This is part 3 of the 16 post series

It’s true, despite all the laws, ethics and common sense, Age Discrimination is real for all of us. College graduates as well as our more mature work force face this discrimination regularly.

Yes, we all want this not to be the case. We want to be judged for our skills, experiences, talents, successes, accomplishments, abilities and all of our other potential values to a business. Yet age is a real discriminatory issue, for many.

I have no solution for this reality.

I, as many other professionals, know that our more mature work force have a significant value to offer our businesses. Additionally, our college graduates can bring new ideas, philosophies and passion to our business. We just have to find the hiring managers, recruiters and business people who know this.

I have no great magic for finding these folks, but I do have three suggestions for you to consider:

Point #1 –  God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.

Here is why I remind you of this parable – You need to accept age discrimination as real and get over it. You can’t change people who discriminate. Furthermore, do you really want to work for these people? If they will discriminate over age, what other things will they do that are not fair or honest?

Point # 2 – Remove negative thoughts by only thinking positively

All of the worlds philosophers, career coaches, and successful people will tell you that as long as you keep thinking “I’m too old, no one wants to hire me,” they won’t. If you replace the negative thoughts with positive thoughts, you are more likely to achieve your goals. Start saying, “I am a professional {pick a profession}. I have excellent skills, talents and experiences. I can do {pick a job}.” Positive thoughts trump negative thoughts every day. And, recruiters, hiring managers and the people you meet on your journey of that next great job can see thru your feelings. Let them see you are Positive, not negative.

Point # 3 – Your Resume is not going to get you a job. Applying online is not going to get you a job. You are going to get the best job for you after a good conversation with the right people. Discrimination dissolves in relationships.

Conversations create trust, respect, care and ideas.

Conversations create an environment for discovery and awareness of value

Conversations create opportunities for relationships

Relationships dissolve discriminatory issues

Start Networking and meeting people who can connect you to more people. Ask your connections to introduce you to other people that they think may have ideas for you. Keep connecting and sharing. Help others and they will help you and relationships will develop. Eventually one of your connections will turn into a great relationship with an idea of the next conversation that will result in a job opportunity that is not restricted by discrimination.

This takes time and a commitment to consistent activity. But it will work. Besides, the rewards of connecting with good people is far greater than the investment you make into applying to every job you see, sending your resume out to the world and sitting behind the computer screen praying and hoping that the computer will eventually beep with that email saying, “You are hired.” It won’t happen.

So, in summary – Accept that discrimination exists, get over it by thinking positive and start networking and connecting.