General Discussion

mcar

(45,964 posts)

67. I got laid off in June at age 54

Fri Dec 27, 2013, 02:55 PM

Dec 2013

No jobs in my field in commuting distance and no one will even consider a telecommuting gig like my old job. SO has 5 more years to retirement so we're stuck here.

Not that anyone is particularly interested anyway. I've had two interviews in 6 months. One for a job that would have been a 90 minute commute each way. I never got a call back after the second interview anyway.

30 years of experience and I know that once I put my college graduation year in the online applications (required by just about all employers), I'm not even going to be looked at by a human.

My sister is an HR director. She steadfastly refuses to use the online application systems because of the way they filter out good candidates. Says if a job description wants 5-7 years experience and you have 10, the system bumps you from consideration. How stupid is that? Some of the best people I've hired were not technically qualified for the job.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

187 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

50 Is the New 65: Older Americans Are Getting Booted from Their Jobs -- and Denied New Opportunities [View all] xchrom Dec 2013 OP

I see it happening to friends and family all around me. mn9driver Dec 2013 #1

Yep unions and the union health insurance are a big factor in avoiding this. truedelphi Dec 2013 #75

I was tossed out in my late 40s. I had a son in college B Calm Dec 2013 #2

Congratulations. However, driving an 18 wheeler is no guaranty of a job these days, especially merrily Dec 2013 #5

If you can drive a truck you can find work B Calm Dec 2013 #7

Same here madville Dec 2013 #11

So the unemployed are just obstinate and/or lazy? merrily Dec 2013 #23

That isn't what the poster wrote. nt bluestate10 Dec 2013 #96

It's a very fair inference from "If you can drive a truck, you merrily Dec 2013 #141

Is that what you think? B Calm Dec 2013 #101

Well, according to you, anyone who can pass a physical can have 3 jobs. Walk away Dec 2013 #128

I'm sorry now I posted a POSITIVE story about myself. B Calm Dec 2013 #133

Don't listen to the haters... Drunken Irishman Dec 2013 #136

That is not all you did though. merrily Dec 2013 #143

WTF, I never said anybody could do the same! It's a skilled trade B Calm Dec 2013 #148

Actually what he said was if you can drive a truck, OwnedByCats Jan 2014 #165

I think if all the unemployed had the skill and the license OwnedByCats Jan 2014 #166

No. It's what you implied. See Reply 141. merrily Dec 2013 #142

That is not what the poster wrote Tumbulu Dec 2013 #102

Personally, I would not want to drive a truck. SheilaT Dec 2013 #103

Because trucking companies are just DYING to get millions of 50+ year old people behind the wheel jtuck004 Dec 2013 #94

There is a huge shortage of drivers, so yes they are B Calm Dec 2013 #100

Well, Werner said they had 100 openings. With 26 million unemployed, that's .0003846% taken jtuck004 Dec 2013 #108

Why anybody would want to drive for Werner is beyond me. That B Calm Dec 2013 #109

Didn't upset me at all, lol. There was an article about millions of people being unemployed and jtuck004 Dec 2013 #118

All he did was explain what he did when he found himself out of a job OwnedByCats Jan 2014 #169

" If you can drive a truck you can find work" < You missed a few lines... jtuck004 Jan 2014 #171

Whatever OwnedByCats Jan 2014 #180

Don't know where you got that. DiverDave Jan 2014 #185

What I don't get is if drivers are in such demand, why is the pay so low? Populist_Prole Dec 2013 #139

My last job before retiring I was home every night and grossed B Calm Dec 2013 #140

I've seen plenty of over 50's driving trucks OwnedByCats Jan 2014 #168

What are the qualifications ? steve2470 Dec 2013 #132

You have to pass a DOT physical at the least every two years B Calm Dec 2013 #134

I was asking in case my son needs work in the future steve2470 Dec 2013 #135

I don't mind helping your son and it wouldn't be a waste of my time B Calm Dec 2013 #137

thank you, he has 3 more years to go to reach 21 steve2470 Dec 2013 #138

Tell you what 2naSalit Dec 2013 #151

+1000. adirondacker Dec 2013 #152

the same! 2naSalit Dec 2013 #154

So what your saying to me, if you were not disabled you could find a job! B Calm Dec 2013 #156

I was saying a lot more than that 2naSalit Dec 2013 #159

Let's get one thing straight! I never said it was B Calm Dec 2013 #160

Could be the implications of Horatio Alger crap are among the reasons. LanternWaste Jan 2014 #177

I don't know why I am being personally attacked, but I'm getting fed up with it! B Calm Jan 2014 #178

Lousy economy = desperate workers = employers able to pick and choose. merrily Dec 2013 #3

corporate America has a great economy Skink Dec 2013 #51

I was 64. andlor Dec 2013 #4

This month I am starting to preapre my son for a life in enterprise software sales wilt the stilt Dec 2013 #6

Until BYOD becomes the trend, at least. Gore1FL Dec 2013 #10

What is BYOD? truedelphi Dec 2013 #76

Bring Your Own Device. About half of all workers report using their personal cell phone jtuck004 Dec 2013 #91

