I turn 66 in a few weeks. I’ve been in IT since 1983. I’m currently on contract and have been for the last 8 years. I look about 20 years younger than I am and usually have no problem getting a job or contract, but I discovered something interesting: Every time I tried to become an actual employee for the last decade, once I had to put my birth year on any document, the process ended. And a couple ended “at the last minute”.
Thing is, though, I believe it is their right to make that decision. I’m fine with contracting at this point. Truth be told, I get paid more than the employees anyway. And I trust in the Lord for my future and he has been more than faithful.
I think that businesses that offer health care coverage as a benefit for their employees look at older candidates as a cost liability. Just a theory, as I am not a business owner, but even when in good health, insurance for older employees is higher than for young.
It’s probably a bad way to look at it, because qualitative concepts aside, I am sure you could probably quantify the productivity and efficiency benefits of hiring someone with more experience and better work ethics and they would offset possible benefit costs, but again, I am not personally familiar
I know a guy who was at the ‘required’ retirement age with 30 yrs at his company. They re-hired him as a contractor....they did not want him to leave as his work has been so advantageous to the company all those years, and he didn’t want to retire. They tweaked his responsibilites just a tad...(no overnight travel) and both are very happy with the arrangement. He wants to work as long as he can and that could be decades!
I'm retired now myself but when I was working I never had a problem with the age factor as I worked nearly all my adult life on a commission basis and had much experience that I was in demand up and until I actually decided to retire. My last employer when I was working actually tried to talk me out of retiring.
Perhaps it does just come down to money. In my case I made my employer money. I decided to make myself invaluable I suppose at an early age in my adult life and it paid off.
If 66, I really doubt you look 46. But good try....
I work in IT in Tech. I am 62. I consulted for about a decade after being burned out after working for one of the biggest companies in the United States. I decided to re-enter the work for in 2011 (also one compelling factor was the cost of health insurance)- I sent out a 7 or 8 resumes, got a bunch of interviews and 4 job offers. And I’ve been working full time with different companies since then. I am both thankful and fortunate.
I’ve been in IT since 1985, just turned 60 and I’ve seen a LOT of age discrimination. I look younger than 60 but as soon as I meet people in an in-person interview, the interview is over almost immediately. Usually the excuse is, oh, so-and-say couldn’t make the interview so we’ll have to reschedule, which never happens.
I’ve also been a contractor for 30+ years as I prefer contracting, which, I think, makes me more marketable. I get health insurance through the wife.
I’m currently contracting at a very well known company and I’m the only white guy in the large two story building. The managers let me work from home 99.9% of the time so I can’t really complain about that, just wish I didn’t have to renew my contract as often as I do.
My contract was scheduled to end about 2 weeks ago on my birthday of all days, but my H1B replacement who I trained quit days before my contract was supposed to end. I think I’m good for awhile now, but time will tell.
One thing I’d like to have is paid vacations but that’s not going to happen! :-)