Agism

Following is my resume:

Professional Profile

I hold a Bachelor's degree in both Journalism and Communications Media. I have worked in the field of communications for 10+ years.

• Editing

• Writing

• Researching

• Photographing

• Works well within a team

• Aware of Quality Assurance

• Learns fast in computer environment

• Resilient

Professional Accomplishments

Communications

• As a Journalist, I have never missed a deadline.
• The public of my coverage areas complemented me on my writing and photo skills.
• I freelanced for both The Tribune Review and The Pittsburgh Press.
• I won a tri-state feature photo award for newspapers.

Assembly Production Employee for Respironics

• I met all requirements for reaching levels 0-5 in the time expected.
• I revamped the written instructions for touring the site when it was changed.
• I wrote a proposal in 2003, which the company adopted in 2004.
• I learn the first time when learning new procedures.

Author

• I completed my published proposal June, 2007.
• I have been following a marketing plan I've devised.
• I'm reaching my audience through websites.
• I autographed my first copy in September.

Work History

Assembler

Respironics, Inc, Murrysville, PA

Jan. 10, 2000-current

Journalist

The Valley Independent, Monessen, PA

1998-1999

Photographer

Gateway Press, Inc., Monroeville, PA

1994-1998

Education

Bachelor's of Art

IUP, Indiana, PA

1994

I received a certificate in Microcomputer Applications from WCCC, Youngwood in 2005.

References

References are available upon request.

None of this mattered to the manager looking for a writer where I am employed as an assembler. I took this job in 2000, figuring I'll pay my dues in hard labor and earn my way into a position where I could use my best assets for this company. Seemed the reasonable plan.

I have done a bang-up job in production, moving through level 0-5 in four years. I produced a training plan, a tour guide and a proposal for domestic benefits plan. I took additional computer skills courses and interviewed for various writing positions.

The marketing communications director saw all my writing experience and education, and bragged about all the traveling she gets to do. Then she tells me I'm overqualified for that entry-level position. A couple of years latter, the same director tells me I'm missing one or two criteria. Clearly, between overqualified and missing one or two criteria there should be a place for me.

I went up for documentation and had interviews with several people from that department. One woman saw all my experience and education and stated that she had to work production a long time before she got her job. I ended up not getting that too.

Now here's the kicker and final straw. I went up for a writing position for engineering services. The interview went well, as they usually do, and the manager picked a woman half my age and said he had a long-term vision. I'm 47.

I'm wondering if my age is hurting me here or is it that I'm not related to or dating anyone there. A lot of friends and family members are jumping into positions they have no education or experience for, and I stand here feeling angry and hopeless.

I understand you can't make people hire you because you have the proper education and experience, but doesn't it make sense to retain the best for the betterment of the company? What do you think? How do you get hired for what you know instead of who you know?