Any DU'ers out there, 55+ looking for a job?

[Honeycombe8]

79. Earlier this yr was unemployed for a month. Got a job. I'm 58.

With med. insurance, but I have to pay $100 a month for it.

I thought my age would be a hindrance. I suspect it was. I came close to getting a super job, but ultimately they went with person #2. I suspect it was my age. BUT I got 2 job offers. One wasn't good at all....low pay, no 401k contribution, so-so ins. The 2nd one was better.

I spoke with my employment agent about the age thing, before I started interviewing. I was employed when I started. Then became unemployed. What she told me about the age thing is...she places people in their 50s all the time. It depends on the things that we all think of, when someone applies for a job: job history, references, personality, looking healthy and vibrant and energetic, being positive, having a good resume, interviewing well..

She said she did have some people who were laid off a couple of years ago who still were unemployed, but she said there were other reasons besides age they didn't find employment. She gave an example of one woman who didn't dress appropriately for an interview, and also, was very overweight and walked and looked like she was unhealthy, AND mentioned her back problems.

I was very depressed when I was unemployed. Also from the circumstances that led to my quitting my job (yes, I QUIT my job; I wasn't fired....long story...couldn't take it anymore, AND I had a lot of $ saved up and low expenses). What I did:

I worked at getting a job, like it was a job. I did something every day. I applied online, I called an agency, I looked at ads online.

I was already on www.linkedin.com. Very important. I saw that two people who had interviewed me had looked me up on Linkedin. Put all your skills, etc. And get some people as your connections on there.

FACEBOOK AND SOCIAL NETWORKS. I hope you aren't on there with your real name. They will look. One employer mentioned his last employee was on FB and had spent a lot of time during work hours doing her FB thing. He asked me if I was on FB (I'm not).

I read life-lesson articles.

I read articles about how to interview and such.

I read about how to do resumes and cover letters, and prepared a couple of each to fit different situations.

I prepared two interview outfits, per what the agency lady told me. I work in a professional office. I had a navy blue skirt suit with magenta shell and silver necklace and tan-brown mid-heel comfy pumps. Then I had a black pantsuit with turquoise shell, silver necklace again, and black very comfy pumps. I brought with me a fairly new satchel that is on rollers...holds laptop, notepad, etc. Rollers kept me from having to carry it.

I kept a folder with extra copies of my resume, references with phone numbers.

I read more life-lesson articles. I found these informative and comforting.

I kept in touch with supportive friends. I was surprised by who turned out to be a real friend, and who wasn't.

Whoever wanted to interview me, whenever and wherever....I agreed. Each and every interview was THE one. The agent concentrated on one at a time. We treated each one separately, rather than one MORE interview, or one in a string. Each one was important and was THE one.

I ate healthy and took vitamins, and took my dogs for a walk at least once daily, sometimes twice.

As depressed as I was (I even went to one interview not having eaten or slept for 24 hours...and yet, I did okay!), I put a smile on my face, was positive, pleasant, and just told myself that I would be honest and have a pleasant experience, no matter the outcome.

I tried to talk to myself about confidence: I AM a good employee; I AM good at what I do. It was hard, but I tried to do that.

I spot-read books on self-confidence and such.

I read some religious books...this was comforting.

Appearance: Appearance is VERY important at an interview. I made sure my roots were done, my hair was shiny and healthy looking. I tried to make sure I was carefully groomed, but not overdone. My makeup - I gave myself facials in the hopes my skin would have a glow. The look I was going for was HEALTHY.

Mannerisms: I walked with a pep in my step. I spoke up, tried to be confident but not arrogant. I tried not to talk too much (a fault of mine). I tried to give the impression of health and energy (I am energetic, so that wasn't too hard, but I was depressed, so....). And of course I didn't chew gun or accept a drink during the interview (before is okay).

I read more life-lesson articles online. I found http://www.lifehack.org/ pretty good.

I came up with a Plan A and a Plan B, and a Plan C. I was going to look for a job in my area for so many months, but if I didn't find one, go to Plan B, then Plan C if B didn't work out. I was hoping for Plan A.

If I could find a job, I know that you will, too. I have a particular vocation, and I stuck with that. I also live in a city that has a fair # of those types of jobs (that's why I moved here years ago). If you have a particular occupation, that helps. There are employers out there who are willing and want to hire older workers for their experience and reliability. If you live in an area that has been hit hard with the recession, or doesn't have many jobs in your vocation, or whatever, it will take you longer. But it will happen.

Take heart. I know what you're going through. Please try to remember that you are very worthy to be hired by someone, and you will be. Let us know how things go.