Job seekers over 50 are encountering significant hurdles in the current job market, particularly as automation reshapes hiring practices. The experience of a 54-year-old project manager, who shared his frustrations on Reddit after sending out 154 resumes and receiving 48 rejections, reflects the challenges older workers face due to age-related barriers and algorithms that prioritize younger candidates.
Carl Van Horn, a public policy expert at Rutgers University, points out that automated tracking systems and hiring algorithms often disadvantage older applicants. These systems tend to focus on dates and specific skill sets, frequently overlooking candidates without recent digital skills. Van Horn suggests that many of these skills could be taught if companies were more open-minded about valuing experience alongside specific credentials.
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