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Another momentum builder. It's gonna' happen.

Thanks...today was Bill's last day at Chevron (Unocal). His job was eliminated in the transition to Chevron's processes. He's 51. It would be great if something like Johnny Nash hearing this music and either asking us if he could record one of the songs or giving the Citykings a vital connection would take place, leading to financial success...it is extremely difficult to make a successful job change once you're in your 50s, unless you create a new market for yourself. Bill will be able to get unemployment, but he doesn't have another job lined up. He's taken training to do piano tuning and guitar repair. He's also telling me to start taking out ads in the paper as a music teacher. You gotta do this kind of stuff in lieu of making french fries, and there is no guarantee that you'll even get that. Randolph giving that CD to Johnny Nash was something I was hoping would happen ever since we made the CD. Cheers, WC1

I know what you mean WC. My wife went through 2 years of job interviews before she landed a job and she's 50. (O.K..... let's not tell anybody I said that). Cours' they didn't /couldn't say age was a factor, but it didn't take too much reading between the lines to figure that out. 20-30 somethings kept fillin' the positions.
But, about the time she was resigning herself to being permanently unemployed, ............. she got her foot in the door. She's workin' odd hours at a fraction of the old jobs pay, but she likes what she does so she's "Good To Go".

Job market is tough these dayz', but doable with persistence.

I know what you mean WC. My wife went through 2 years of job interviews before she landed a job and she's 50. (O.K..... let's not tell anybody I said that). Cours' they didn't /couldn't say age was a factor, but it didn't take too much reading between the lines to figure that out. 20-30 somethings kept fillin' the positions.
But, about the time she was resigning herself to being permanently unemployed, ............. she got her foot in the door. She's workin' odd hours at a fraction of the old jobs pay, but she likes what she does so she's "Good To Go".

Job market is tough these dayz', but doable with persistence.

I know what you mean man. I am one of those 30 somethings and employers know that we'll do it cheaper than someone with years more experience.
Sort of stinks on the fun side of life being that "30 something" with a baby and a mortgage and so on.
I WANT A BLOWER!!!!

It's ok though, I would not trade it for anything at the moment.

I had to go over 100 miles away to get a job and it's contract at that. On top of all those other things, I get to pay anywhere between 800-1200 a month on hotels.

For that kinda dough, I could have already had Mike's tranny at my house. I guess i'll have to see if he'll do the easy payment plan.

Yup. When yer' young....can't get the job 'cuz of inexperience. When ya' get older can't get the job 'cuz you've got too much experience. I think the best alternative is multiple lifetime sponsors.

My thoughts for all of us. ( worth 50 cents or so )

Thinking employers hire people who truly bring something to the table.(savy, common sense and a fantastic work ethic)
Young companies need experience, combined with positive thoughts.
It's important to look for a proper "fit"....and not to show "battle scars" (keep bad experiences to yourself)sitting across from someone (owner or manager), who hasn't felt the pains an experienced,qualified person has.( a positive, experienced candidate looks great to the right person)*
*recent Wall Street Journal article bears that out

This life is quite an adventure for sure. ( quote: The incredible Helen Keller)
Please excuse the personal reference, but since age 59, after totally re-inventing myself, ( and fighting off "old fartdom"), I've Never made more money.
I, like many, look forward to no strings tied, but need $$$$'s to enjoy it.

I'm one of those dumb a s s e s who truly believes "the best is yet to come"

The 18 years, as head of and cook/bottle washer,wrench, driver,sponsor getter/keeper,entertainer,and more, of my professional drag racing team....priceless
Today is easy (for me)

I agree with that. You need to find the right "fit".

I am happy at the company I am working for right now. As I said though, it's a contract position. I am not willing to re-locate my family for a job that might not be here tomorrow.

On the bright side, I was offered a perm. position. More money, decent benefits. Seems like a really good group of people and I think they will be fun to work with as well.

I need to talk to my contract manager today and see if he wants to keep me here though.

The other problem I see is age discrimination. Naturally a person 20 years more experience than me will commmand a higher salary. There are so many intangibles that come along with that experience though. Some a little older always seems to know a more efficient way to do something because they have already made their mistakes somewhere else.

Now, if they can just get the younger folks to shut their mouths for a few minutes and listen to them....

I haven't had to test the job market for the last 20+ years. Just observing the hoops my wife & kids jump through to find employment. My guess is allot also has to do with the field your in and the areas of the country your looking. I still like that sponsorship deal.

I agree totally with Wally. I interview dozens of highly qualified IT professionals every year. The market is so tight right now that my marching orders from the VP are that we won't bring on anybody unless they 'knock my socks off.' Those persons are truly few and far between. Some of the things we look for are enthusiasm, energy, and personal presentation skills. That's the final icing on the cake after the qualifications, of course. I, too, am a very positive person and I look for like persons to be on my teams. I also look for folks who are not content with the status quo and who are always looking for better ways to do things. The ideal candidate would be someone with the experience of a 60 year old with the enthusiasm of a 20 year old... as close as I can get to that model, the more successful the candidate will be.

But, if there are any life sponsors out there, drop me a line... bp

Thanks for the positive input, y'all. Good thoughts and points all the way around. That job with the sign company was a custom fit for me; I would have been the right guy for it. But during my interview, when I showed my resume to the guy who interviewed me, who would have been my boss, I could see when he looked at my experience and qualifications that he was thinking that I was more qualified to have his job than he was. He was scared of me. I told him a few times while we talked that what I would do is whatever he wanted me to do; that I would follow his procedures and practices, standards and directions to the letter, that I had no agenda other than to add value to his group and to be an asset to the company. He was as nice as he could be and it all seemed so positive, but I never heard back from them. I followed up on the interview with an email and a phone call, thanking him and asking him to keep me in mind in the future if they ended up needing someone in their group. Meanwhile, I'll keep looking and I'll see what happens if I take out an ad offering music lessons in my house. I've heard that I'd have more students than I know what to do with. During the summer, yes...it would be during the school months that my schedule would be less full and I'd have to supplement that with another job. Cheers, WC1