Older New Grads: Exp. looking for job

sg2629 · Apr 10, 2008

Is it perhaps just the job market in your area?

I graduated in Dec 2007, at the age of 49. I was also concerned about my age but overall, it did not seem to make a difference. Although they cannot ask your age, you can figure it out based on info they require: High School graduate date, previous employers (dates of employment). The closest I came to any sort of comment was my employment history. But the spin was positive. The manager indicated the experience would be a valuable asset (even though not directly healthcare related). Another manager indicated that I had life experience that would be valuable and could not be taught to younger applicants. Now please keep in mind, I'm in the Chicago area, but I interviewed at various facilities and was offered a total of 5 different positions. And after finally finishing nursing school, I looked (and felt) every day of my age!!

There is a position out there for you. You have something valuable to offer, be positive, and try not to get discouraged. It is just a matter of time until an HR or nurse manager recognizes it!!

PennyNickelDime_RN · Apr 10, 2008

Thanks for your words of encouragement. This recruiter DID ask me my age.

Poopsie Gigglebuns · Apr 19, 2008

i'm not sure i would want to work for a place that skirts around basic employment law...like asking your age! if their ethics are that bad in recruiting...what else might there be?

Columnist · Apr 20, 2008

This recruiter DID ask me my age.

This is blatantly illegal. I would complain (you can do so anonymously, I believe) to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). You should be able to Google this phrase plus your state's name to find the contact information. Please do so, as it will benefit all the rest of us!

If this comes up in the future, I would advise you to have a response thought out, such as, "Why do you ask?" or "I'd prefer not to give you that information" or "Employment law says I do not have to provide my age."

I know, it's easier said than done.

But on to your other question, about job-hunting experiences. I am 47 years old. I have been recruited by just about every department in which I've had a clinical experience. Unfortunately, my husband is being transferred out of state, and I have to look for a job there (where nobody knows me). It has been discouraging, to say the least. However, one prospective employer asked for an unofficial transcript (which lists my DOB) and interviewed me anyway. Apparently, my age didn't matter to them.

What I'm finding is that, although I invested nearly 1/3 of my clinical hours in the specialty I wish to pursue, prospective employers won't interview me for a specialty position. They all want to pigeon-hole me into their "new grad program," which typically involves night shifts -- the one thing I won't do. (I'll even [happily] do med-surg.) And these are organizations that have multiple daytime shifts in my specialty! (But they still want me to do a year of med-surg night shifts.) It's pretty frustrating.

I'm glad you started this thread, because I was interested in hearing others' job-hunting experiences and strategies.

Best of luck to you! Your age is nothing; don't let it hold you back!

Semisweetchick

*ac* · Apr 20, 2008

I am in the same age range and just graduated in December.

Haven't had any issues with interviews.

I think if they ask your age and then don't hire you, you may have a case against them. Not that I'd want to go down that road, but it IS discrimination.

On another note, I took a job where I have to do a few nights per month. I really limited my job search to positions that required as few nights as possible and this was the best I could do. Believe or not, the nights are not that bad and if I had it to do over again, I wouldn't limit myself.

If we got through nursing school at this age, we can do anything, right? Right. Even nights.