"Bring your own device" Gore1FL Dec 2013 #93

Producing is no guarantee of job security these days. stopbush Dec 2013 #53

sales is not arbitrary wilt the stilt Dec 2013 #149

A friend of mine woks in the recorded music/video biz. stopbush Dec 2013 #150

very rare wilt the stilt Dec 2013 #157

This is what happens when you have a Congress dead set against creating jobs!!! nt kelliekat44 Dec 2013 #8

It also relates to how employers will not pay for the high ins. premiums of truedelphi Dec 2013 #77

+1 area51 Dec 2013 #116

The way our economy works is obsolete for the 21st century, it can not possibly serve RKP5637 Dec 2013 #9

Technology has certainly changed the landscape madville Dec 2013 #14

There are a lot of really smart economists in the US, certainly they must recognize RKP5637 Dec 2013 #25

They're putting us out to pasture. SmittynMo Dec 2013 #12

Exactly! "... age discrimination DOES exist!!!!" Any not seeing that have their head up RKP5637 Dec 2013 #31

Indeed, age discrimination does exist. KitSileya Dec 2013 #122

Time for 50 Somethings to Unionize bucolic_frolic Dec 2013 #13

As one of those secretaries - LiberalElite Dec 2013 #45

Secretary? in 2013? SheilaT Dec 2013 #104

Strange but true - LiberalElite Dec 2013 #112

I'm astonished because SheilaT Dec 2013 #117

Where do I sign up? n/t truedelphi Dec 2013 #78

50 Something Class Action bucolic_frolic Dec 2013 #95

And in large part it comes about on account of employers not truedelphi Dec 2013 #97

Oh, please. What are they gonna do, join up with the others marching in front of empty factories? jtuck004 Dec 2013 #92

fact is, companies can pay younger workers less beachbum bob Dec 2013 #15

Tell me about it SmittynMo Dec 2013 #16

Here is the triple whammy aspect Tom Rinaldo Dec 2013 #17

Yes....that's the other dark side of it.. eom. KoKo Dec 2013 #41

Those are all very good points. truedelphi Dec 2013 #98

It's a total disaster out there MannyGoldstein Dec 2013 #18

Meanwhile, they want to raise the retirement age for SS benefits Martin Eden Dec 2013 #19

I know DU will kick my butt for saying this, but in many ways Obama has kept up the SOS. n/t RKP5637 Dec 2013 #37

I am approaching 40 and am beginning to panic srican69 Dec 2013 #20

I know how you feel. I'm 44 and I've been watching LOTS of people around me taking early retirement kysrsoze Dec 2013 #52

It's coming SmittynMo Dec 2013 #56

Yeah, it's bad all around, and there really are no easy solutions... Demo_Chris Dec 2013 #21

Many jobs have gone to outsourcing. KoKo Dec 2013 #43

It goes hand in hand, but at this point what can you do? Demo_Chris Dec 2013 #50

It's not too late to STOP the TPP, though.... KoKo Dec 2013 #82

I hope you are right. nt Demo_Chris Dec 2013 #87

I too wish it were that simple. Problem is, as the economy deteriorates, folks can only afford Hoyt Dec 2013 #57

But it is not just about cheaper goods. truedelphi Dec 2013 #80

Sadly..the reason all we can afford is cheap goods from China, etc...is KoKo Dec 2013 #83

This is the common analysis; but it leaves out one HUGE consideration. snot Dec 2013 #68

Humanity as a whole hasn't done that The2ndWheel Dec 2013 #69

Okay, so who then gets the "wealth," plus how and why? Demo_Chris Dec 2013 #79

Indeed...we could change this with tighter Financial Regulations on Companies & KoKo Dec 2013 #85

It is not totally ignored. truedelphi Dec 2013 #99

Thanks, yes. snot Dec 2013 #145

I actually made it to age 52, and a coworker to 53.... NRaleighLiberal Dec 2013 #22

The first sweep of what you are talking about was in early 90's KoKo Dec 2013 #88

what was amazing was the brain drain - those of us in our 50s were not only good at what we did, NRaleighLiberal Dec 2013 #89

We are earlier than you...but, yes... KoKo Dec 2013 #90

Lower the retirement age to 50, or 55. truebluegreen Dec 2013 #24

Yep. This is why Joe Lieberman will always be my least favorite politician. Dawgs Dec 2013 #26

I remember. truebluegreen Dec 2013 #27

i think this must happen noiretextatique Dec 2013 #70

Lost many long-time coworkers this year liberal N proud Dec 2013 #28

I worry for a friend PasadenaTrudy Dec 2013 #29

They won't hire me at 56 but pay me 2x more as a contractor FreakinDJ Dec 2013 #30

I did the contractor thing for 5 years SmittynMo Dec 2013 #58

at 58, I been at it now for 8+ years.... Bennyboy Dec 2013 #32

You have to go into business for yourself. leftyladyfrommo Dec 2013 #33

Unfortunately, not everyone is suited to being in business themselves. haele Dec 2013 #71

