Have any of you more experienced veterans run into age discrimination?

2019-04-13T09:57:30-04:00

I have a BS, five professional certifications and cannot find a job. I take some responsibility since it seems everyone in my career field now needs to know how to write code and/or have a government clearance and I have neither. But at 57 I now find myself unemployable because I either don't have the right skills or the age old "You have too much experience". What does that really mean? Are they saying "You know too much so we won't be able to take advantage of you" or "We don't want to hire old people you make us uncomfortable with your wisdom and professionalism", or "We want to hire people that can work longer than you have left to live" or maybe it's just "You are too old and we don't want old people for so many reasons".

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Apr 13 at 2019 10:02 AM

2019-04-13T10:02:20-04:00

It means at your age it is cheaper/easier to hire younger folk who have the skills and can grew in the company at a much cheaper rate, Then starting you at the lower rate and waste talent, vs. paying you for your experience and lesser skills. Its a bitch Bro!

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Apr 13 at 2019 11:17 AM

2019-04-13T11:17:13-04:00

I have been told at one VA job interview, the veteran did not get the job the manager asked irrelevant questions. Sometimes the hiring manager has someone already in mind to hire.

Response by Cpl Brett Wagner made Apr 13 at 2019 11:42 AM

2019-04-13T11:42:10-04:00

I recently had a recruiter for a veteran owned company, Ablevets, contact me and ask for days and times she could call and I responded right away. A month later the same recruiter contacts and asks if she can call me and I said yes but asked her to let me know if she was receiving my emails because of what happened a month before. She responds saying yes she is getting my emails can she call I said yes but no call, no email nothing. Very unprofessional and I don't think I would work for them now and I sure would not ever hire them. They don't know if AI might ever been in a position to hire them. You should always treat people with respect and courtesy you never know who they might be someday.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 13 at 2019 11:55 AM

2019-04-13T11:55:15-04:00

I've sent you a message.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 13 at 2019 3:18 PM

2019-04-13T15:18:43-04:00

One excuse they have is your experience makes you overqualified and you might leave them after a short time for a better job. That is possible but my first job was working for a computer manufacturer and so I knew their machines and it was hard to get a second job.

Response by LtCol Robert Quinter made Apr 14 at 2019 8:08 AM

2019-04-14T08:08:21-04:00

Google age discrimination in hiring and become familiar in what the EEOC considers indicative of discrimination. Once you are conversant in the criteria, you have two ways to use it. You can skillfully work it into the conversation during the interview in a non threatening manner, or if you feel you have been discriminated against, go to the EEOC for assistance. The EEOC isn't the preferred route, but extreme conditions requires extreme measures. You are in the protected class if you are over 40.