Wire and Cable Technology Blog

I have never been discriminated for my age, I'm not that old (44) but I do have a story that I didn't understand until it happened to me.

When I was around 15 years old my father moved us about 20 miles from where we had lived for most of my life. He then commuted but tried to find work locally in his field. He went to a local agency where the work was compatible with his. After several months with no call back he returned to the agency and got a shock...The supervisor told him, off the record of course, that if he hired my dad with his wealth of knowledge and decades of field experience he, the supervisor, would be out of a job within 6 months if my father's application made it to his boss.

I had a similar experience with a company called Emcore about 16 years ago. I made it through 3 supervisors with no problem but the Safety manager said that with my haz-mat background alone I could take his job (he was only filling the position with no real experience). Sometimes too much experience is a bad thing.

This exactly how consultants get started though.

This story is proof that you should start interviewing at the top, not the appropriate levels...

Network with the bigshots.

I remember being told as a young man that I lacked experience and that I was worth more in the labor market (I worked in steel mill) than I was as a degreed professional.

I stayed in the mill, and worked up to Lab Supervisor.

6 or seven years ago interviewers said that they couldn't afford to pay me what i was worth... So as a "product" we're Never just right.

But the issue of less competent people being afraid of those of us who are firghteningly competent...

DAMN RIGHT, and rightfully so. People die when fools play expert.

milo

I have been an electronic engineering tech for more than 25 yrs both in the USAF and civilian. Most of my time has been aviation related. I went to real estate and mortgages for about 5 yrs, but I kept my hand in and stayed current. Since the market went bust I have worked at other things to bring in some money and for the last year I worked temp jobs through Kelly Engineering Services, but I had no success in finding permanent employment. I spoke to several recruiters and had my resume reviewed twice. The answer I am getting is that even after drumming down my resume I am over qualified for most of the offered jobs and the hiring managers are afraid that I will take their jobs. I normally do not get the curtsy of a reply.

Many times, "too qualified" really means he wants more money than we are willing to pay. If it were a tradesman, I personally would prefer him over the guy with less experience.

I was on the laughing side of age discrimination. When I was around 30 I had a job of designing a house to fit on a small lot and remove the existing house. I knew of an older gentleman who would like the salvaged material for his place and asked him to show up and I would give him all he wanted. I would even supply him with labour help to load. The project took four days to remove the house and haul it away to his place where he would have to unload on his own. On the third day I phoned and asked where the labours where, "They're here and refuse to work with that guy, he's a slave driver". The older man was 75 years old and the labours were 25!!! I never let those "young" guys ever live it down. (panties)

"Too Experienced"? or how about pay for what you know and don't worry about the younger generation they will be here before they know it!!

I've been though the overqualified to work here dilemma several times. I too tried the dumb down the resume and interview bit once and even got the job because of it.

A few weeks into the job it became apparent to my boss that I had far more skills and knowledge than he and I was continually and often times unknowingly showing it to his superiors.

I didn't want his job and often used my skills and knowledge to help make his job easier. I just didn't let him get credit for my work when he tried to pass it off as his own to his superiors. It didn't take long for him to replace me with the local village idiot buddy of his.

If you have skills they will ultimately show through. Even when you have the job a person who has the power to get rid of you will likely do it if you appear to him to be an even slightly plausible threat to his keeping his overpaid cushy job and benefits.

The best hire the best. The second best hire the third best.

Thanks for that!

milo