are there any good jobs in Colorado?

[leftofthedial]

[DavidDvorkin]

1. Lots

Especially in high tech, which is booming here again.

[leftofthedial]

2. why can't I get as much as an interview?

[DavidDvorkin]

3. I don't know

What field are you in? What background?

Individual cases vary, of course.

[leftofthedial]

4. 25-year career with software and hardware companies

started in R&D, did product marketing, product management, VP of Marketing

I'm feeling like a marked man, like I'm on some sort of blacklist.

[DavidDvorkin]

5. Jeez! I won't pretend to understand that.

The way things seem to be going, with your background, you should be getting offers. Maybe I'm biased because I don't see the situation at the higher levels, like yours. It must be a different story at the VP level than at mine. And I assume that if you apply for a job at my level (now a tech writer, formerly a developer), you'll be ignored because of the position you held before.

I hate to suggest moving, but would it be better on the West Coast?

[leftofthedial]

6. I've been applying for all sorts of jobs, even "lower level"

Alas, I can't move.

I think I'm "overqualified" (or perceived to be) for most jobs. I'm also perceived as too old. Many of the 45-plus folks I've worked with have moved to new careers or are now among the chronically, long-term unemployed. Just in my circle, there is enough unemployed excellent talent to staff a very strong medium-sized software company. Too bad I can't get any of them interested in doing a start-up . . .

Still, in over 250 resumes now, I haven't gotten a single interview. Makes no sense to me.

[DavidDvorkin]

7. The "over qualified" problem was what I was thinking of

It's a vicious cycle.

A start up fincanced by venture capital is supposed to be every techie's dream.

[leftofthedial]

8. as a principal, it would mean a commitment I can't make right now

I need a two grand a month simple little job.

I'll quit whining now. Thanks for your advice.

[politicat]

9. Drop some stuff off your resume.

Like, if you went to grad school and it's not a requirement for the job, drop grad school. Drop the years you worked at a company. Drop any little jobs you might have had so that you don't have so many entries. I know I'm more likely to get call backs if I only list the BA and the BS; when I mention the MA and the MS, I don't get calls. (One big reason is that most people don't understand why a psychologist would stop practicing.)

It's not so much what you don't mention as much as making sure that everything that you do mention is accurate.

Oh, and is your name an obvious age marker? I.e. Women named Tiffany or Jennifer are almost always between the ages of 25 and 32, while women named Madison or Brittany are 18 to 25. If you have a name that screams "I was born in 1955", consider using your middle name on your resume. (Like R. Michael Smith instead of Ralph M. Smith.)

It's ageism and overqualificationism, but it's hard to prove. Younger workers are cheaper workers and are less likely to complain about unfair labor practices, plus older, more qualified workers tend to see mid and low level jobs as middle points rather than destinations.

[leftofthedial]

10. good advice

thank you.

[ProgressivePatriot]

11. You might try..

Ball Aerospace or Lockheed Martin.