"just remember, once you're over the hill you begin to pick up speed."
-arthur schopenhauer (german philosopher, 1788-1860)
this is the thing: come april, i will be out of work. i believe it's called redundancy.
the minutes of the most recent meeting of the short-sighted-powers-that-be have made this inevitability perfectly clear. it doesn't matter, these days, you see, how efficient and flexible one is, or how loyal, or enthusiastic; all that really counts is how much one costs.
i saw this coming, of course i did; i wear glasses, but i am not blind. i started watching the want-ads a few months back, and have responded more than once, to no avail. my birthdate, black-on-white in my resumé will blow it every time. should i shout "age discrimination"? would it make any difference? all i want is to be evaluated - face to face - on my real merits. assumptions are such unfortunate oversights.
i have no choice but to surrender to the race, and to fix my eyes on the road ahead. i am realistic enough to expect pitfalls, and positive enough to expect - somehow, somewhere - recognition.
this search for a new job is going to be the mont ventoux of my personal tour, i fear, and i hope i can find the stamina i need.
Age is experience, Lynn.
ReplyDeleteA talented person like yourself is able to find a new interesting challenge.
I'm sure of that.
Like the duck.
Oh, dear!! My Dad has been looking to break free of the job he's held/been trapped in for about 30 years. He's got more experience than most, is well-liked, very serious about his work... but he gets passed up for young tykes with a tenth of his experience (scary, as he works in the field of hazardous materials) or becomes a victim of nepotism.
ReplyDeleteBut I have no doubt you'll manage something and turn this into an opportunity for something wonderful.
do you have to put your age on the resume? (Although people can often deduce one's age from the dates of education).
ReplyDeleteMy dad's had this experience several times now and just had it happen again this week - however this time he's close enough to his goal retirement age that I'd be suprised if he goes back to work.
I think one of the problems is the idea that we should make more money as we get older. That my Dad's salary should be higher than someone doing the same job as him, but 20 years younger - which means they hire the younger person. He'd be happy to work for the same salary as the 35 year old, but they wont offer him the job, because they think that they have to pay him more.
Your bosses are insane. Your love of and knowledge of and delight in exploring where you are *shines.
ReplyDeleteGood hunting, any way. & as they say, nil illegitimi carborundum.
I really can't understand this age-phobia of employers. I agree with Trish, they think older = more expensive. And they forget that older also means less time needed for things like training and gaining experience. And often more reliable. Silly buggers. Good luck!
ReplyDeletebaba yaga: thank you. i've emailed all the others, and if i could email YOU, i would. i appreciate your input. i always do. :-)
ReplyDeleteI absolutely LOVE your gorgeous photographs...wow! And I am SO curious to know how old is old (to you). At 35, I vary between feeling young and old...and am also wondering where the next job will be.
ReplyDeletethis ups and downs, the winding road ahead is there for all of us, as it happens to be the case for as well! courage! there is still some good left worth fighting for!
ReplyDeletethe only reason not to hire you is because you are TOO cool. hmpf.
ReplyDeleteYou can have my job if you want.
ReplyDelete