She stood there as I opened my front door.She was looking for my ex-wife who told her
she was having dinner with me.My ex and I are still close friends and get along better now
than while we were married.
Her 66 year old friend had lost her job again. Her self esteem was gone and quite frankly,
I thought she seemed suicidial."where do people like me go in this society?" she asked." I have worked on computers,know code and have years of experience."She admitted
she was not as fast as others and the young workers gave her the cold shoulder.Her power was about to be shut off , had no idea if she could re-apply for benefits.
I gave her phone numbers of various organizations that would pay her power bill,help her with re-training and housing if necessary,she looked tired and numb.By her nature
she is a shy person.Two bad marriages have given her P.T.S.D.That may show while
she is working. People like to be around cheerful peple. People who bring bagels.
I said that she needed to project self assurance. She needed to find ways that any company that hired her,could not live without her.
She needed to be cheerful,offer to help others at work,find out as much as she could
could about them. Ask to sit with fellow-co-workers. Out work everyone there.
I assured her she WOULD get another job IF she was upbeat and positive. Learn to act,if necessary. Everyone talks about problems,you need to agree,and the say,"lets figure this out.
I have another 66 year old engineer friend who has been looking for work 7 months.
He is way "over-qualified". He has heard that a hundred tmes. It really means the
employercan find someone cheaper.My friend will move anywhere in the Country to find a job.
Age discrimination will always be with us. Those of us on the wrong side of sixty,need
to be in good shape, project a positive attitute even when you hurt. We need to reach
down in side our selves, and out work every co-worker. We need to be impossible to fire.Remember something very important: you have experience in living. You have seen
things your fellow co-workers have yet to see. This is why you can BEAT age discrimination.