Open letter to 25 year old men everywhere

Ok I'm gonna sound really bitter because guess what, I'M REALLY BITTER!

I started my own business three years ago because screw it, I don't want to be laid off or fired on some whim. I want to make my money when I want to make it and how much of it I want to make.

Well I recruit on a contract basis. You know what I hear ALL DAMN DAY? We want a younger guy, you know, with 3-5 years experience. Yes, they all want the 25-30 year old GUY.

Guess what again, they are all working.

You know who sends me resumes all day? The 45 year old mother trying to get back into the work force. The 55 year old guy who was laid off after 20 years to make room for the 25-30 year old guy who will do the job at half the pay.

One more think, you know which of my candidates are the whiniest, most self indulgent, self centered brats with the biggest sense of entitlements? THE 25-30 YEAR OLD GUYS.

Listen fellas, you can get a job anywhere. You don't need to be a little butthole to me because you can't have naked guitar hour from 2-3 or wear flip-flops to work. I had one guy SLEEPING IN HIS CAR and didn't get fired.

To all you moms getting back to work, to all you 45+ men and women who can't get hired or keep your jobs because of this awful trend, I feel for you. I really do. I try so hard to get you hired but your resumes get kicked back to me by the managers with code for "she's too old" like "too experienced", "doesn't fit in with current culture", etc.

I'm furious today.

Also, I'm 40 on Thursday. That *might* be the cause of this rant.

we are deep into the dog eat dog again, not that it ever went away but when the chips are down people get nasty and picky!

it is said here in Scotland that for every job vacancy there is at least 10 people applying for it!....it's the employers sweetie jar.

The funny thing is the guy that everyone wants is working because well, he's the guy that everyone wants. Managers don't want to hear that they can't have this perfect 25-30 guy because they are not falling from the sky. THEY ARE WORKING.

It just pisses me off to no end because there are so many people unemployed right now who would be perfect for the jobs I'm recruiting for, yet they are holding out for one of these unicorns to become unemployed

I'm just feeling foul

Original Post by spirochete:

Also, I'm 40 on Thursday. That *might* be the cause of this rant.

 

damn, spiro.  i'm 40 (almost 41) and looking for a job

thanks a lot.

Not to be a bastard but it IS St. Patrick's day and my middle name IS Patrick and I HAVE been drunk since 8... Just kidding, I've always had the utmost respect for every one of spirochete's posts. I'm just going to take the other side and say that it's awesome in this market to be a man who will graduate from law school at 25 in this environment! I know it's not fair for most, but representing the fortunate side, I must say both: I'm sorry to those that have lost but also, I'm aware of the opportunity this presents me and I can promise (at least for myself) I won't waste the opportunity.

Eric

I agree with ncxcrnnr : I am 24 and I am currently attending University, I will be out in the workforce by age 28 with a degree in Education looking to teach children, and by then i will also be well and truly refurbished as i am currently working well toward my goal of 190-200lbs, I have lost 46lbs and I beleive the fact i was a big guy and not the best presented it has hindered me in the past, BUT by the time i am done with University i will be in the perfect place in my life and in my new body with my new look.

And its also a traditional sense of the male being the dominant species that we see represented in every single thing we see and do in life.

Until you become the First Female President, there is not alot that can be done, I mean a BLACK president got elected so its not too much of a stretch.

OBAMA is great though, he is what the people need.

goodluck

Just be thankful that you are in the USA if they can be age group specific, in the UK it's called ageist and against the law. No employer is permitted to let it be known that they are looking for young people only and if a potential employee outwith that age group is even hinted at that they are too old they have the employer over a barrel.

You are not allowed to stop anyone getting a job in the UK even if they are the worst employee in the world the ex employer is NOT allowed to pass that info on to anyone all they can do is refuse a reference.

Original Post by andie-joe:

Just be thankful that you are in the USA if they can be age group specific, in the UK it's called ageist and against the law. No employer is permitted to let it be known that they are looking for young people only and if a potential employee outwith that age group is even hinted at that they are too old they have the employer over a barrel.

 

I beleive there is some title in the civil rights act of 64' that permits employers to hire people based on sex, age, and so on. Kind of like when Hooters hires only young hot women or Mexican restaurants hire only mexicans.

In America, it is mandatory to give each potential employer your DNA sample along with credit history, legal history, and medical history.

Spiro: Right on.

Marginalization sucks.

