I can or until the company kicks me out or goes belly up. We are a publishing company and the ad sales are not doing so well.

"The best way to prepare for the new America is to adjust your finances so you can live on an $8 an hour job & get yourself in the best physical condition you can." Even then, you hope to god you don't get sick.

The difference in service that we get from older grocery clerks compared to the younger ones is night & day. The older clerks greet us, count our change out & say thank you. The younger ones often just start checking our order without any acknowledgment of us, they hand your bills back without counting & then dump the change on top of the bills & tell you to "Have a good one." When did "Have a good one" come to mean "Thanks for shopping with us"?

The baggers are even worse. They grab the first thing coming down the belt & stick it in the bag. One young man put my avocados & tomatoes in the bottom of the bag & then started to put a 5 pound bag of potatoes on top. Thankfully I was watching & stopped him, as nicely as I could, but he honestly didn't understand why I was upset. Obviously training is obsolete.

i live with fear.

Hey folks--keep up the good fight and keep searching.

good luck