This is the question I've been asking myself since the other night while reading an article linked to one one of my associate's websites. The writer was giving advice on job searching in "todays' economy" (already a pretty depressing topic) and suggested that anyone over the age of 40 should be worried about taking ten years off their "image" because they can't take ten years off their age.

So naturally the question came to mind - if your 40+ and you have to worry about taking ten years OFF that to be successful in your job search - are we saying that 30 year olds are the most sought after age group of candidates out there? "No" my mind screamed. That just can't be right. Certainly 30 is a great age. I love thirty year olds. I have nothing against them I swear. In fact, I used to be 30. It's not too old and not too young said the momma bear in me. But come on, really?

• In the years since I was 30 I've:
• been the Advanced Technical Engineer for Pacific Bell Internet and responsible for the product launch of a 'little' endeavor they thought would get them 156 customers in the first year after launch. The little endeavor turned out to be Basic DSL service for home use been relocated from San Francisco to the Dallas are to recreate the Technical Support Call Center FOR that little DSL product survived a merger or two (from Pacific Bell to Southwestern Bell to AT*T)
• started a small business-ran the small business for four years--sold the small business 
• got my real estate license during these years worked as a realtor WHILE running the small business and at various times, worked as a consultant or contracted specialist for various companies (Blockbuster, Apple, and of course, AT*T once or twice)
• vacationed in Maui
• formed numerous teams of people some of whom became outrageously successful in various ventures of their own 
• wrote methods and procedures for companies that use those procedures to this day to work their magic on their products 
• created guidelines and operations manuals for organizations that STILL use my work in their day to day work environment
• vacationed in San Antonio and realized that the Alamo really IS kind of awe inspiring
• bought two homes and sold one
• built relationships with people that are deeply meaningful and valued beyond measure
• hired hundreds of people
• fired a few
• mentored a lot
• learned that "American Beauty" is my favorite movie and when Kevin Spacey said he was looking for a job with the "least amount of responsibility" that there are days I can relate - mostly because I've had jobs with a LOT of responsibility

The list could go on quite a bit more but I would imagine my point's been made. The list before 30 would be quite a bit shorter. This author continues to go on to suggest I get a Facebook account. I did. Now I'm spending half my days (instead of looking at online job postings) filtering out "Mafia War Level Up" messages and "Farmville egg baskets" or some such vague postings. And I spent a good ten minutes this morning trying to decide if I should "POKE" someone and decided against it for fear it might cause me to show up as being in some compromising position with the person I "poked". There's that little voice inside my head again starting to ask "Exactly HOW is Facebook going to help me get my next job???" but I ignore it as I'm attempting to be open minded. Lord knows I don't want to be viewed as resistant to change. That is according to Facebook guy- a dead giveaway you are no longer 30.

A recruiter calls me. Breathlessly excited as only thirty year old up-and-comers can be as she squeals "I just LOVED your profile on Facebook" (really? I can't figure out why) and "I wanted to ask you, would you want to relocate to Austin?" The first thing I think is, "A college town. Lots of 30 year olds. But it's gonna' be okay, because after all, I have a Facebook account.....

Wait! I'll have to write more later, someone just posted a message on my wall in Facebook (which to me is just another page, but they say it's a wall so okay, it's a wall) that they need me desperately as they want to increase their popularity in "YO-Ville".

Dunno exactly what that is, but hey, they may be hiring.

---mmm