j_e_o (5/26/2016)
My current employment situation took a very bad turn a while back but I survived and today things are much better.However, when the job was not going well, I tried looking for another job. I even had interviews where the second on-site interview went well or extremely well, but no job offer. This happened enough that I have revised my resume to remove half of my job experience and I removed all other dates (degrees and training) because I truly believe the problem was age discrimination (obviously I am older) and my mistake was to 'date' myself.
It is hard to move on when you encounter such a hurdle. I hope to keep on working where I am presently and I take multiple courses every year to improve my knowledge and skill set and keep close tabs on the industry.
I did the same thing with my resume on a recruiter's advice. I left only the jobs relevant to the position I was seeking, even though that went back 25 years (since SQL Server v1.1!). I took the year I graduated from college off too (1978 :Wow:) . At age 60, after I was laid off in February from an insurance company where I was strictly a developer, I found another job nine days later as a VP of Database Operations for a small digitally-enabled direct lending company. In this new job, I think I found the mother lode as I get to learn all kinds of new SQL technologies - SQL Azure, VS 2015, Data Tools, SSIS and SSRS, etc. 🙂
I remember worrying about ever getting another job when I got laid off the first time ever back in 2008, during the Great Recession. I was 53 and everyone of every age bracket was getting laid off. I had to work my butt off but managed to find another Senior DBA position in Queens but at a huge pay cut and 1.5 to 3 hours long commute (I live in NJ). But it kept my skills sharp and relevant, and paid the bills (barely) while i kept looking. Two months later, I found a good job as a SQL developer in way downtown Manhattan that paid 15K more with bonuses and a view of the Statue of Liberty. 😀 But after 7 years being there then getting laid off in February, I stagnated skills wise on the job as the shop was very slow moving in accepting newer SQL technologies to the point where I didn't even bother to do any research on new SQL stuff online plus the boss was the worst micro-manager ever. But this new job restored my faith - I get to do 60% work and 40% learning and enjoying life again. I can see myself working until I'm 70 if this keeps going. 😎
But anyway hopefully I give my fellow over-50s hope and inspiration companies will still hire mature experienced SQL workers as long as you keep as current as you can.