I just do petsitting on the side. leftyladyfrommo Jan 2014 #161

This message was self-deleted by its author haele Jan 2014 #164

I oopsed. (sign of age...) haele Jan 2014 #167

Unfortunately being able to generate enough income this way for 15 or more years, Egalitarian Thug Dec 2013 #72

Once the Y2K remediation projects were over, so was my career. Buns_of_Fire Dec 2013 #34

Well, you have to have absolutely no morals. leftyladyfrommo Dec 2013 #35

This whole topic is really disturbing to me. leftyladyfrommo Dec 2013 #36

Most often think they are somehow special, that it's the other guy that gets hit, and RKP5637 Dec 2013 #38

I've been worried LiberalElite Dec 2013 #46

Lawyers don't type their filings and contracts (or do they ?) KurtNYC Dec 2013 #48

A surprising number do. SheilaT Dec 2013 #106

To paraphrase from "The Graduate" LiberalElite Dec 2013 #113

Yep, we see similar in many industries. Efficiency is a good thing, but in our economic RKP5637 Dec 2013 #54

It is scary PasadenaTrudy Dec 2013 #40

A plumber would have difficulty finding work? philosslayer Dec 2013 #42

True PasadenaTrudy Dec 2013 #44

Plumber and auto mechanic are good jobs until they're the only jobs left. haele Jan 2014 #170

My PTSD PasadenaTrudy Jan 2014 #184

Thanks. haele Jan 2014 #187

I'm one of them n/t SmittynMo Dec 2013 #61

You summed it up perfectly. llmart Dec 2013 #131

This has happened many times in human history. marybourg Dec 2013 #155

I tell my kids to max out their 401k lumberjack_jeff Dec 2013 #39

There may be a part-time job available for all, including older workers, Le Taz Hot Dec 2013 #47

Cool, thanks! n/t PasadenaTrudy Dec 2013 #59

I think I will apply PasadenaTrudy Dec 2013 #62

An excellent article that hits all of the salient points. stopbush Dec 2013 #49

I think 2naSalit Dec 2013 #153

Is health insurance concerns possibly one source of job discrimination? Nikia Dec 2013 #55

Your father is a lucky man SmittynMo Dec 2013 #60

This is one key reason why as a nation, we have to go to Universal Single Payer. truedelphi Dec 2013 #146

this is about eliminating the high salaries of workers at their peak of their careers. nt TeamPooka Dec 2013 #63

Look more closely, it goes much further than that. Egalitarian Thug Dec 2013 #74

I retired at 55. Puglover Dec 2013 #64

Strangely enough Turbineguy Dec 2013 #65

I don't think talent has much to do with anything anymore. leftyladyfrommo Dec 2013 #115

All these corporate idiots do not understand Turbineguy Dec 2013 #144

Employees are simply units that produce a certain amount of product. leftyladyfrommo Jan 2014 #163

I'm reading a new book Turbineguy Jan 2014 #172

Been there done that gave up. Now I stay at home and glinda Dec 2013 #66

I got laid off in June at age 54 mcar Dec 2013 #67

I was 71 when I was laid off my job, RebelOne Dec 2013 #73

I'm 57 and scared to death. Boomerproud Dec 2013 #81

Yep. Am there. Doing that. GoCubsGo Dec 2013 #84

happened to me in 2003 madrchsod Dec 2013 #86

The Corporate Expiration Age used to be 55. It's being moved back Warpy Dec 2013 #105

I think an awful lot depends on what field you were in to begin with. SheilaT Dec 2013 #107

+1 B Calm Dec 2013 #111

I work for an Israeli company... trumad Dec 2013 #110

50 Somethings should Boycott All Businesses bucolic_frolic Dec 2013 #114

Unfortunately the Biggest of The Big Businesses out there would truedelphi Dec 2013 #120

Would that help? BobUp Dec 2013 #124

Lower age BobUp Dec 2013 #119

You can't Fudge the age of your degree bucolic_frolic Dec 2013 #121

True BobUp Dec 2013 #123

Younger people are a whole lot easier to manipulate. leftyladyfrommo Jan 2014 #174

My BobUp Jan 2014 #175

And the tougher things get enlightenment Dec 2013 #129

They can get your age in about 2 seconds. leftyladyfrommo Jan 2014 #173

I believe you BobUp Jan 2014 #176

Privacy went out the window with the internet. leftyladyfrommo Jan 2014 #181

Speaking of BobUp Jan 2014 #182

I don't do Facebook or any of those sites. leftyladyfrommo Jan 2014 #183

Good upbringing BobUp Jan 2014 #186

I told my son about this article and got a wtf response.... steve2470 Dec 2013 #125

Most 17 year old kids Abq_Sarah Dec 2013 #126

I agree steve2470 Dec 2013 #127

Kids don't get it. leftyladyfrommo Jan 2014 #162

I'm so grateful I have tenure. aikoaiko Dec 2013 #130

Kick. n/t area51 Dec 2013 #147

It happens to be EXACTLY why I became a dentist with my own practice... PCIntern Dec 2013 #158

Age trumps ability & accomplishments Loge23 Jan 2014 #179