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https://www.channelnewsasia.com/commentary/workplace-discrimination-age-jobs-recruitment-3900191 14 jobs and 5 industry changes later - marketing and editorial professional Imran Johri found himself facing ageism in the job market. SINGAPORE: “The team is quite young and we intend to nurture a hustle culture with them.” This, I would soon realise - in hiring terms - was code for, "I don’t think you’ll fit in, old man". That in itself didn’t bother me much, but what did bother me though, was that I was beginning to see a trend. In the most recent batch of about six job interviews I’d attended, there began to emerge an archetype of hiring managers that, within minutes of talking to me, would in high probability reject my candidacy. At first, my thought was “Am I the problem here?”. After much self-reflection I can wholeheartedly say, maybe. Before you judge my annoying prata-flips, let me give some context. GOING AGAINST THE GRAIN Ageism in the workplace has been under the spotlight recently, with a survey released by the Ministry of Manpower in July showing that age was the most common form of discrimination experienced by jobseekers. Across age groups, those aged 40 and over had a much higher incidence of being discriminated against. Considering that Singapore’s retirement age is 63 - and is set to be raised to 65 in 2030 - being told that you’re too old for a job while in your 40s is unnervingly early. Singapore’s population is not only ageing, but ageing rapidly - with 25 per cent of Singaporeans expected to be 65 and older by 2030. This will be a massive change not only for society, but the workplace too. Luckily for older workhorses like me, the Tripartite Guidelines on Fair Employment Practices will soon be enshrined into law. Now, anyone who’s ever seen my resume will either brand me an incorrigible job-hopper or commend me for my extensive and varied work experience. To be fair, both of these cursory judgments are valid. Right out of university, I was fuelled by abject idealism, and despite growing older and wiser, this intrinsic motivation or rebellious passion to go against the grain has fuelled most of my career choices. This of course came at a cost - for I knew this was not the path to wealth, fame or meteoric success, but rather, a self-gratifying journey of personal wins. Despite this - never would I imagine that after 24 years of chasing that next new exciting project - I would come to a head-on collision with ageism. FROM YOUNG UPSTART TO OLD BIRD The first five years of work were often peppered with, “let’s do this, you’re clearly hungry” from my first bosses. And I absolutely was, my risk appetite was bottomless and I wanted to do more, all the time. I went from being scriptwriter for an award-winning TV show to being the editor of two men’s magazines. I was on a career warpath, and I worked myself very close to burn-out. Luckily for me, I eventually recalibrated, mostly from stints overseas and really started to pace myself, but by then the publishing industry was starting to decline. I then had to make the hard decision to switch industries and at that point, it was plausible and easier, in fact, to change, mostly because my next batch of bosses in marketing saw my editorial experience as a huge plus. By 2018, I had become the head of marketing for a venture capital (VC) but alas, I had also come to a point where I had to make another tough choice. I had to either become an entrepreneur, as per the philosophy of the VC, or choose an alternate pathway, which the organisation would fully endorse and support either way. So after five years with the VC, I chose to leave and to explore what the market held for a 49-year old man with a chequered CV. YOUNG GUN MARKETEERS ARE A DIME A DOZEN The rejections were varied and in volume, some of them coming in fast and furious. “You don’t have the necessary experience,” was a common reply. So was “We’re looking for someone less senior”. In retrospect, it’s hilarious to me now how I simultaneously didn’t have the necessary experience and yet be too senior for the job. Some rejections, however, were slow and painful, with multiple interviews across recruiters, managers and directors. To which I was either ghosted or simply sent a very tardy rejection email. One thing stood out for me though, during those tough job-search months - I became adept at identifying the specific type of hiring manager that would reject me after the first meeting. They were always early- to mid-30s marketeers, who’d attained an accelerated upward trajectory in the marketing world and were now the marketing heads. Now, I can absolutely empathise with their decision to reject me outright. Those hiring managers were under pressure to lead young, high-performance teams, all of whom were hungry and ready to hustle. The last thing they needed was an older man to second-guess their decisions in the midst of the fire-fighting and chaos. They needed to move ahead, unabated. But here’s the thing about being an older guy with experience, I will second-guess and challenge the decision-making process if I think there might be a better way of doing things. UNCLE CAN’T HOLD HIS TONGUE So am I the problem here? Maybe. Is ageism being practised? I think so. But not in an absolutist way. In fact, I would argue that it’s nuanced and contextual. In the end, just as I eventually knew what would not work in my favour - I started seeing what would. Some of the interviews I’ve attended were an absolute joy, with clear, transparent communication and hiring managers who saw the value I brought to the table. I have since made the transition to a technology company, one that has one of the most diverse team compositions I have ever worked with, with everyone driven to ensure we make a mark in the market. One of the annoying key drivers of ageism, it seems, is the belief that older employees can't keep up with technological advancements. Preposterous. I’m literally a tech-bro at 49 - and the assumption that older employees lack the vigour, adaptability or skills required for a “young person” role is unfounded. We older guys have too much at stake, with too many dependents and no time, to even consider ourselves being at a "disadvantage". So if you’re on the job hunt, keep at it. No matter who you are, or what you do, there will be an -ism working against you. But take heed, take notes and take charge of your own career - it’s the only way to go. Imran Johri is a marketing and editorial professional with extensive experience in the Asia Pacific region.

