Worker Suspects Discrimination

Q: I am 40 years old, but have been an information technology professional for seven years. I have several vendor certifications and a master’s degree in the field. My wife was having our first baby this year, so I left my job to help her with the initial postpartum problems. A couple months after the baby was born, I began a job search.

I sent out hundreds of resumes and had only a few interviews; so far I’ve been unsuccessful. Before I left my last job, I noticed that some of the projects were being given to younger employees, though I had more knowledge in those areas, understood the new technology more quickly than they did and scored higher percentages in the company’s certification exams.

I suspect I’m not getting a position because of my age. How do I impress an employer that I am equally, if not more, capable?

A: You could have applied for a leave of absence under the Family Medical Leave Act rather than quitting your job, and it was shabby of your former company to not have informed you of that option. You should have also dealt with the possible age discrimination before you left.

Now that you’re unemployed, you’ll need to sharpen your resume so it outshines your competition and bone up on your interviewing skills. Try highlighting the last seven to 10 years on the resume. If you receive more interviews but no job offers once your resume is buffed up, you’ll have a better chance of proving age discrimination. Your choices will then be to keep plugging away at your job search or to talk to an employment lawyer about filing a lawsuit.

Make sure your goals match your skills

Q: I took the accounting curriculum portion of the MBA program and graduated cum laude in my undergraduate studies. I am also retired from the Army Security Agency, where I was highly decorated and had super job assignments. But for the past two years here in a small city in Iowa I have made $10 an hour as a bookkeeper with a raise to $11 after a year and a half.

When I called regarding an advertised job, the wife of the president of the company answered and asked me how old I was. The next day she interviewed me at their home and said how good it was that they could save money by hiring me and not having to use a big accounting firm. This is an example of what I face here.

How can I prove I was asked an age-related question? How can I get a CPA designation when you have to work at an accounting firm for two years and these firms don’t hire entry-level accountants over 33 years old?

A: It sounds like you are aiming at a career that doesn’t entirely fit with your education and job experience. Skills and training in the service are not always easily transferable to the corporate world. Rather than complain about the difficulties in becoming a CPA at your age and in your state, meet with an executive recruiter or career coach. This person can help you evaluate your skills that can easily transfer to the corporate goals. Or you may discover you have talents for certain types of jobs you hadn’t previously considered.

There are pros and cons to every job market, and only you can decide your priorities. Instead of staying in a town with limited opportunities, you may want to move to a location with a more lucrative job market. Also, because you’ve pursued excellence in your studies and in your Army career, it sounds like you might be happier working for a larger, more professionally run company.