 

Original Post by fortius:

In America, it is mandatory to give each potential employer your DNA sample along with credit history, legal history, and medical history.

 I have never done a drug test or given my legal, medical or credit history when I have applied for and gotten a job.

I also work for a recruting agency and we tend to see that most want a 40-50 year old man...but we tend to do more exec. level placements...but women have it hard for sure...

*leans back in his chair, pondering how great it is to be a man*

 

Original Post by spirochete:

The funny thing is the guy that everyone wants is working because well, he's the guy that everyone wants. Managers don't want to hear that they can't have this perfect 25-30 guy because they are not falling from the sky. THEY ARE WORKING.

It just pisses me off to no end because there are so many people unemployed right now who would be perfect for the jobs I'm recruiting for, yet they are holding out for one of these unicorns to become unemployed

I'm just feeling foul

Off topic, but I'm a 23 yo guy.  I don't like my job.  Wanna find me another?  Not for free of course.

(dave, most recruiters get paid by the companies...not the candidate, for you my dear, it wouldn't cost anything)

 

Original Post by kae03:

 I have never done a drug test or given my legal, medical or credit history when I have applied for and gotten a job.

I also work for a recruting agency and we tend to see that most want a 40-50 year old man...but we tend to do more exec. level placements...but women have it hard for sure...

I had to give my credit history, legal history (all except for minor driving offenses), and agree to random drug testing. Yet these jobs were not government jobs or jobs that required specific skills. A little invasive, but oh well, sometimes you don't have a choice.

Original Post by andie-joe:

Just be thankful that you are in the USA if they can be age group specific, in the UK it's called ageist and against the law. No employer is permitted to let it be known that they are looking for young people only and if a potential employee outwith that age group is even hinted at that they are too old they have the employer over a barrel.

You are not allowed to stop anyone getting a job in the UK even if they are the worst employee in the world the ex employer is NOT allowed to pass that info on to anyone all they can do is refuse a reference.

well there's legal and then there's reality.  these things are against the law in canada, too, but you can bet that hiring committees know who they want before they start.  and when they ask "Are you physically able to perform the duties of the position?" that's just a polite way of discriminating against people with chronic illness and disability.

i actually think i'm at a slight advantage, being a 40-year-old woman with no kids (and, yeah, i try to let that be known in interviews, because i know they can't ask).

Original Post by mikey8400:

And its also a traditional sense of the male being the dominant species that we see represented in every single thing we see and do in life.

I hope that you won't be teaching this b***s*** to those kids.  I wonder where you see this represented everywhere?  As a woman in engineering, I work with more men than women but nobody is "dominant" over anyone else.  I hardly think a female president is a prerequisite for gender equality (although it would be terrific!)

 

Also, fun fact: women and men are not different species.

Spiro you head hunt primarily sales positions, yes? Part of the problem is that it's an employer's market.

Employers like young guys because they are cheaper to insure and they don't have to pay them as much as their older male counterparts. There is a perception that they're 'hungry'.  Younger women are still considered unknowledgeable, especially in sales, and older women are expensive to insure - not to mention we're just....old.....and unpretty. :)

 

 

Original Post by kathygator:

Spiro you head hunt primarily sales positions, yes? Part of the problem is that it's an employer's market.

Employers like young guys because they are cheaper to insure and they don't have to pay them as much as their older male counterparts. There is a perception that they're 'hungry'.  Younger women are still considered unknowledgeable, especially in sales, and older women are expensive to insure - not to mention we're just....old.....and unpretty. :)

 

 

Men are less likley to bring up lawsuits of sexual harassment and pay discrimination as well.

Of course we're also less likely to experience pay discrimination...

Though sexual harassment is a fair point, I'm aware of several men who've been on the end and like it or not, reporting women for sexual harassment is socially unacceptable, despite being a lost cause anyway.

Original Post by fortius:

In America, it is mandatory to give each potential employer your DNA sample along with credit history, legal history, and medical history.

Don't forget IQ test!  I worked somewhere where I had to do a personality and intelligence assessment before I was hired.

Strangely, I was more offended by the drug test.  ;)

Ummm maybe people should find problem with the one who COMMITS sexual harrassment and not the one who files a grievance against it? Don't want lawsuits? Crack down on your employees committing sexual harrassment against their co-workers.

I know some of the misogynists here will have a problem with this this idea because they don't get to pretend they're the persecuted ones but I really don't care. People who make sweeping generalizations based on gender are pretty worthless to me anyway.