How can I re-enter the work force now that I'm in my 50's?

Question

I have spent the past 20 years working from home for my family business and my family. Now that the business has downsized and the kids are in high school I would like to find a job. I polished up my resume and started applying, I'm college educated and have work experience, but I have not received any response from employers. I'm beginning to think that my age is a factor. Is there some way I can hide my age on my resume? I don't actually give it out, but the dates for my education and experience give it away.

Answer 1

why are you putting the date of your college graduation on your resume?
and if you are showing you have 20 years experience as a ................., that would mean you are 42 (grad from college at 22)
look for a job in an industry or field that values experience. techies are washed up at 30, engineers at 40, lawyers at 90.
yeah, they are looking at your age, so try something different, cause you will never prove discrimination.
also try those private temp agencies. they look for experience so they do not have to train, and quite often the temp jobs turn permanent if the company and the temp are a good fit

Answer 2

Yes, sadly, part of it could be your age. But part of it could also be the resume itself, as well as how you're describing your experience.

Regarding your age: Take the dates for your education off your resume. That's completely acceptable to do. Consider only including your more recent experience on your resume, or your most pertinent. If your resume is divided into a series of positions, only include certain of them. This is acceptable - a resume is not expected to be a complete list of all jobs since high school. It can just go back 15 or so years, leaving off the first few jobs, which were likely entry-level, anyway.

Regarding the format: I'd also imagine that part of the problem may be that your resume needs a bit of polishing. After all, it may have been 20 years since you've done one! Your skills may be rusty re: resume writing, and the format that's used may be different from what you were used to in the past. Look at some resume writing books at the bookstore, and use the resources that monster.com has on this subject, to polish up your resume. Then have friends who hire people have a look at it and give suggestions for improvement.

Regarding how you're writing up your experience: I've seen a lot of resumes from people employed in family businesses, and the resume does their experience a disservice. Make sure you're using the right terms, and that you're writing up your experiences in ways that mirror what goes on in non-family-run-businesses. You need to find ways to translate your experiences into words that corporations understand. Take your cues from the job descriptions of the positions for which you are applying. If they are using certain words, describing experiences in a certain way, mirror that. Try to find, online or in bookstores, resumes that are for similar positions, and mirror those.

Answer 3

I don't think that the age is a factor. You posted in the University and High Education area, so if that's the case it is far probable that the job you want requires knowledge of technology. You've been out of the work force for over 20 years, and technology has changed a great deal since then. A stockbroker, for example, that last worked twenty years ago would be completely lost today. You'd need to show that you are up-to-date.

Answer 4

you will possibly have a RE-2A, 2B or the RE-3, that applies to maximum OTH discharges on your case. you heavily isn't waiting to re-enlist. You screwed up chum, yet I honor your committment, too undesirable you probably did no longer have it once you went desertion. you're categorized as a deserter chum, after 30-days of being UA (or AWOL to the army/USAF yoohoos!). to assist you to comprehend the reality, you heavily isn't waiting to even positioned up a DD-293 to the army Discharge evaluation Board to enhance your characterization, nor your discharge. it particularly is undesirable information! you mustn't finished that, even nonetheless you have been youthful and dumb lower back then and now wisened up; the army DRB heavily isn't so prepared in such an improve! it's going to be on your DD-214, yet be propose that they've 2 variations that they positioned as much as you, one won't have the RE Code, jointly as the different does. This ensures your man or woman freedom of privateness whilst it comprises utilising your DD-214 yet with none persecution of characterization. basically you have that right to place up which one you want. i wish they have given you 2, which you signed 2, they have been meant to have you ever sign 2 DD-214s.

Answer 5

My wife had the same exact experience. Yes, there is age descrimination, as she was actually told this at the unemployment office. The average business prefers a younger person to train their way, rather than attempt to train someone set in their ways.
And younger people demand much less $$$$.

Answer 6

I am 50 and in customer support
Was 23 years with the Railroad on the east coast
Now out west
They love to hire old people
No sick time, dependable, loyal experienced.

You will be surprised.

Answer 7

If you think this is the problem, remove the dates from the education section, and either remove the dates from the earlier job experience entries or just drop them entirely.

Answer 8

Dont give up and dont hide anything, there are employers out there that actually prefer experienced people, its just a matter of finding them.

Answer 9

Yes unfortunately your age will go against you, but keep applying and eventually you will get some interviews, because not only are you older, some companies will see you as experienced and not likely to have time off to have babies, both me and my husband have done it in our 50's, but it does take time and patience and lots of applications. good luck