Actually, Ms. Mentor is quite serious, not facetious.  Someone wrote to her for advice on entering the job market after 50, and she.... did you even read the column?  I don't see any point in rehashing it here.  Follow the link and see what Ms. Mentor is all about.  I can tell you this: her advice is meant to be practical, in a world where discrimination is practiced whether legal or not, as so many have already pointed out.   She doesn't say that it's RIGHT or FAIR or even SENSIBLE that your age is used against you, but that it happens, and these are ways to outmaneuver the inherent ageism in our culture in this particular instance. 


Pamela Silvestri wrote:
[log in to unmask]" type="cite">
I'm sooo hoping that the author you quoted was being facetious. This has got to be the worst advice I've ever heard! "All signs of aging can be used against you"? NO THEY CANNOT (legally, anyway). Dying one's hair? an up-to-date haircut? Why not throw in a face lift! Just because we're older does not mean we have to change our appearance so that we look younger in order to get a job. That is just ludicrous. Older workers shouldn't have to 'outmaneuver' their age!
 
As I've said before, age shouldn't be something that has to be 'overcome'. Pam
 
In a message dated 9/1/2006 10:46:41 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, [log in to unmask] writes:
Indigo:

When in doubt, I always turn to Ms. Mentor first.   She has advice for
those on the job market who are over forty:

http://chronicle.com/jobs/news/2001/07/2001072001c/careers.html

This article also links to two very good "Career Talk" articles about
getting a job after a certain age (which age seems to vary depending on
the speaker), but here is a solid paragraph of good advice from this
particular column:

"You can outmaneuver some of it up front by omitting the date of your
B.A. on your vita -- but since all signs of aging can and will be used
against you in job interviews, you must come across as energetic and
enthusiastic. If you're asked (illegally) about your health, say you
work out every day (even if you only hoist a glass). Never mention
ailments or your beautiful grandchildren. Move quickly. Focus on your
own brilliance, color your graying hair, get an up-to-date haircut, and
beware of dated slang and cultural references. Never tell a Nixon joke."

Her beat is academe, but her advice is nearly always applicable in
museums, and age discrimination is rampant culture-wide, not just in
museums.

--
Jill R. Chancey, PhD
Curator
Lauren Rogers Museum of Art
PO Box 1108
Laurel, MS 39440
www.LRMA.org
[log in to unmask]

 
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-- 
Jill R. Chancey, PhD
Curator
Lauren Rogers Museum of Art
PO Box 1108
Laurel, MS 39440
www.LRMA.org
[log in to unmask]
========================================================= Important Subscriber Information:

The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).

If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).