Are you over the hill at 55 ??

[supernova1965 (Warren)]

NO there is always another hill

[Bassnut (Fred)]

Originally Posted by renormalised

The thinking is the older person won't be in the job as long as the younger person (potentially), they won't want the same pay (they'll want more) or the young person won't get the same pay as the older person (based on experience and qualifications) and because of that experience and such, they're harder to "mold" and are more set in their ways and less easily "controlled" than younger people. Plus, due to their experience, if they're older and better qualified than the boss, they feel threatened by that older employee's possible future moves within their company (the bugger will end up with my job scenario). Younger ones resent the fact they can't get the jobs because the oldies already have them.

Funny thing is, most older people would just be happy to settle for what work they can get.

Mmm, well I've found I have less time off now due to sickness than I did when I was younger, and the little experience I have with young temps is they are always chomping at the bit to move on to more pay and climb the ladder, are hence less reliable and easily distracted, always know better and can't mold to proven work methods, and are generally less likely to stick around than someone more mature.

But I take yr point, regular employers have experience in what works and hire accordingly I guess.

[Hans Tucker (Hans)]

Originally Posted by TrevorW

Whats the general consensus here

I work for the Govt and I've been going for some higher level jobs (i've held higher level acting position is the past) I get to the interview stage and then the position goes to a younger far less experienced IMO person

On one I went for recently only two people including myself got through to the interview stage and yet a person

half my age (fact)
half my expereince (fact)
far less qualified (fact)
who works in the same area as I for the same length of time, and until 12 months ago at the same level until he was given a a higher level acting role
who is known on occcassions to be lazy and unreliable


got the position

now the only things I could put it down to

were that

he'd do as led
he's likeable

now in the Govt you can't contest the outcome based on the appointed person only on the process

Is this me being paranoid or are you hindered by your age???

Sorry but I am of the opinion that age is not a factor when going for positions in government. I have worked for the Department of Defence for some time and I have found that applicants do not perform well at interviews, they fail to research the position they are applying for and are not prepared to provide adequate confident answers to the interview questions. Post interview you should have been provided with reasons for non selection and an opportunity to redress if you believe the selection process was not fair. In the private sector this may be different...just my 2 cents worth.

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Fortunately there are some companies that prefer to hire elders!

The last company I worked at (a French Chemical Company - 'Imerys Minerals') will ONLY hire people over 30. Many of the staff out there are in their late 60's and early 70's.
My next door neighbour is approaching his 80's and still drives a tip truck for them.
He quit about 2 years ago but they found that everyone they hired couldn't match his daily tally so they talked him into returning and now pay him almost double to stay!

They claim that experience has shown them that those younger than 30 don't stay long, have lots of sickies, demand more pay, and complain all the time. So they just don't hire them.

And Bunnings make it public knowledge that they prefer over 35's and often hire retired or semi-retired people (especially Tradespeople).

As a side note: Unfortunately, almost 4 years ago I was injured when I was working at 'Imerys' and they claim it was just me getting old so they didn't have to pay me for the injuries received on the job.
They talked me into resigning ( ), and I have been on a stupid disability pension since
So while they are hiring the elderly, they certainly don't look after them

[TrevorW]

Originally Posted by Hans Tucker

Post interview you should have been provided with reasons for non selection and an opportunity to redress if you believe the selection process was not fair. In the private sector this may be different...just my 2 cents worth.

You cannot contest the person selected only the process,
in this particular case I know for a fact that I have far more quals and experience than the person selected and the selection panel also knew this but sometimes if your face doesn't fit you've got buckleys

[deejayvee (David)]

Originally Posted by Kevnool

There is an old saying that goes " Its not what you know its who you know".

There's also an addendum to that saying:

"It's not what you know, and it's not who you know. It's what you know about who you know."

[AndyK (Andy)]

Originally Posted by deejayvee

... "It's not what you know, and it's not who you know. It's what you know about who you know." ...

Hahaha ... I'm the network administrator so I know everyone's nasty little secrets. They know I know ... so I'll probably be here until I'm 100 ...
Never mess with the network guy.

[ZeroID (Brent)]

The joke is they want to move the retirement age up to 67 or whatever. So what are we all going to do waiting for that to happen, still be on the unemployment or whatever is available.
I'm nearly 63 so won't affect me much but I'm not happy with my current situation but I see no alternative till my retirement.
The agism wall is a reality for sure despite skills and experience.

[risingmoon (Sandra)]

I know just what you mean. I work as a frame maker in Liverpool and also on the DSP and I am 56 on Sunday, We had a young female 19 working with us but every 5 minutes she was on FB and didn't care a rats about her work until the boss got fed up. On the other hadn we "almost" oldies have to be careful. I turned up for work on Sunday and wondered why the gate were locked??? It didn't occur to me at the time and I thought I was losing it. But I am an old world worker. Royalty, hard work and honesty are my game.

[Stardrifter_WA]

Originally Posted by TrevorW

You cannot contest the person selected only the process,
in this particular case I know for a fact that I have far more quals and experience than the person selected and the selection panel also knew this but sometimes if your face doesn't fit you've got buckleys

There is a saying that I heard when studying Human Resources Management; People hire people most like themselves! I have found this bias to be fairly true. If you take the extra care and make yourself look like you belong you may have a better chance.

I use to always go to interviews dressed in a suit, until I discovered that this practice isn't always the best. Before one interview, I thoroughly researched the company and took particular notice of dress codes. Cut a long story short I went to the interview in jeans and a nice casual shirt and I was offered the job, although I didn't take it. Why? Because I looked like the rest of the people working there.

