"Mature" Engineer Job Search

Your age should not matter, only your ability to do the job...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_Discrimination_in_Employment_Act_of_1967

Take an aggressive stance mentally, and realize that this age thing is not an issue...Your qualifications are the only thing that matters...If they refuse to hire you based on age discrimination, you have the right to sue for damages....so get it in writing, or on video...

At 59, you need to work another ten years, unless independently wealthy.

Get on those job boards, and web sites, and be very selective which ones you use.

Targeted search might help you more. Target your resume' to only the companies you single out.

Here is somebody who knew just how to handle these sort of issues:

I wholeheartedly agree with making the most of LinkedIn. Although I no longer wish to find employment "offers" keep coming through to me there. You might also want to spend some time studying some of the information in these links. Another approach might be to register with some of the larger placement agencies. Temp work can be a good way to try different opportunities and, should you find the right one, maybe a chance for something more permanent.

My opinion,

Even though age should not matter 'legally', I would say it does, let's call it experience.

Companies under 50 will scrutinize lets say, your experience more, larger companies it may not. I don't know what type of experience or education you have, but it does put you in a very limited pigeon hole.

It's not impossible, but you should contact some professional job placement advisors as well as professional resume writers. This will definitely increase your odds.

And you have things going for you, and that is you are still employed looking for a change.

Secondly,... you don't know, unless you try.

Good luck,

This is all good advice.

I know age discrimination is against the law, but anyone by just knowing your name and city or town you live in can find your age in 30 seconds on the internet. This might be a full stop by the gate keepers.

Who else other than BestInShow has succeeded at finding a job while more mature?

I was laid-off at the age of 49 (my post on the topic)... not too old, but no spring chicken either. But, like others have said on this thread - networking, a solid legacy, and confidence will bust through any preconceived impression of your value based solely on your age.

Lyn makes a point I meant to include. Look at start-ups and other new and small companies. You won't make as much money, but your expertise will be greatly valued. A start-up holds the promise of stock options and cashing in if the company gets acquired.

I just had a random thought. Do you live near a business incubator or some other organization that supports innovation and experimentation? Something like this in Troy, NY (where GlobalSpec was born) or this, also in Troy. I don't know how possible it would be for someone like you to sort of make your expertise available to a project that you find interesting and that you figure you could contribute to.

Clearly, if anyone (other than me) knows about oldness, it is Lyn.

Just be wary of those companies that want only applicants with three post graduate degrees, 20+ years of experience and are offering only a term or apprentice salary.

On a more serious note, I've found that most recent graduates have no practical field experience. That is your advantage, use it. Show them how you are use to solving non-classroom problems. Experience is the valuable commodity you bring to their table. Knowing the latest app, buzzword, or trend is very useful in marketing and sales. You're looking for an engineering position. Engineers make things work. Experienced engineers not only know what happens when the real world differs from the classroom, they know how to fix it.

Lyn has good advise about the resume. Networking is another good way. Since I've retired at age 66, I've been offered several jobs because of my experience. I turned them all down because I just didn't want to work any longer. Only one I wish I had taken was a position as CIO of a local business with several locations. They are a non-profit so the pay was going to be half of what I had been making...looking back (20-20 hindsight) I should have taken it. I'd still be there at 73!

Why not go back to them, and ask if you can be of service? I plan to go to work for an old friend of mine (one or the other or both) after I retire from this city job.

I am responsible for very little, but what it is, is essential to the continued mission here, so I suppose it is worth all this money they pay me.

That train left the station when the CEO left.

After I became a technological dinosaur, I went to work for a small downtown non-profit.

I worked there for 16 years and I still go back occasionally just to visit.

It was/is like family to me. I still manage some property in downtown so I,m in the area once or twice a month and sometimes I stop by.

I never had any desire to re-visit any of my other former employers.

What is your specialty?

I keep getting calls from the local headhunters looking for engineers as supposedly there is a shortage right now.

My specialty is Reliability Engineering. Before this I have years of Mechanical Design and have done a lot of the typical stuff like Product Engineer, Development Engineer and Project Engineering. Over 35 years does that to a guy.

My degree is Industrial and Systems Engineering from Ohio University. Yes it is an ABET accredited Bachelor of Science degree.

We are struggling to find qualified and experienced engineers for a number of positions; and are actually looking for candidates that are in the latter parts of their careers to leverage their experience. If any of these positions are within your wheelhouse, PM me for additional information on how to apply. And one that is not listed, but one that we're always interested in are experienced industrial machine design engineers that show potential to grow into any of the listed positions.

I do not think age is an issue, in fact, we are looking for 'experienced' engineers presently... in your present state of residence. See this thread I posted in the Commercial Space advertising the positions.

The fact that some of us have a lot of experience makes for some interesting perceptions by perspective employers. I have been wearing out my brain trying to figure out what perspective employers want.

My sons are grown and everything I own is paid for so I am fully willing to change jobs for a lower level and lower pay position. I live in a small town that is at 80 miles from the closest city. Two recent experiences have made me rethink this.

