Am I too old ?

[hussar]

I am having a dilemma, I have been accepted in to college for a 2 year course studying mental health and human services but need to earn some wonga (money) so having been a truck driver for the best part of 20 years decided to apply for a job.
I came over to the USA from England about 2 years ago taking 12 months off to fix up the property (needed it bad) then started looking for work but not driving as I had, had enough of that. Well thanks to good old George W the economy here in Oregon is dire and jobs are like rocking horse crap (non existant) unless you are a brain surgeon. Yesterday I applied for a job driving with a firm that would also get me my CDL, got a reply, I am not suitable, WTF 20 years driving semi's, I am not suitable !??.
I am 45, 46 this December, questions : am I too old, am I now in that bracket ? should I do the college course ? will there be an opportunity of employment if I do ? can I afford it without a job ?

Sorry folks if I sound confused, it's just that I am.

[Kamika]

1. what will you be?

What will you be after the college course? unless its something super i wouldnt do it, because ppl arent keen on employing older ppl unless theyre something spectactular.

[zanana]

2. You're a baby!

Take the courses! It's not like you'll ever regret learning something. And I think that 45 is quite employable.

[zanana]

3. You're a baby!

Take the courses! It's not like you'll ever regret learning something. And I think that 45 is quite employable.

[greatauntoftriplets]

4. I guess I am spectacular then,

because I am 54 and employed.

[SiobhanClancy]

17. I'm not spectacular...

since I lost my job and am 50,I guess I'd better just forget about it!:)

[greatauntoftriplets]

19. Siobhan, you got screwed.

Repeat after me: "I am 50 and spectacular". ;)

[hussar]

6. Good question

I started to do a counselling course in England and that is what I wanted to pursue over here, the course would give me qualifications to do that but as you say I will be even older after the 2 year course.
I feel great and am a good all rounder and a quick learner but am starting to feel worthless with this ageism.

[CBHagman]

11. Nonsense. You're generalizing.

There are certain benefits to age and experience (for example, learning how to punctuate contractions).

To the person who started the thread:

Many people go through several careers, and retraining is common. Don't let people get away with ageist attitudes. You are NOT too old.

[greatauntoftriplets]

5. Take the courses.

The mental health industry needs qualified people.

[hussar]

8. So I heard

Checked out the job situation for the mental health field and the forecast is good compared to other industries and it happens to be something I'm interested in.

[nuxvomica]

7. Did they say why you were not suitable?

Don't expect that age should prevent you from doing what you want to do and I wouldn't assume that this firm is the same as all others. Keep in mind that we are in a very bad economy now. I see posts about people losing their jobs, getting pay cuts, etc. I see the same thing happening among the people I know.
The victims of this AWOLian economy make the mistake of seeing their loss as a reflection on themselves as people. This is certainly understandable but folks should be careful about defining their value as workers within the current context.
I hope things go well for you, if only because you gave me a nifty new expression: "Rare as rocking-horse crap."

[GOPisEvil]

9. Actually, you might have an age discrimination case.

If you were not hired solely for the reason of your age (and you can prove that) you might have a claim. Being over 40, you are a protected class...you might consult with the equal employment opportunity commission. Just a thought...

Oh, if you have the opportunity to educate yourself further in a profession that is sorely needed, do it! I say go for the degree!

[madrchsod]

10. welcome to the usa

over 45? well you`re a health risk so our premiuns will be higher.are you a citizen? to much government red tape-plus you`ll go back overseas.go to college and pray that this nightmare will be over next year..i`m going to be 57 and i`ll never be able to go back to the jobs i`ve done all my life. it sucks but that`s the usa.....

[HereSince1628]

12. Age discriminiation is real and needed a law to try to stop it

the law protects people older than 40. So...that is a benchmark that trouble in America can be expected after that.

The 20-something interviewer at a database company kept asking me "WHEN did you graduate from high school?" even after I gave her the date. Strange since I have a PH.D. and she didn't ask about that date at all... My assumption was that she didn't think Australopithecines had high schools to attend in the 1970's.

[hussar]

13. They never gave a reason

they just said they receive around 5000 applications a month !!!!!

guess I will do the college thing but still need to do some part time work.

This age thing is a real bummer.

[commander bunnypants]

14. Go for the education

I am employed in Human Services. Very employable but will never make much money. Good luck



DDQM

[hussar]

15. Yes the money thing is a concern

I have a dream of having 100 acres and from what I have heard the earning potential in the Mental health srevices field is not too good so that is also a dilemma.
I know being a truck driver isn't good but the money seems ok, I'm soooooo confused.

[commander bunnypants]

16. Well I just bought a big house

But I keep going. My dream is to break 60k one day. But through all the frustration I love what I do

DDQM

[zekeson]

18. Take the course

In two years you will be 47. Do you want to be 47 with or without the course? The thing about time is you never get it back. If you spend the next two years lookign for work you might find something, granted. If you take the course you mind find something through the course, but you will have it under your belt. You ARE NOT too old, the first post stating so was silly. You mnight never make CEO of IBM at this point, but, hell, neither will 57 billion others.

[pippin]

20. go for it!

your chronological age has nothing to do with anything. in my almost thirty years of teaching college the oldest person to graduate was almost 80! AND she went on to grad school.
college is not only to prepare you for a job--that's what vocational
ed schools do. while in college somewhere along on the way you'll take courses that may not relate directly to what ever you have in mind.

The REAL job of a college education (and the courses students often don't see the point of taking) is to open up possibilities you may never have thought about on your own. in the process you grow--unlike the types who get stuck and become stupid republicans!

good luck! ;-)

[Droopy]

21. I've been driving for seven years......

And from what I can tell, in the trucking business the more experience the better. You should be very employable with twenty years experience. They should be dying to get you in the cab, actually. Try a different company, there are a lot of them that offer free CDL training if you sign a year contract. I broke in that way with a company called CRST. And don't go thinking you're too old or anything else. Most trucking companies here in the States are always needing drivers.

Okay, that out of the way. Won't going back on the road make it impossible for you to go to school?

[hussar]

23. Thanks for that Droopy

I am feeling better about it now, think I will do the college course and try for part time work, maybe just maybe after the course I wil be able to get work in that field.
Keep on trucking.

[TrogL]

22. 45 isn't old to drive

They should be going on driving record.

[Pobeka]

24. You aren't too old

"Not suitable" sends a red flag up for me. If they can't be more specific, then they are not telling you the truth. It may mean they already have another candidate pegged for the job (like someone's relative ...). It may mean they think you are an insurance risk. As other posters have mentioned, if age is what is truly concerning them, then they are bumping up against the law, so they can't say it outright. If this is how they hire, then it is a sign of their ethics anyway.

On the taking college course side of things, I urge you to "follow your bliss". If it's something you have a true desire to do, and can make it happen, then go for it. You will not always be this young, take advantage of your youth.

[DemExpat]

25. I'm 52 and half way thru my University studies.....

a Social Science degree in International Studies with Human Geography and Politics....

Counselling is also a profession you can practice on a more free-lance basis - I say, definitely GO FOR IT!

:kick:

DemEx