How to get a job in US around age 50?

hidimba · Post by **hidimba** » Sun Dec 11, 2011 9:53 pm

I am thinking of doing R2A just by myself. My family will be with in-laws in India. However I am not having luck in getting a job in US from here in India. I am applying through job sites. But no one is responding back.

I have lots of loan in India. My monthly savings are coming down due very high inflation and high mortgage interest rate in India. So I have decided to go US and work there for few years and come back with decent savings.

Back in India I tried to change jobs. However whenever employers are coming to know that I am of 49 , nobody is even calling back anymore. Although I have strong technical and program mgmt background.

So guys do have any suggestion or practical experience? I know many of us will come to this stage very soon. So I thought it would be good discussion thread.

roxstar · Post by **roxstar** » Sun Dec 11, 2011 11:25 pm

Whats your line of work? Are you in a management role or individual contributor? Do you have a GC or USC? How much US experience do you have?

hidimba;427512I am thinking of doing R2A just by myself. My family will be with in-laws in India. However I am not having luck in getting a job in US from here in India. I am applying through job sites. But no one is responding back.

I have lots of loan in India. My monthly savings are coming down due very high inflation and high mortgage interest rate in India. So I have decided to go US and work there for few years and come back with decent savings.

Back in India I tried to change jobs. However whenever employers are coming to know that I am of 49 , nobody is even calling back anymore. Although I have strong technical and program mgmt background.

So guys do have any suggestion or practical experience? I know many of us will come to this stage very soon. So I thought it would be good discussion thread.

venkat786 · Post by **venkat786** » Mon Dec 12, 2011 2:12 am

securing Job in fifties is a challenge. Forties you peak, sixties you retire. But, no body like to hire a guy who is in fifties unless you have special skills.

Try to tone down your experience, concentrate on your specialty you might be lucky.

In India, forget it! Its difficult to get a Job in your fifties unless you have good referrals or you are master in your area or looking for VP kind of roles.

ravishende · Post by **ravishende** » Mon Dec 12, 2011 2:46 am

It is possible to get contractor/vendor positions. In my company I see a number of contractors in this age group. However I havent seen many resumes accepted for people above 50 for full time positions. If you are a USC you can do a quick trip and get in touch with the local contracting companies. If you are looking for H1B processing then its going to be very difficult

indianincanada · Post by **indianincanada** » Mon Dec 12, 2011 5:17 am

India remains backward for a good reason, I have seen recruiters specifying that applicant should be in a specific age bracket. I mean really, what the heck is that cr$p all about?? If you can't find a job coz you are 50+ then it is their loss. I do not think it would be an issue for you to come back to US and get work. If you can't find it there and if you are a US citizen then heck come up north and there will be loads of things here in the great white north :-)

Seriously though, I think any country that excludes you from the job market because of your age, sex or other such personal attributes is not a place I would like to work in. Actually this brings up another good topic; is it not best to r2i when you can afford to not work and just live there? I am sure for some it is not possible but my point is, if you are used to Western way of working then it will be very hard to adjust to the desi ways, yeah? I for one have no experience working in India - left the country long before the working age. Good luck with your plans.

Vivekananda · Post by **Vivekananda** » Mon Dec 12, 2011 8:13 am

If you have data tier skills, you can pursue any number of producer level contracting positions int he broad business intelligence, and data warehousing market. Please put a grid of your core competencies. Please share your immigration status. I can provide more input. I am contractor in the US. I am a US citizen. I am in my 40s now. I know that I will be in 50s eventually. I do see older people with some specific architecture, and design skills getting work in the consulting market. Since you are willing to travel, it becomes easier.

suyog · Post by **suyog** » Mon Dec 12, 2011 8:52 am

Finding a contracting position and move to (or search outside) full time position is the best route for you (if you are looking for full time). IT is easy now a days to find contracting position if you have GC/USC, just post your resume to dice, monster etc. Make sure you include a USA contact number.

hidimba · Post by **hidimba** » Mon Dec 12, 2011 10:55 am

Thanks for all of you who responded.

Yes I am a USC. I have total 23yrs IT experience with 14yrs of US experience. I was more on the technical lead side line J2EE, Web etc in US. However coming back to India I had to change my role to project/program management. So I am now specialized to those skills with PMP certification.

In India average age of an IT employee is 27 yrs. So if someone is 50 then he is looked like an "Sunky Buddha". Indian IT companies prefer to take junior folks to keep profitablity high. The quality of work and the politics are so bad it is difficult to sustain in this work environment. With no friend or supporter in the work place it is very difficult to get good projejcts. You will be given all the run down projects or projects with lots of issues. You will see that people with less or no skills are getting promoted.

I liked the idea of going to US and try. Though there will be good amount of risk. For example, if I don't get a decent job due to my age or market condition, how long can I sustain. I can't get unemployed benefit as I didn't loose my job in US.

Is there any city or area in US where the jobs of technical project manager or program manager are plenty over other cities? Is there any agency or headhunter who may help me getting the job while I am in India?

roxstar · Post by **roxstar** » Mon Dec 12, 2011 12:30 pm

Dont know headhunters but the SF bay area will be a good place to look for something. It is the hotbed of all things technology and there is plenty of hiring going on across large and small companies. I dont know how easy it will be to get a management role sitting in India. People will want to test you out face to face. If you have worked in the past in the US, try to mine your network and see how it plays out. Linkedin is a good tool and might get you some traction. I am sure other tech gurus on the forum will be useful peices of advise. Good luck.

suyog · Post by **suyog** » Mon Dec 12, 2011 11:16 pm

Tone down all project / program management crap and highlight technical skills, you will surely get a contracting role.