As an "older communications guy" as well, John, I hear you loud and clear. Two stints with the CBC lasting a combined 25 years. In the last three or so, I was constantly being overlooked for on-air roles in favour of much younger "talent". But those doing the hiring were the same ages. Experience didn't matter at all. If you're considered over the hill at 65 in broader society, you're definitely a dinosaur in radio and TV at 45.
If I could hire you, I would, because you make me laugh. What else could you possibly want from an employee. There’s another thing you didn’t touch on when dealing with the “Are you still working?” question: pure functionality. In other words, are you still operational. Takes a licking, keeps on ticking.
It just creeps up on you. You are still looking at the world with ageless eyes, but the chap that shaves with you every more tells another story. Press on…and damn the torpedoes. Thank you for a very good story and best of luck.
I admire your persistence and unwillingness to roll over and play dead. I have the advantage of never being a work oriented person so aging has not presented that problem in addition to all the others. Anyone who expresses himself as well as you do can't help but be an asset to a business, an agency, an organization of some kind.
Sandy Gifford--83, Yes, I am still working. We moved to CA when I was 58, hired as a Law Firm Manager, replacing the person retiring, who was 58. I was recruited out to another, larger firm when I was 60. This firm went bankrupt when I was 64 and I was looking for work for 18 months. At 66-70 I worked for 2 other small firms. At 70 I took a job near home and was there until I was 78 and was laid off. Another year looking for work and I found a job in the city, 30 miles and a train ride away for about 18 months. This was right after the pandemic I was terminated here and looking again I started looking a non profits and was hired 18 months ago as offie manager for a church near home, 5 days a week for 5 hours a day. I just kept plodding along, survived partially on unemployment and was fortunate to be on Medicare for most of this time. Just keep going--never can tell what is just around the corner--good or bad.
Sandy Gifford-83 Yes I am still working. We moved to CA when I was 58 hired to be a law firm manager, recruited out of there when I was 60. Firm went bankrupt in 4 years and I was without a job at 64 and without work for a ou 18 months, found jobs at two different firms from the time I was 66-70. I was then hired by a firm at 70 and was there until I was 78 and was laid off.Off work for another 18 months and went to a firm in the city,
Wry, witty, thought-provoking– your essay resonated with me. I have never been a nine to fiver, but I love continuing to work on my own terms, even now. Thank you, John!
Ah yes the age old question, "What are you doing?"
I like to study who's asking. In my particular case that question is another way of asking "Do you have enough money to retire?"
No I do not.
That's why I'm still offended on working or semi-retired. But I've been doing this since around 35 years old.
I don't "need something to do" and volunteering my time is subjective... if you need help I'm here for you... if you want me to spend a few hours giving random tours in a museum for free, no thank you.
Good article, touchy subject for me. (In case you hadn't noticed.)
I'm also out there scaring up contracts to avoid the dreaded "retirement". I love working and have thankfully done many types of work over the years so I can look in different areas for freelance gigs. But competing with 50 and 60 year old's is the challenge. I don't know when it happened but I now see them as "young-un's".
I suspect this conundrum of ageist hiring practices will eventually be solved by demographics as the birth rate continues low and the pool of competent workers swings older. But in the short term, writing (as you've done so well in this essay) and self-publishing is one route to productivity that is open to all. Publishers, with their prejudices (including ageism), are no longer gatekeepers.
I LOVE your essay, John. It is funny, real, fiesty, insistent. Gorgeously written. "Become" an inspirational writer? I am still working at 81. The hell with 'em, I say.
I can identify with your story; I had to change all my definitions. Work is accomplishing tasks, with or without monetary compensation. Work after career is certain to be different. If you own a business, you can’t be fired or retired without consent. Look for places with workers older then you, then apply. They have already figured it out.
As an "older communications guy" as well, John, I hear you loud and clear. Two stints with the CBC lasting a combined 25 years. In the last three or so, I was constantly being overlooked for on-air roles in favour of much younger "talent". But those doing the hiring were the same ages. Experience didn't matter at all. If you're considered over the hill at 65 in broader society, you're definitely a dinosaur in radio and TV at 45.
If I could hire you, I would, because you make me laugh. What else could you possibly want from an employee. There’s another thing you didn’t touch on when dealing with the “Are you still working?” question: pure functionality. In other words, are you still operational. Takes a licking, keeps on ticking.
Thanks Spyro! Most parts are still working!
It just creeps up on you. You are still looking at the world with ageless eyes, but the chap that shaves with you every more tells another story. Press on…and damn the torpedoes. Thank you for a very good story and best of luck.
P.S. I forgot to say that during my last 15 years of being on and off laid off, I was getting social security for the prior 30 years I had worked
I admire your persistence and unwillingness to roll over and play dead. I have the advantage of never being a work oriented person so aging has not presented that problem in addition to all the others. Anyone who expresses himself as well as you do can't help but be an asset to a business, an agency, an organization of some kind.
Sandy Gifford--83, Yes, I am still working. We moved to CA when I was 58, hired as a Law Firm Manager, replacing the person retiring, who was 58. I was recruited out to another, larger firm when I was 60. This firm went bankrupt when I was 64 and I was looking for work for 18 months. At 66-70 I worked for 2 other small firms. At 70 I took a job near home and was there until I was 78 and was laid off. Another year looking for work and I found a job in the city, 30 miles and a train ride away for about 18 months. This was right after the pandemic I was terminated here and looking again I started looking a non profits and was hired 18 months ago as offie manager for a church near home, 5 days a week for 5 hours a day. I just kept plodding along, survived partially on unemployment and was fortunate to be on Medicare for most of this time. Just keep going--never can tell what is just around the corner--good or bad.
Sandy Gifford-83 Yes I am still working. We moved to CA when I was 58 hired to be a law firm manager, recruited out of there when I was 60. Firm went bankrupt in 4 years and I was without a job at 64 and without work for a ou 18 months, found jobs at two different firms from the time I was 66-70. I was then hired by a firm at 70 and was there until I was 78 and was laid off.Off work for another 18 months and went to a firm in the city,
Wry, witty, thought-provoking– your essay resonated with me. I have never been a nine to fiver, but I love continuing to work on my own terms, even now. Thank you, John!
Ah yes the age old question, "What are you doing?"
I like to study who's asking. In my particular case that question is another way of asking "Do you have enough money to retire?"
No I do not.
That's why I'm still offended on working or semi-retired. But I've been doing this since around 35 years old.
I don't "need something to do" and volunteering my time is subjective... if you need help I'm here for you... if you want me to spend a few hours giving random tours in a museum for free, no thank you.
Good article, touchy subject for me. (In case you hadn't noticed.)
I'm also out there scaring up contracts to avoid the dreaded "retirement". I love working and have thankfully done many types of work over the years so I can look in different areas for freelance gigs. But competing with 50 and 60 year old's is the challenge. I don't know when it happened but I now see them as "young-un's".
I suspect this conundrum of ageist hiring practices will eventually be solved by demographics as the birth rate continues low and the pool of competent workers swings older. But in the short term, writing (as you've done so well in this essay) and self-publishing is one route to productivity that is open to all. Publishers, with their prejudices (including ageism), are no longer gatekeepers.
I LOVE your essay, John. It is funny, real, fiesty, insistent. Gorgeously written. "Become" an inspirational writer? I am still working at 81. The hell with 'em, I say.
I can identify with your story; I had to change all my definitions. Work is accomplishing tasks, with or without monetary compensation. Work after career is certain to be different. If you own a business, you can’t be fired or retired without consent. Look for places with workers older then you, then apply. They have already figured it out.