So, I am unemployed again - at nearly 50 and for the second time in about four years.

[LuckyTheDog]

Man, this sucks.

This time, I am pretty sure I will find the job search easier. And, frankly, that last job was never a good fit anyway so, on some level, being laid off is a relief.

But... damn. This situation really sucks.

What's a former journalist to do at my age? Find a median strip and beg?

[Flaxbee]

1. I'm sorry. That does suck, but I do hope it will be much easier for you

this time around.

Can you get unemployment benefits?

[LuckyTheDog]

2. I can get unemployment

The employer also offered me a small amount of severance. I did not sign the agreement right away because I want to talk to a lawyer. I also told my boss that I thought the amount might be too low and not worth waiving my rights to sue them. I think I might have a case for discrimination.

In the end, I might just take the small pay-out and move on. I just was not in the mood on Friday (which is when they told me) to make things easy for them.

[Flaxbee]

5. Sounds like a good idea to just think about it for a bit

Do you have a lawyer you trust?

[LuckyTheDog]

8. I am seeking a lawyer, but don't have one yet (nt)

[Jersey Devil]

6. By law if you are over 40 they must give you 21 days to review

They cannot ask you to sign off right away by law. The most they can do is ask you to sign a statement that your 21 days begins at that time.

[LuckyTheDog]

7. Yep, they gave me the 21 days...

... and they seemed put off when I told them I planned to take at least part of that time to decide what to do.

The boss of my boss wanted to get everything squared away before she left for vacation. My attitude was "fuck your vacation," though I did not say that out loud. I hope she frets about me the whole time.

[Jersey Devil]

9. follow up with an employment lawyer

If you believe that your layoff was caused by age discrimination a letter from a lawyer may make a significant difference in the severance package they offer you.

[LuckyTheDog]

10. There may be more than one kind of discrimination at work here...

... the question is whether a lawyer will believe there is a viable case and take me on in exchange for a piece of what I could get as a settlement.

I am in no position to pay a high hourly fee to finance a fishing expedition. So, if the advice I get is that this will be too hard to prove, I will have to move on.

[Jersey Devil]

11. No high hourly fee may be necessary

Just the fact that the employer gets a letter from a lawyer may cause them to increase the severance package. Most employment lawyers would interview you and send such a letter for a nominal (or even no) fee and if it works you pay them a percentage and you are ahead of the game. I am a lawyer but I do not handle employment cases. Don't get scared away by fear of fees. I bet that if you call an employment lawyer your initial consultation may be free in many cases.

[barnabas63]

19. Good for you...

Sometimes doing nothing is the right thing . Glad you made them squirm a little...

[JaneyVee]

3. Write some short stories or novels, sell them as e-books for Kindle & Nook.

[Flaxbee]

4. you make that sound so easy ...

is that something you've done?

[daleo]

12. My wife has written two novels for kindle

Good novels, too. She's made some money but I wouldn't count on making a lot of money in a hurry.

[Flaxbee]

13. Good to know. It's something I am going to do -- mostly for enjoyment

and hopefully for a little bit of "pin money", so to speak...

[daleo]

15. That's a good way of looking at it

If you have talent and perserverance (luck is good too) you can have some success - there have been many that have done well. But like most things in life, it takes time and dedication.

[Honeycombe8]

14. Damn, that sucks. I'm so sorry. But "nearly 50" doesn't seem so old to this 58 year old.

I was unemployed earlier this year for a short spell. I found another job in about a month (but of course, I was none too picky about the salary and benefits).

Being nearly 50 seems old because you're looking at it from the viewpoint of your prior age. But when you're 55 and looking back, you'll see it wasn't old at all.

There are plenty of employers who are willing to hire the older workers. We're more reliable and experienced.

I am sending you all my good vibes and wishing you the best. This will be a hard patch for you. But you will get through it. Looking for work is the hardest thing ever. Harder than working. And the rejections were personal. But the economy has gotten better.

Good luck to you.

[LuckyTheDog]

16. BTW... this is me...

Below is my LinkedIn profile.

If anybody kinds out about good communications-related openings in the Midwest, I'd really like to hear about them.


http://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesmelton

[Tobin S.]

18. Good luck, James

I didn't know about linkedin.com. I'm currently working on a project for my professional writing class and that site will probably help me with it. I'm creating a cover letter and a resume for the class as well as researching my chosen field of study. If you need something to feel good about today, you have helped me. Your profile looks good.

[lunatica]

17. at 60 I was laid off in a downsizing effort and rehired by the same people a couple of

months later. Experience counted in my case. They're very happy with me four years later.

It's a fucking bitch to go through, but don't think 50 is bad. It isn't. Especially for journalists where age and experience are an asset. Wisdom and the simple experience of time is invaluable. I doubt anyone prefers to hire inexperienced and young journalists over seasoned and experienced ones.

Good luck.

[LiberalEsto]

21. Actually they DO prefer young and inexperienced reporters

because they are much cheaper and don't expect decent benefits.

[LiberalEsto]

20. As another former journalist

I fervently hope you will do better than I have. I will PM you a couple of suggestions.

I'm 60, female and unemployed for more than 4 years. The last time I worked at a newspaper was in 1997, though once I worked for what used to be the the 13th largest paper in the US. I spent 7 years doing marketing writing for a segment of the natural gas industry, but that job died away in 2008. Since then I've only had a few freelance writing gigs and done a very small amount of Estonian-English translation. I'm extremely fortunate that my husband has a good job, but one never knows what could happen. And there is no money to take courses to upgrade my skills.

I don't want to discourage you - you're much younger than I am and there are more opportunities available because of that. Good luck!

[HopeHoops]

22. Well, in the down time, start a blog and use per-hit advertising sites.

It can't hurt. Besides, as a journalist you're well suited to create commentary on national and world news.