Losing Our Middle Class
by Name Withheld by RequestLink to article
30+ year technology worker holding titles such as CIO and VP of Technology for a number of firms. Since 2002 when my DotBomb company went bust, I’ve been in and out of work. I’m more fortunate than most but I’m way below what would be considered normal middle class wages & benefits; no perm job, no vacation, no 401K, etc. I work with people 15-20 years junior to my experience and have to endure their inexperience.
On the flip side is the age discrimination that usually means I’ll never hear back on any job and if indeed I do talk to a recruiter, the excuse they use to not pass my resume along doesn’t stop them from passing along someone with the same problem. More and more the county is losing its middle class due to the concentration of wealth in the top 5% and the increased competition from illegal immigrants, offshoring, and onshoring (H1B visa program, etc) and quite frankly, the white middle class is as much an object of discrimination in our society – more than others because of the lack of any voice. I’m hoping to change that. To correct the problems I’ve encountered so that my children and grand children will not have to endure the same problems that I’ve encountered.
May 26th, 2007 at 2:38 pm
I’m in your boat. My second downsizing, and this from a survival job. I’ve had many interviews recently - mostly phone interviews. Strange, with all my skills and experience, nothing seems to pan out.
I’m freelancing, but it’s not regular. And no benefits.
June 9th, 2007 at 11:46 am
same here. I am trying to get out of the IT sector and into, well anything else. No one seems to want anyone with an IT management background.