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I am fast approaching 62. Three years ago I had moved to a southern state with family and got caught in the economic downturn. I have not had a full time permanent job since. I had to move in with friends to have a roof over my head. In the 10 months I lived in a bedroom, I made the decision to go back to graduate school, a scary proposition. At the advice of a friend, I as going to be a librarian. I studied was accepted and moved to school. Graduate school was very difficult but I studied hard, made good grades, and graduated at the top of my class. I picked a place I wanted to live and got an internship. At the end of my internship I was offered a temporary job and a friend offered me a place to stay. I put my furniture in storage and went hoping this would secure a "real" job. Six interviews later, no job and I am back living in a bedroom. I am starting my job search in a different part of the country but very discouraged and depressed. The future looks bleak that I will have a home and a job anytime soon....I am beginning to wonder if I get passed over in jobs due to my age? Any words of wisdom for 2012?

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Newborn60 Nancy your endeavor has been ammirable, I cannot say you if our age is one reason for not getting a job here in your country where I am living now, but you can be sure that in my Brasil where I was born, I had been jobless on my 45, and untill I arrive on my sixties I only got ordinaries ones, which some I had to take in order to keep my private life, unfortunately I ended up going to live at my sister's family house, with a small pension, a minimum salary , due also to a maculopathy in my right eye, I need to say, I also had a hard time , is not easy to listen so often that we are at somebody's favor, even if this person is from our family, but I say you never give up on your dreams, be determined as I always was, at any moment something good can happens in your life, as It happened to me, I got my first and last love here in the USA, I married last month, and my husband works hard to keep us the most confortable as possible, it does not mean I give up on getting a job, I need to help my mate, there is a recession here, and when people get retired the pension becomes shorter.Good luck.
Sun Jan 22, 2012, 8:25:51 PM EST

Newborn60 Nancy your endeavor has been ammirable, I cannot say you if our age is one reason for not getting a job here in your country where I am living now, but you can be sure that in my Brasil where I was born, I had been jobless on my 45, and untill I arrive on my sixties I only got ordinaries ones, which some I had to take in order to keep my private life, unfortunately I ended up going to live at my sister's family house, with a small pension, a minimum salary , due also to a maculopathy in my right eye, I need to say, I also had a hard time , is not easy to listen so often that we are at somebody's favor, even if this person is from our family, but I say you never give up on your dreams, be determined as I always was, at any moment something good can happens in your life, as It happened to me, I got my first and last love here in the USA, I married last month, and my husband works hard to keep us the most confortable as possible, it does not mean I give up on getting a job, I need to help my mate, there is a recession here, and when people get retired the pension becomes shorter.Good luck.
Sun Jan 22, 2012, 8:25:59 PM EST

Storylady5 Nancy: I've been a librarian for almost 4 decades. Right now, I consider myself lucky to be employed. I've looked for an improved position, recently, and am also running into the "age" wall. As I'm sure you know, by now, libraries are not in good shape, around the country. Services and hours are being cut as well as staff. My hope is that, in addition to traditional library skills, you studied computer technology because that's the thing that will make you saleable. Unfortunately, you may be interviewing with directors who are significantly younger than you and may be intimidated by your age and life experience. try to stress in interviews that you are not adverse to working as part of a team of all ages. Also, you may be asked in a subtle way (so as not to violate law) how long you intend to work. My answer would be as long as possible. this is defintely not an easy market and there are a lot of librarians, both experienced and newbies, looking for work.
Mon Jan 23, 2012, 8:14:29 AM EST

southerngrits Thank you both for your encouraging comments. Life doesn't always hand us a perfect set of cards! StoryLady I am very aware of all the points that you bring up, especially just coming out of library school. I am trying to find different ways to use my degree outside of the traditional library just have not had enough time to explore.I was very disappointed when I got passed over so many times in the library system I was working in.. I would be interested to know how many baby boomer women are in the same fix and what they are doing to cope. Has anyone seen a blog or site that would explore career changes for us late bloomers.Thanks again!
Mon Jan 23, 2012, 4:46:40 PM EST

Storylady5 You're a librarian now, aren't you? Do a "google" search. What I found was a lot of articles about career changing in your 50s (mostly about people who go back to teaching or go into entrepreneurial enterprises)or some very disturbing articles about age discrimination. Most say that you have to be prepared to take a downgrade. Of course you know not to show more than 10 years on your resume (not that it helps. As soon as they ask for your year of h.s. graduation, you're doomed, to dress and appear as young as possible (including coloring your hair if it is gray), and I'd add to make sure that you are current on library practices. I hope you didn't go into the field thinking that all we do is push books, these days. Know how to use Kindles, Nooks, and I-pads. Be prepared for questions about handling "problem" patrons (they don't teach that in library school and it's critical to the job). consider starting out in a circulation job because it's the place where a lot of librarians fear to tread. Also, be prepared for having to enter as a library assistant. Considering the time in front of you, it may be tough to advance out as your younger colleagues might, but it will get you into a library and paraprofessionals do most of the hands-on library work, these days.
Mon Jan 23, 2012, 6:55:47 PM EST

Storylady5 You're a librarian now, aren't you? Do a "google" search. What I found was a lot of articles about career changing in your 50s (mostly about people who go back to teaching or go into entrepreneurial enterprises)or some very disturbing articles about age discrimination. Most say that you have to be prepared to take a downgrade. Of course you know not to show more than 10 years on your resume (not that it helps. As soon as they ask for your year of h.s. graduation, you're doomed, to dress and appear as young as possible (including coloring your hair if it is gray), and I'd add to make sure that you are current on library practices. I hope you didn't go into the field thinking that all we do is push books, these days. Know how to use Kindles, Nooks, and I-pads. Be prepared for questions about handling "problem" patrons (they don't teach that in library school and it's critical to the job). consider starting out in a circulation job because it's the place where a lot of librarians fear to tread. Also, be prepared for having to enter as a library assistant. Considering the time in front of you, it may be tough to advance out as your younger colleagues might, but it will get you into a library and paraprofessionals do most of the hands-on library work, these days.
Mon Jan 23, 2012, 6:56:13 PM EST

Storylady5 You're a librarian now, aren't you? Do a "google" search. What I found was a lot of articles about career changing in your 50s (mostly about people who go back to teaching or go into entrepreneurial enterprises)or some very disturbing articles about age discrimination. Most say that you have to be prepared to take a downgrade. Of course you know not to show more than 10 years on your resume (not that it helps. As soon as they ask for your year of h.s. graduation, you're doomed, to dress and appear as young as possible (including coloring your hair if it is gray), and I'd add to make sure that you are current on library practices. I hope you didn't go into the field thinking that all we do is push books, these days. Know how to use Kindles, Nooks, and I-pads. Be prepared for questions about handling "problem" patrons (they don't teach that in library school and it's critical to the job). consider starting out in a circulation job because it's the place where a lot of librarians fear to tread. Also, be prepared for having to enter as a library assistant. Considering the time in front of you, it may be tough to advance out as your younger colleagues might, but it will get you into a library and paraprofessionals do most of the hands-on library work, these days.
Mon Jan 23, 2012, 6:56:15 PM EST

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