SalesHQ

I took my photo down from the site because of the gray in my goatee. I think most companies are avoiding more "experienced" sales veterans. Am I paranoid?

Oh my, I will have to say, yes you have a chance after 50.  Seasoned people are hard to find.  I know in Canada that alot of companies are finding that the seasoned employee has its benefits. More pros than cons, so to speak.  The grey in your goatee means "what" lol, you are more distinguished looking?  I think we need to give you a bit of confidence. So, put your pic back in there.  Hey, I don't look like a model in mine, but hey, it's my personality that make the difference.

 Over 50 nope not a problem. The trick you must be using todays tricks,networking on line, crm tools, and be proactive with your sales approach.

 Hate to say this but it is true the goatee may have to leave the scene  until you locate the place you want to hang,

Companies would be foolish to shy away from the veteran. There are many veterans, mid level, and entry caliber salespeople in the market looking for work. It is a great opportunity to strengthen their staff.

I agree with the guys about ditchin the facial hair.  Sorry

We're not talking about functioning, being vital or being great at what you do. The simple fact is that on average, it is harder to land a good job in this economy the older you get. Much harder over 55. It's true and it's indisputable.

That doesn't mean you give up and it doesn't mean you won't get a good job.

Of course there are always individual cases one can point to. Statistically however, it will take longer and it will likely pay less. We on this forum of course are exceptional exceptions to these stats

Interested topic. I myself am 50 y/o and over 50% gray. Left my management postion with a Fortune 50 company at the end of July and took a 5 week vacation. Now I find myself with three offers of employment - and still I get phone calls. I was once in the doldrums, but was remineded that "You choose the life that you want to live." Go get 'em tiger!

At 51 I am finding it's the best time as a salesman, my experience, knowledge, track record and wisdom provide a comfort zone for clients. I didn't say it isn't tough out there. But I am loving every moment......

I dont think that being more than fifty is a problem when it come to sales. One of our top earners is 65 years old.  I guess it depends on how you present yourself or how important your product is.  If you want to represent a new product that help save peoples lives physically and fiscally, email me. 

Did you ever think that maybe someone might feel threatened by your look of "seasoning".  Being older does not mean that you "feel" how you look.  A lot of people can be 35 years old and have the energy of a newt (sp.?)  Companies need to look beyond the age and do as they say "think outside the box"

Keep plugging away ted and you'll eventually find the right hiring mgr & if even luckier the right company. You just never know, the right younger manager may respect and need the experience you can bring to the team and counterbalance the younger mgr's shortcomings.

Your post is a bit puzzling to me with the statement

"If you believe it is a problem it will be. If you believe it is not it won't be"

There is a lot of talk here about attitude being the cure all for all life's problems. Semantically, you can always make that argument.

What you believe doesn't change things and you can't trick yourself. Getting a job when over 50  is  in fact harder than when you were in your 30's or 40's. It is a problem.  

Once you recognize that it is a problem, you can take steps to deal with it. Work twice as hard to get interviews. Prepare and "Nail" the interviews you do get, spread the word, and yes even hair dye.

Most employers only hope to keep someone 5 years at best nowadays.  The 20-30 year olds only want to stay in a job long enough to move to the next (2 years) which takes away from the company's investment in a new employee.  Shave the goatee or have it dyed (some of the men's haircolours that you do yourself have a purple cast, really tell tale).  Touch up the gray panels that make your head look like the guy on the Sopranos.  Go out there and prove you will do something no 20 year old would (show up on time, work hard for 8 hours or more, don't spend your time texting or checking out web sites).  You have tons to offer remind the employer of what make you surperior.

Thanks to everyone for your thoghtful and insightful responses to my question. After reading everything I think I have found a new way to deal with the issue. Again, THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Grillguy,

I'm 56.  In great health, and hardly ever take a day off for anything.  I still have relatively brown hair, and I shaved my goatee down to just the moustache I had for 30+ years.   I have not been affected either way.  My biggest problem is dates, and the college graduation year on my resume.  After ten years with my last employer and extensive experience in my industry, I find myself looking.  As a college buddy of mine was told, remove all references to age off your resume so you are not pre-screened out.  He had almost thirty years of management with one employer, so dropping ten of those years was no big deal.  Doing so got him interviews from companies who were obviously looking for people ten years younger.  Many interviewers were upset that he had been "creative" on his resume to beat their screening process.  He has since taken a job for one-third the salary he used to make, and the company knows they got a "bargain". 

Many years ago, at an industry trade show, a young "whippersnapper" sales guy chimed in about a much older salesman we all knew.  After commenting, "How could that old geezer know anything,"  a person in the group told him very truthfully, "That guy has forgotten more about this business than you'll ever know." and continued with, " He can find more business by accident than you could find by looking for it."  It was true.  The problem is that companies want order takers, not salespeople.  If they advertise for a "hunter", they will look at an experienced person, but they want that person to state in their interview, exactly how much business they can immediately bring with them.  I have the good fortune of being able to go into any of my former customers, and they will buy from me.  But, as they say right now, "If we were buying, we'd buy from you, but we're not spending money on anything."  Good luck.  I'm right there with you.

The companies are in the drivers seat.  I started at essentially 24,000.00  + commissions, about twelve years ago with the company I was with for ten years.  Twelve people built the company from six million to one-hundred and sixty million in sales.  There are only two of the original non-owners left.  I got to 130,000.  (esentially all commission), and then they cut everyone's commissions.  They looked for excuses to let anyone controversial or expensive go.  I just heard from a person still there, that the base salary is now 36,000 and commissions are almost nonexistent.  The funny part was that over the years, the HR people, and scummy VP of sales, would tell interviewees that there was a sales person making 400,000.00 a year.  What they neglected to mention was that he was a part owner of the company on a 50% commission basis, with many of the key accounts, while everyone else was on a 5%of GP commission.  The sales manager they brought on six years ago, kept touting lowering their cost per order.  Now they have minimally trained warm bodies in the chairs, selling based on lowest price, or they push the customers to order online.  In 2004, while I was working from home, and this new boss had screwed up orders to five of my key accounts, I came up with the following quote."The mark of a truly great salesperson, is the one who can lower their customers expectations to where their company can meet them."  Just my opinion of how companies are settling for less and trying to lower costs to enhance productivity, rather than improving their products and services, and communicating that value to the customer.  And part of that mix is fewer, younger, and cheaper, employees.