I applied for a floor supervisor job at a food plant that is only 20 minutes from my house. The company is one of the largest food processors in the world and this particular plant has 1100 employees. I wrote my resume around supervision but did not hide the fact that I was an experienced engineer. The resume got through corporate HR and I was called and successfully passed a phone interview. I was asked to interview in the final selection process that was one of those half day, multiple interviewer affairs. Two of the interviewers separately asked why an experienced engineer with management, not just supervision, experience would want this job. I had a answer ready that involved: compensation level is fine, not going to quickly leave bla bla. All the discussions went very well and I even have some experience with a similar factory floor SW package. I was not offered the job. I with I knew the reason.

Prior to this I applied for a building and utilities manager in a school system not far from where I live. I wrote a resume specifically for the job and got interviewed. Due to plant project work that included building construction I met the required qualifications. This was also a lower level job than I have had, but being a State Employee would be worth. The panel interview went well. I did not get the job.

These experiences made me decide to open up my search to any location in the country but if I am going to move I want at least similar pay to what I currently have. Reliability Engineering appears to be an in demand specially and of everything I have done I have liked it the best.

OK so thats my long winded story. I'm trying no to be negative. Actually I am excited about open possibilities.

I feel your pain, at least vicariously. I lost track of how many jobs Mr. Best in Show applied for over the course of five years and the number of interviews he had. Some required him to develop presentations or otherwise spend a good bit of time preparing. He never heard back from most of them. My sense is that employers used him so they could check off a box on an EEO form. This could be what happened to you. And you'll never know, because the lawyers won't let the employer talk candidly with you or even in some cases send a "thanks but no thanks" letter. The lack of response is what rankled Mr. BIS the most.

Keeping my fingers crossed for you!

Have you ever worked in the Power Generation business?

Reliability of of key concern in this industry. If a unit is struck for dispatch, there had best be able to latch her in phase on time, and with the required dispatchable output.

Thanks for the encouragement guys.

The last position I took was through a temp service as a temp-to-permanent hire. It's worked well for me twice now. The downside is it takes 6 months to a year to go regular and get benefits, but on the plus side, you have an agent (pimp?) out there drumming up work.

BTW, State of Oregon sent out postcards (probably to anyone with a PE) saying that they are looking for project managers/engineers. You might want to check it out.

LinkedIn has a good feature today about how employers are actively seeking older workers, in part because they can't fill all the jobs they have open and in part because -- surprise! -- older workers are talented. This shift may bode well for you and others who want to make a change.

Now it is hitting the dairy industry, but just because they need dairy workers, does not mean I would volunteer for it. The work is hard and the pay is not high.

Leave her, Johnny, leave her. The starboard bilge is a lot like the crew, all stove up, and just will not do. Leave her, Johnny, leave her.

Happy ending (I think).

I recently accepted a new job. After background check, criminal check and physical I should have a start date.

I so much appreciate the encouragement from this thread. Even though I have possibly "too much" experience, here is the formula that I think worked to get a new job: I concentrated on a specialty I have. Therefor my experience would be highly valued by a perspective employer.

With this approach I was resigned to the fact that I would be moving because there are fewer of these particular jobs out there. This did however enable me to not compete with the thousands of younger folks for Production Engineers, Project Engineers, Product Managers etc.

I made a resume that mostly catered to skills I had acquired in a chosen specialty. Then I responded to a few openings on indeed and careerbuilder. I soon received interest and even turned down one offer. I recently accepted a job that is an excellent fit and values my experience and amazingly is only 35 miles from my home!

I would say choose a specialty and go for that since real experience may be highly valued.

This is terrific news! And your post will be good advice for the next "mature engineer" who comes to the forum asking for similar advice. Thank you so much for letting us know about your happy ending!

When you get it,... congratulations!

With this approach I was resigned to the fact that I would be moving .....

.... amazingly is only 35 miles from my home!

You wouldn't have to be moving then correct?

Yep, no need to move at just 35 miles. I really expected to move to one of the larger Ohio cities or even further like Detroit, Chicago, Atlanta, wherever.

Congratulations! What a nice holiday present.

Congratulations, and Happy New Year!

Is there anyone who knows what sort of job does an engineer has in any courier company as mostly software developer and any other?

"What a long strange trip it's been."

I have not posted here for a long time. I took the Reliability Engineer job and since have changed again. I have learned that with a specially it is definitely possible to change engineering jobs later in your career.

The RE job I went to was at a dysfunctional and toxic place. I did not realize when I took the job that I was the third RE. The other two before me had quit or were fired. The company had sold multiple times and was being squeezed for all it was worth. Supervision at this plant was a revolving door so I was reassigned to fill a maintenance supervisor position along with my RE job. I literally got in trouble for concentrating on root causes of problems with a vision to correct systemic errors. After a year of this, I began looking for another RE job and found a surprising amount of interest including a job offer I turned down.

Just for the heck of it I called the VP of a company I had worked at for over ten years in management and he offered me an Engineering Job. I am back at this company doing new projects and process improvements. It's the best job I have had in years!!

Congratulations.

Thank you.

All's well that ends well....everybody loves a happy ending

Gone fishin'....

I noticed you are in Ohio. Anywhere close to Springfield? Our company actually likes older employees. We just had one retire that had been here for 55 years and was 76 years old. Sell your experience. Younger mechanical engineers usually need about ten years of experience before they really understand what happens in a production environment. We may be looking for a mechanical engineer soon. Contact me by private e-mail if interested.