"You don't fit the demographic"

I just got back from an interview with mixed results. There is a local radio chain near me that owns three stations: an oldies, a top 40 and a country station. I've interviewed at the oldies station a few times and like the format.

So anyway I get there and when the owner was looking over my resume he kept saying how impressed he was by my skills and surprised I haven't found another job in 3 years (I interviewed there when I lost my last job and he remembered me). Then he looked at me and said this position was for the top 40 station and didn't think I would be a good fit because "the station is an youth orientated station".

I left the interview stunned and while I really don't want the job (It's sales which I don't like)to be told I am too old kind of bothered me. True I don't listen to top 40 but I haven't listened to top 40 in many years. Even as a teen the music I listened to was more alternative than top 40 and the few truly pop acts weren't really pop at all but more mainstream alternative. I remember seeing a top 10 song list in 1992 and knowing exactly one of the songs in the top 10" Ordinary World by Duran Duran.

I have my experience mainly in PR/Marketing and radio but I'm starting to realize at 40 I am too old.

That is awful! I am so sorry to hear that. 40 isnt old!!!!!!

Your exp is in PR/Mkting, and now your too old. What kind of BS is that, what are you suppose to do wait until you see something that comes up in Family or Christian related radio? How about trying public radio as well? Too old, yea right!! I don't know what he was thinking, but he most definately crossed the line by using the word "youth". What a sleezy guy.

At the interview he did say I was in the running but I suspect that was being nice or a situation where the others turn it down. I don't care because I don't want to do sales anyway (I want marketing and sometimes these two are combined).

Ironically, I was talking to my priest and he's starting a new radio job at the Catholic radio station. When I told him I have a degree (and worked years ago at a religious station) he said he'll remember that.

Years ago I went for several PR jobs and they all used age excuses so yep it's a problem in PR big time.

I find this odd because most of the stations in my area employee people in their 30's and 40's. I was under the impression that you had to work your way up in radio and that was why the jobs went to older people.

What do they want, a team of 23 year olds?

It's a smaller station and radio tends to want younger people in support jobs. I worked in radio for years and while it's true you need to work your way up, it's also true this is mostly with on air.

Sick & Tired wrote:That is awful! I am so sorry to hear that. 40 isnt old!!!!!!

It is to the Corporate scum monsters. And its somehow OUR fault.

I wish you could have taped that conversation. You could have sued the jerk under ADEA. Any one 40 and over is covered by this age discrimination law.

I didn't think 40 was old either but have heard of many situations where employers don't want to hire over 30. There's a conversation I am following on Linked-In where the former HR director of a company was saying he was told to reject any applicant over 35 because they weren't with the latest technology. This is insulting because I do keep up with trends.

New_Wave_Princess wrote:I didn't think 40 was old either but have heard of many situations where employers don't want to hire over 30. There's a conversation I am following on Linked-In where the former HR director of a company was saying he was told to reject any applicant over 35 because they weren't with the latest technology. This is insulting because I do keep up with trends.

It isn't only that reason. Companies that are experienced rated for health and other employee benefits must provide a census to the insurance carrier for renewal. Their rate goes up based on the age, sex and area a person lives. Women over 40 are considered "high risk" by insurance carriers.

DesperateInRI wrote:

New_Wave_Princess wrote:I didn't think 40 was old either but have heard of many situations where employers don't want to hire over 30. There's a conversation I am following on Linked-In where the former HR director of a company was saying he was told to reject any applicant over 35 because they weren't with the latest technology. This is insulting because I do keep up with trends.

It isn't only that reason. Companies that are experienced rated for health and other employee benefits must provide a census to the insurance carrier for renewal. Their rate goes up based on the age, sex and area a person lives. Women over 40 are considered "high risk" by insurance carriers.

Why women and not men? I know far healthier women over 40 than men. Most of the women I know are in shape and healthy while most of the men are overweight. Yet women are considered a higher risk? Or the fact that younger people in general do far more unhealthy things than older like sleep around and do more drugs/drinking. So in other words it's a way not to hire women.

Then again I am not surprised. I've employers ask me if I have kids or plan to have them. With women having babies older it's not uncommon for 40 year old women to still have babies.

You should have said "what the F&%k are you doing here then?" to that guy.

The radio industry ain't what it used to be. It's terribly cut-throat and focused only on the bottom-line now. Used to be a fun and creative place to work, not anymore.

My niece graduated from college last year and moved back to her small hometown. She got a job in marketing and pr at the local radio station and absolutely HATED it! The work environment was awful with all sorts of backstabbing and pettiness going on.

Luckily, my niece just got a really good job in the city and will move in the upcoming days. When she told her boss at the radio station, he said something like, "oh, good because we were going to fire you anyway." What an Jerk!

lendmeflight2 wrote:I find this odd because most of the stations in my area employee people in their 30's and 40's. I was under the impression that you had to work your way up in radio and that was why the jobs went to older people.

What do they want, a team of 23 year olds?

BINGO!

Love this job posting on Indeed.com today!

Admin Asst PT Summer FT Fall (Providence)
Providence, RI
Ideal position for a recent graduate! PT for the summer helping with various admin duties such data entry, phones, and marketing. If all goes well position will...

That is age discrimination!

All the recent grad listings I am seeing disgusts me. It is age discrimination.

I had pretty much given up on radio at this point but saw the ad and figured why not?

mamroz wrote:The radio industry ain't what it used to be. It's terribly cut-throat and focused only on the bottom-line now. Used to be a fun and creative place to work, not anymore.

My niece graduated from college last year and moved back to her small hometown. She got a job in marketing and pr at the local radio station and absolutely HATED it! The work environment was awful with all sorts of backstabbing and pettiness going on.

Luckily, my niece just got a really good job in the city and will move in the upcoming days. When she told her boss at the radio station, he said something like, "oh, good because we were going to fire you anyway." What an Jerk!

Radio is awful now. I know long time radio people who have left the industry because of how it is. We can thank Clinton for signing the 1996 Telecommunications Act, whic cost several thousands in jobs and the consolidation we see today.