Older job hunters and the creation of uselessness

Karl also dyed the grey out of his hair and went to a solarium to try and look younger.

Michaela’s PhD almost doomed her to a life on the dole. I recast her CV as a senior administration officer and her referees agreed to the fabrication. She had indeed been a senior administrator at university but her research field of semiotics probably wouldn’t be much use to in her new job as a call centre supervisor.

Peter is still looking for a job. In part his problem is living in Adelaide, where there is keen competition for white-collar communication and business jobs.

“It has been a harrowing process (looking for a job). It has effected my belief in myself. I’ve been knocked back so many times. I’m lucky that I have a loving and supporting partner otherwise I’d be stuffed. I don’t brag. Maybe that’s it, but I figure the balance of probabilities has to turn in my favour soon,” Peter says.

This is no place to examine life cycle studies that show that hiring older staff brings with it maturity and stability way beyond any functional measure of “organisational fit”.

One has to wonder about the existence of age prejudice in the 21st century, when economies so badly need experienced and stable workers. It’s a hangover from the 19th century that refuses to go away and, unless fixed, will impede any government productivity and employment initiatives for the next 30 years.