Hi guys, My insurance is due 03 Jan but right now, no insurance company are willing to insure me. Situation goes like this: 1. got into chain collision on 2010, being last car in total of 3 cars, all claim me. 2. Initial damage claim amont is about $5000 + 3. on jan 2011, managed to renew my insurance with same co. at a higher premium ofcourse. 4. at about mid of 2011, the injury claims and other miscellaneous claims started coming in (total exceeding $30K) 5. now that i have 10% NCD and going to renew insurance for year 2012, my current insurnace co doesnt want to renew my insurance due to the >$30K claim. Tried looking for other co. like AXA, all managed to give me quotation but when processing, all reject due to the >$30K claim done previously as well. I am still looking for other insurance co but would like to know what happen when there is no insurance co are willing to insure me? Transferring car ownership to my other family members is not an option as there are loans issues which are quite complicated. And would like to know if i am able to get other family member to buy insurance although the car is under my name ? Please advice.

I heard from the radio Banks & Finance company have a 40% rejection rate for car loans even for those earning >3k a month? Maybe they reject 100% loans & overtrades? If true then it explains why 2nd hand car prices r dropping like rocks and COE is at multi year low.

SHANGHAI/HONG KONG - Holders of China Eastern Airlines' Shanghai- and Hong Kong-listed shares on Tuesday rejected a deal to sell a 24 per cent stake in the country's third-largest carrier to Singapore Airlines for US$920 million. The announcement was made after a shareholders' meeting in Shanghai. China Eastern needed two-thirds of both its Shanghai-listed A and Hong Kong-listed H-share minority shareholders to approve the stake sale to Singapore Airlines and Singaporean investment agency Temasek Holdings. Majority shareholder China Eastern Air Holding Co abstained from the vote. The move opens the door to bigger rival Air China, whose parent, China National Aviation Corp (CNAC) - which owns 3.9 per cent of China Eastern - has said it would offer at least HK$5.00 per China Eastern share versus an agreed price of HK$3.80 in the Singapore deal. Singapore Airlines and Temasek have said they would not be prepared to return to the negotiating table or increase their offer, which was agreed with China Eastern last September. -- REUTERS

China rejects pork imports from U.S., Canada Mon Sep 17, 2007 9:47 AM ET BEIJING (Reuters) - China has rejected shipments of pork kidney from the United States and of spare ribs from Canada after finding traces of a banned growth agent in them, in the latest volley of cross-border accusations over product quality. The Xinhua news agency cited the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) as saying that the 18.4-tonne shipment of frozen kidneys and the 24-tonne shipment of frozen pork ribs had been returned to the exporters by local quarantine officials in southern Guangdong province. The growth agent ractopamine, commonly used in the United States, is at the centre of negotiations between U.S. and Chinese officials over the pork trade. China has banned use of ractopamine and refuses to import pork containing it. Richard Raymond, the U.S. Agriculture Department's undersecretary for food safety, said on Thursday following meetings with the AQSIQ that he hoped Beijing could change its stance on ractopamine if Codex Alimentarius, an international food safety body, could endorse tolerance levels for it. China has highlighted several quality concerns over U.S. products in recent months, in apparent response to complaints in Washington about the safety of Chinese exports ranging from toys to toothpaste. Beijing is also taking steps to clean up its own manufacturing sector, whose reputation has been tarnished by recent product recalls, including for lead-tainted toys. Separately, Xinhua said that authorities had reprimanded dozens of factories in eastern Zhejiang province after finding that 40 percent of the children's clothing they produced did not meet quality standards. The district where the factories are located, in Huzhou city, makes one fourth of the country's children's garments, Xinhua said. It cited the local quality supervision administration as saying their "quality index" was at its lowest since 2003. The garments had problems with their dyes, fiber content and stitching, Xinhua said, adding that none of the companies involved exported their products. The inspection was part of a nationwide campaign to improve product quality and food safety in the wake of the recent scandals, it said.

hi bros. would like to know if a valet can reject your car? I have a dinner 8/8/07 at a hotel at orchard road. and was very late already around 7.45 so just proceed to the valet parking. come out of the car with my keys on. they ask me to drive to the car park my self. saying that there is still lot of lots left there. is it that my car is not posh enough to park there? or the car that are allow to park there must be bmw posh lambo Ferrari.

Any Bro or Sis got any good ideas as to how to reject a friend or relative in borrowing your car? i know a few friends who friend everytime ask to borrow his car.