In another position that I had an interview for I found out that the CEO was a Collingwood supporter, so I wore a Collingwood pin. The interview turned into a discussion on football. Yes, I was also offered this job, but had already found another.

Make yourself look like you belong, you will have a better chance.

[koputai (Jason)]

I used to work for the Government, 4 years for the power generator, and 9 at a big white entertainment building.

I was made redundant from the big white building, but funnily enough another guy took the position I had held. Although he had a different surname, it turned out he was the husband of the head of the HR department.

I occasionally work at govt places (as a supplier) and the levels of wasted humans is amazing. Every office has six people in it, and four of every six are sitting on their r's with their feet on the desk surfing the net.

Government jobs could easily be cut in half, those left would only have to do what they're meant to do, and things would work better than they do now.

Maybe we should just privatise ALL government departments.

Cheers,
Jason.

[Stardrifter_WA]

Originally Posted by koputai

I used to work for the Government, 4 years for the power generator, and 9 at a big white entertainment building.

I was made redundant from the big white building, but funnily enough another guy took the position I had held. Although he had a different surname, it turned out he was the husband of the head of the HR department.

I occasionally work at govt places (as a supplier) and the levels of wasted humans is amazing. Every office has six people in it, and four of every six are sitting on their r's with their feet on the desk surfing the net.

Government jobs could easily be cut in half, those left would only have to do what they're meant to do, and things would work better than they do now.

Maybe we should just privatise ALL government departments.

Cheers,
Jason.

They cannot make you redundant and then put someone back into the same position. It is against most work laws, as far as I am aware.

[TrevorW]

Originally Posted by koputai

I occasionally work at govt places (as a supplier) and the levels of wasted humans is amazing. Every office has six people in it, and four of every six are sitting on their r's with their feet on the desk surfing the net.

Government jobs could easily be cut in half, those left would only have to do what they're meant to do, and things would work better than they do now.

Maybe we should just privatise ALL government departments.

Cheers,
Jason.

I'd have to agree I worked in private sector for 30 odd years prior to joining the Govt by default and I see this waste daily

[Terry B]

Not such a problem in the medical field. Depends on demand and supply I suppose.

[John0z (John)]

Definitely - 55 is over the hill. Seriously though you are only half-way. 2 years ago, I ruptured my Achilles tendon (Oct 2009). In Dec 2009 I was asked to go in for a meeting - my wife had to drive me, since I was still in a cast and on crutches. They told me that my job was no longer there and to look for another job. This was three weeks before Christmas - can you imagine trying to get job interviews and showing up on crutches? Anyway, I got retrenched in Jan 2010 and just got some project management work for a previous employer. I am still at it, but the work is very slow - this is in Europe so it means evening and night time meetings.

The advantage was a reasonable redundancy package and I have lots of time during the daytime to muck about with the garden, making odd things on the lathe and mill and playing badminton.

[TrevorW]

I've noticed that at work some of the oldie long time public servants are entrenched in their higher level positions biding their time until retirement because the State Govt will not do redundancies and when they rarely offer them they are not mandatory.

One chap I know who is a few years older than me has been in the PS for nearly 30 years is on $100,000 a year held the same position for several years comes in at 7:00 because he only lives 5 minutes from the office and goes home at 3:30 regularly and is forever taking holidays.

In my 7 years with the PS I've held 7 different acting roles with 7 different JDF's. The only reason I want a different position as I'm bored shxtless in my substantive role, actually believe it or not I really don't care about earning more money I just want a more challenging role, if it wasn't for my wife having MS I'd leave the flexible working hrs and security of the PS.

[koputai (Jason)]

Too true Trevor. I have a friend who has a govt job in Canberra, he has a countdown timer on his computer desktop that counts down until he can retire. He's been watching it for a couple of years now, and he's only 40! He sits there in his unfulfilling job, just taking the pay and waiting until he gets paid out. What a terrible way to live your life!

Cheers,
Jason.

[overlord (Charles)]

Originally Posted by brian nordstrom

Yep I turn 50 next year and have been passed over for the last 3 years for a cushy office job in a top 100 company , in the heavy engineering field , oil and gas . I was told point blank by the AU manager that I was to valuable running a work shop of now 30 boilermakers , pipe fitter and welders up here to move on up , What !!! .
I kicked up a stink and word filtered to the shop floor and my guys were worried I might snatch it and leave .
Made my heart sing that did , as some were ready to follow me.
The next week I was asked to see the boss and he was eating " Humble Pie " as he thought I was really gonna leave .
I now earn more a year than most shiny asses in their air conn'd offices and have a shiny new 2012 Hilux 4x4 as a work wagon .. .
Some times if you are to good at your job that there is no one to fill your shoes ,
Brian.

i see, so they are not allowed to be ageist, but u buy a new car?

[Hans Tucker (Hans)]

How many people today continue to review their CV and their skill set on a periodic basis to ensure they still can compete in the job market. I see a lot of stories where people have worked at a job for 20-30+ years and when the company decides to down size or retrench workers or offers redundancies these people are caught out.

If you are in an industry like IT or Sales/Marketing you realise you have to keep upgrading your skills to remain competitive in these industries. I remember a friends dad worked in the construction industry as an Engineer and use to send out his CV/Resume every 2 years to see if he was still employable and had the right skills for the changing industry.

[Matt Starwave (Paul)]

Over the hill can be defined when you grab your point and shoot scope far more often than any other.