Age discrimination is real.

   Age discrimination is real. I just had it happen to me by the very company I work for. Sort of. Let me explain. I work at a warehouse which is a subsidiary of a major grocery store chain. For the obvious reason I won't mention the companies name since I am employed by them. Many years ago I worked in the grocery store chain as a Dairy Manager, for twelve years. I left to go back into the Horticulture field for twelve years, as I have a horticulture degree. Then, tired of working for Diablo at the tree farm, I ended up at the warehouse.

   I saw an opening for a Frozen Food Manger position at one of the newer stores and applied for it. I received a phone call that they wanted to schedule an interview with me. Here we go. 

   I haven't worn dress clothes for over twelve years. At the tree farm it was shorts and a polo shirt in the summer and anything warm in the winter. I had kept only three ties from all the ties I had had. Found dress slacks in the back of the closet that luckily still fit, and a shirt that went with both. Dress shoes had dust on them from lack of wear. But overall it worked.

   I arrive at the interview, get escorted back to the office by a friendly employee. I'm feeling pretty good at the moment. I feel like this might be the place for me.

    I'm interviewing with the store director, no human resource interview for me. There was a man in an apron who sat in the interview with us who was introduced to me but not his position or why he was involved. He did, however, seem nice and genuinely interested in what was happening around him. After being introduced and offered a seat, the first thing out of the store directors mouth was, "I already have two highly qualified candidates for the job." I'm sure my mouth moved without making any sound as I tried to process what he meant by that. He followed that with "I haven't really looked at your application." He then feigned a cursory glance at it. How much information did he just glean from that three second glance? The paper is white...
   He started by asking general questions which are part of about every interview. Then he narrowed it down. He asked about the C.A.R.S. inventory  system they use. I said I used it when I was the Dairy Manager. His response was, "oh, I don't think so. That was twelve years ago. I'm sure we didn't have it then." I always lie during a job interview, especially when it's information that could be checked out.
   "No, I used it for several years."
   Then, to prove me a lier, he asked me several questions, too which I answered each correctly.
   Now remember, he hadn't looked at my application, or resume. He said "well, the new inventory system is really complicated, you wouldn't be able to learn it." That comment was based on only observation- my gray hair. On my resume it listed several computer programs I know how to use. i.e. Quick books, Turbine, Servicemate.
   Too complicated. I wouldn't be able to learn it.
    At the end of the interview, he must have felt bad (?). He picked a business card off his desk and handed it to me. "Here, dome a favor, take my card. Feel free to call me if you have any questions about name of the company."
   Really? Can you imagine actually calling him and asking a question? That'd be awkward as hell.
 
 
 
   

To be continued...