Let’s face it. The economy today is quite challenging! Not only are the younger people affected by it, but the older generation, commonly known as the “baby boomers” suffer feelings of insecurity. Not quite retirement age and their walking papers are handed them, literally unceremoniously. “Sorry, but you have been aged out.” That’s what it feels like. And that is probably more the truth than realized.

And now you have to go about the day to day task of finding new employment. Your previous paycheck barely covered the monthly expenses. In today’s job market, finding a job to cover those everyday expenditures is few and far between. If indeed, existing. Why? That under-current age discrimination. Lady Clairol can only do so much. Those character lines, signs of maturity, are now signs of an impending health concern. Who wants to hire someone that will make more than good use of the company’s health insurance policy?

The one consolation is that the students entering the job market also will be having a difficult time finding jobs. There are some employers not willing to get rid of their seasoned employees. Why? Dependability. Appreciation. Experience. Qualities that young executives should count on. There are some that see the wisdom of keeping these employees on their payroll, but unfortunately there are some (hopefully not the majority) who prefer “fresh” ideas, employees who are energetic, “go getters.” How many of these workers clock in merely for a paycheck? Many live just for the weekends and that paycheck to support recreation. Loyalty to a company no longer exists. (That’s for another subject).

The next time anyone asks me for my age, I’ll just tell them, “I am young enough to pursue my dreams yet old enough to know I can’t follow all of them.” Since it is against the law to ask a potential employee their age, I will offer that sound advice in advance. Hopefully, they will look at me and see there is still viable person even after a “tanked” economy.