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Speck Tater

(10,618 posts)

24. I lucked out back when I was 60 and laid off.

Sat Jun 2, 2012, 12:34 AM

Jun 2012

The company I was working for shut down our division and moved it overseas. I was a 60-year old computer programmer and out of work in a "young person's field". I read a Craigs list add from a start-up company that wanted an experienced programmer, but they only needed someone for about 5 years, to build their specialized e-commerce system from the ground up and train their (as yet not hired) tech support and customer service people.

Since I was planning to retire in 5 years it was a perfect fit, and they agreed, so this batch of kids in their mid 20's hired me. I worked for them for 5 years and got their system working just how they wanted it, and then gradually phased myself out over a period of 6 months, working fewer and fewer hours until I trained the tech support and customer service people they brought in. Then I retired and everybody was happy. Talk about a stroke of luck!

That was several years ago and the company is still going strong. They call me once in a while to consult for half a day, but for the most part, I set things up to be easily maintained by trained monkeys, and it's been just over a year since the last time they needed a consultation.

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So, I was told today that I am, basically, too old to be considered for a particular job [View all] LuckyTheDog Jun 2012 OP

Hang in there and keep on plugging along tabasco Jun 2012 #1

Luckily, I am not unemployed anymore -- just under-employed LuckyTheDog Jun 2012 #2

She did you a favor. They intend on riding the youngster like a pony. WingDinger Jun 2012 #3

But what would fluster the youngsters... LuckyTheDog Jun 2012 #4

Yes, she is. Baitball Blogger Jun 2012 #6

agreed. (eom) salin Jun 2012 #7

You very well could be offered a better job next week or month. WingDinger Jun 2012 #8

LOL.. sendero Jun 2012 #33

In Florida it's just the opposite. Baitball Blogger Jun 2012 #5

Was the lunch to help you forget HeiressofBickworth Jun 2012 #9

Law, schmaw. Who brings a tape recorder to their job interview? So it coalition_unwilling Jun 2012 #46

Another Reason To Raise Taxes On The Rich... Another Reason To Lower The Reirement Age To 55... WillyT Jun 2012 #10

Another reason for a Guaranteed Annual Income (McGovern '72). Subsistence coalition_unwilling Jun 2012 #48

This is illegal job discrimination covered by the ADEA Major Nikon Jun 2012 #11

But, what benefit would there be? LuckyTheDog Jun 2012 #12

Back pay, baby Major Nikon Jun 2012 #16

But wouldn't the hiring person just lie and claim she never said that? nt TBF Jun 2012 #19

They almost always do Major Nikon Jun 2012 #22

Then perhaps they would fire the hiring manager bhikkhu Jun 2012 #25

I have a completely different take on it Major Nikon Jun 2012 #26

You have the patience of a saint. Wish I could kick&rec your post. Zalatix Jun 2012 #28

I get the arguments presented to challenge this Ruby the Liberal Jun 2012 #73

Punish the company so that they re-think their behavior with others. Zalatix Jun 2012 #27

+1 Scuba Jun 2012 #39

Ha-ha-ha-ha. Oh man, do you have any idea how long the EEOC takes to investigate coalition_unwilling Jun 2012 #49

Yes, I have a very good idea Major Nikon Jun 2012 #65

That's funny. It's almost exactly the opposite of what an attorney specializing coalition_unwilling Jun 2012 #67

You can look at the statistics for yourself Major Nikon Jun 2012 #69

Thank you for this wonderful detail. I'm filing away in case I ever bump into coalition_unwilling Jun 2012 #70

I always encourage everyone to know their rights Major Nikon Jun 2012 #71

OT, but just noticed your sig line and it took me down memory lane to coalition_unwilling Jun 2012 #75

But how much is someone drug through the mud Ruby the Liberal Jun 2012 #74

+1 Gormy Cuss Jun 2012 #60

During my recently ended 10 month nightmare of unemployment,... MarianJack Jun 2012 #13

A "hiring manager?" Not a job consultant or a headhunter, but someone who works at a place where MADem Jun 2012 #14

She is a partner in the company... heads the local office (nt) LuckyTheDog Jun 2012 #18

I think you were discriminated against over lunch! MADem Jun 2012 #20

I'm in my mid 40s and I get told similar all the time NewJeffCT Jun 2012 #15

If you call them, how do they know how old you are over the phone? Quantess Jun 2012 #53

No, I'll send them my resume NewJeffCT Jun 2012 #63

Oh, I see. Quantess Jun 2012 #66

Welcome to my world Coyote_Bandit Jun 2012 #17

Mine, too. GoCubsGo Jun 2012 #51

I've made a point Coyote_Bandit Jun 2012 #61

I may be well near 60 when I next look for a job. I think there will be a huge labour shortage by applegrove Jun 2012 #21

I understand full well where you're coming from. I am a LibDemAlways Jun 2012 #23

I lucked out back when I was 60 and laid off. Speck Tater Jun 2012 #24

That is what I would look for at this point if I went back to work - TBF Jun 2012 #35

They are really getting pickier and pickier about age. JDPriestly Jun 2012 #29

Honestly I think it's mostly the money - TBF Jun 2012 #34

Also the problem of employer-based health insurance. woo me with science Jun 2012 #40

Excellent point - TBF Jun 2012 #43

Do you remember the days shanti Jun 2012 #64

Companies don't want experienced people FairyDust Jun 2012 #30

I second, hang in there. After years of underemployment, I finally got a raccoon Jun 2012 #31

You didn't expect them to want an older, wiser person did you? Shankapotomus Jun 2012 #32

Try it in your late 50's bahrbearian Jun 2012 #36

I was laid off when I was 60 and re-hired because of my experience lunatica Jun 2012 #37

I'm sure there's a place for a middle-aged stripper out there somewhere slackmaster Jun 2012 #38

Can you sue for age discrimination? ananda Jun 2012 #41

Laid off in my mid-50's - lynne Jun 2012 #42

We really need to start naming names. See my post immediately below yours. I dare coalition_unwilling Jun 2012 #45

Naming names might work for bigger firms - lynne Jun 2012 #54

Love the German term for it: 'schadenfreude' (joy at another's coalition_unwilling Jun 2012 #58

Had the exact same experience when interviewing with mahalo.com. The coalition_unwilling Jun 2012 #44

I shaved the first 15 years off my resume - lynne Jun 2012 #55

Goddamnit, I knew I was doing something wrong when I was coalition_unwilling Jun 2012 #56

I spent last year hearing the same thing HillWilliam Jun 2012 #47

I'm in my 60's. leftyladyfrommo Jun 2012 #50

I believe every word of that HillWilliam Jun 2012 #57

I am in my 70s and I was laid off in 2010. RebelOne Jun 2012 #62

I don't know why they care so much treestar Jun 2012 #52

K&R. It's an epidemic. n/t Egalitarian Thug Jun 2012 #59

I am 55 almost 56 and the boss over me is 28 marlakay Jun 2012 #68

I am 58 and just got a new job. Hang in there. It will happen. Honeycombe8 Jun 2012 #72

I am right there with you, albeit a few years behind. Ruby the Liberal Jun 2012 #76