Economy in Oahu

Coming to Oahu from Anchorage - A question to you older folks - is it
possible to get a clerical job there in Oahu and not be 'young and
beautiful'; i.e. 56 and not a lovely, young woman anymore...

I don't know about Oahu, but there's definitely less age
discrimination on the Big Island than where I am now.

I never encountered it in Hawaii. Maybe it's just that I
left when I was "on the cusp" (46). Here, I run into a
lot of "teenage managers" and young HR types who
seem intimidated by my age. Or they wonder why I'm
not an executive or something.

There's another thing I didn't appreciate when moving:
The social network. It takes time to create the contacts
that help you find work. In Hawaii, I never actually
looked for work -- I'd hear of jobs, or jobs would hear
about me. I was usually "hired" before I applied.

Here, I tell people what I do, and get "oh, I know
somebody who is great at doing that". Nobody
gives me leads or referrals here like they did in
Hawaii. I think it's part cultural, part just being in
a new market. It's depressing at times. I moved to
the mainland to do software development or any
other computer work, but I did more in Hawaii than
here.

So you might want to consider all the social capital
you'll burn up by going to a new place where nobody
knows your talents. You'll be nobody.

But... I still think that age is less of a factor in Hawaii.

Yes it is quite possible. There are many employers willing to hire an
experienced, reliable worker, however many are wary of military spouses
since there's no telling how long they'll be stationed in Hawaii.

I am 56 and have worked as an 'admin' for 30 years. My husband will be
taking a federal job at an AFB (if 'we' decide that it's a go). So we
will be there a long time, hopefully.


MTI wrote:
> Yes it is quite possible. There are many employers willing to hire
an
> experienced, reliable worker, however many are wary of military
spouses
> since there's no telling how long they'll be stationed in Hawaii.