Ageism as Unemployment Goes Up

With unemployment being at over 20% (U6), companies are at a huge advantage in choosing who they want.

What this means for someone like me (over the age of 50), companies can hire someone with a half the experience at a quarter of the cost.

I was recently asked to interview with a company — and it fell in my expertise, communications and marketing.

I quickly realized that I had no shot at doing the job, even though I could make the organization exceed all expectations in what they wanted to have happen.

How did I know this?

Because, throughout the interview, they (it was with three people) said:

“We enjoy hiring young people who we can mold into what we want.”

“We are a young company and like to have youth around us.”

“Someone that we can shape into doing what we need is one of our strengths.”

And so on.

Of course, I never advanced further in the interview process.

Associates said that this was Ageism. And it may be.

But, I also understand business. Keep costs down, even if some costs go up because of inexperienced employee’s. The issue is — will the costs of mistakes outweigh the costs of paying someone who wouldn’t make those mistakes.

Was it fair for me? Probably not.

But, it was truly their mistake, not mine. I guess someone will eventually sue them for ageism, but, it won’t be me. I have better things to do — and of course, why would I want to work for a company that would always look at me as someone that is not young and not moldable (which is a mistake — many people can change and adapt to the ever changing world out there).

I say “Good luck to them”.