Finding a Job as a Senior Wasn’t Easy
It wasn’t about ageism; it was about how the process has changed
I’ve been freelancing as a writer and voice actor for a couple of years, and I learned that self-employed money is uneven. It was even more so after I lost my voice for months.
I decided to take a part-time job to supplement my income, similar to what some of my retired friends do. I didn’t want anything fancy, just something with little stress, like a retail job at a small store.
It was interesting to see how different a job search in my 60s was. Some modern tools are as challenging as the old ways. For example, letting a website fill in your work history by uploading your resumé is a lesson in frustration. It makes so many mistakes that you might as well fill in the information manually from the beginning. AI is supposed to make this better. Yeah, right.
I learned not to put in my entire work history. If you want something that will show your age quickly, going back 30 years will do it. Ten years seemed to be the sweet spot.
Applications now ask for social media profiles, and they ask if you have a website. I was surprised because it seems like this could make a discrimination case against an employer fairly easy. However, it’s not allowed in all states.
