| Topic Name: |
Getting hired at 35 plus |
| Message Name: |
Age discrimination |
| Date Posted: |
11/22/2000 |
| Message: |
I am an IT consultant and recruiter with about 35 years of experience and am over 60. Since I work both sides of the street, I encounter all sorts of attitudes. However, the most common reaction from other recruiters is that they simply don't believe that someone over 60 (me) can know anything about computers or possible be current. Accordingly, though I am a J.D. Edwards specialist - a hot skill these days - I have some trouble finding contract assignments.
In the case of my recruiting clients, since I am in Texas where there there is less high tech and more oil field business, it is not so bad as on the west coast. However, I have a good list of older computer programmers (contractors) who I have trouble placing, mostly due to age. Most have current skills and look, strong resumes but the youth cult in computers is alive and well.
On the brighter side, I am starting to get calls for people with over 20 years of experience and some gray hair. It seems that the kids don't know much about business and need some guidance after all.
I think we will see some improvement in the age situation in the next few years as the computer industry matures.
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