Career Advice - Fired for Too Much Experience

Many Baby-Boomers Are In Danger Of Losing Their Jobs Due to Too Much Experience

Advice Seeker: Dear April,

My husband has been working for the same company for over 20 years. He is a smart and loyal man who has more than enough qualifications and experience to do his job perfectly. But last week, he was laid-off, with the higher-ups indicating that he has too much experience. Am I crazy or has honest work and experience become a handicap for companies?

Sincerely,

Wondering About Work

April Masini's advice:

Dear Wondering About Work,

Ageism exists. It always has, and it always will. The reality is that in many industries, there is discrimination. Sometimes it's against women, and sometimes it's against men. Sometimes it's against people who are considered too young for a position, and sometimes (and sadly too often lately) it's against people who are considered too old for a position.

Then, there are situations where it's cheaper to hire someone with less experience than it is to hire someone with more experience. Women who have stayed out of the workplace in order to take time off to have and raise children, experience this problem when they return to the workplace, often. But they're not the only ones.

It's life. However, no one has to be a victim.

Sometimes, being fired or demoted is not a rejection. It's an opportunity. Seeing the opportunity in every situation is the tool that successful people have under their belts. If one company or job doesn't want you, why on earth would you want to stay there. Grieve your loss, and then move on. Figure out what it is that you really wanted to do. Who do you really want to work with? How can you make lemonade out of lemons?