How about a program for hiring overqualified (or in my case, "oddly" qualified) women who aren’t green, but need some, and can meld into any environment? You could call us Executive Chameleons. Chammies for short.

I must be a Chammie - Can I use the term on my next cover letter?

Over the past year i have not made any advancements in trying to get a real job, so have made some green in the "desperate" survival mode - as a gas jockey and clerk in retail - that was only suppose to last through Christmas - but they hired me as a part timer. Now, at least I have a job, just not one that would convey respect when I am trying to get into an executive position. The barrier is not only my age (53) but being self-employed and a crafts(wo)man for the last 15 years. I certainly proved I am humble and can take criticism, but I must not be wording it right, cause I’m not getting any response. Hoping "Chammie" might work? Do you think they have it on the HR resume reader yet? 

I would like to find a news internship as a court artist.  I am very good

at capturing peoples likenesses since I am a fineart with an MFA ‘73 from

Columbia University.  Who would I contact to be considered for such an internship.  Thank you, Thea Bass 

I recently saw an ad for an unpaid internship and thought it would be a good fit for both me and the firm. The HR Rep must have agreed because about 6 minutes after I applied she called me up and asked me if I was for real. She kept saying,"You’re perfect! You’re perfect!" (Don’t you wish all your job applications are received so well? Sigh!)

Well, it turned out the art director didn’t think I was perfect. She took one look at me in the reception area and then immediately made herself unavailable. I cooled my heels for 40 minutes before I ended up showing my portfolio to her assistant who, by the way, didn’t know why I was there. When I finally did see the AD she didn’t want to review my work and she grandly told me that they received hundreds of applications for the internship.

Honestly, if she felt that way about it she really shouldn’t have made the interview appointment with me. I’ve forgotten how heavy my portfolio can be! Women supporting women, hah!     

I just heard about the intern program today on NPR.  How does one apply for the intern training in New York City? 

57yrs old - laid off on 3/5 for the 2nd time from the same company. The first time was June 18, 2008.  However, I was asked to stay on until 7/2 which I did.  Rehired and fully re-instated on 8/3.  Now they did it again.   I’m a Sr Project Manager for a very large Steelcase dealer (office furniture) in NYC- been in this industry since 1980 also working with Herman Miller and Knoll.  I like what I do & I offered to work for a reduced salary… not accepted.  I was assured that as soon as the market turns around, they will re-hire me.  My response -  I can’t wait until 2012.    Looking for work and going to interviews are like the circles of hell for me.  Asking what "my goals" are at this age shows that the interview process hasn’t changed for 30 years.  What I want to say is: "Look, I’m 57yrs old and I have to work until I’m 90.  So my goal is to win the lottery or marry some half-dead extremely wealthy old man with no relatives."

But I don’t say any of these things (yet). I need to keep on being educated until I can’t anymore.  Starting over is not a new thing for me as I’ve done it many times either by circumstances or choices.  WOWOWOW gives "middle-aged"  professional women that opportunity.  I’m ready.  Thank you

I am a professional woman who would love to partner with wowOwow if possible!  

A friend of mine forwarded this article to me because it is very similar to my own group, Getting to Work, a Facebook volunteer group for freelance, independent, under-employed and unemployed professionals. Our aim is to promote productivity and provide opportunity for professional growth through shared purpose: using our collective expertise to provide pro-bono solutions for under-funded non-profits. You can join our group to help get the movement started at: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=44746412&op=1&o=global&view=global…

I read the article on Executive Interns, and think that the concept is a wonderful "idea," but was slightly disappointed that there was no immediate program to follow up on.

Perhaps you could facilitate its adoption by creating a space on your site for an internship exchange, posting internship opportunities and situations wanted. This might not be a "business" you want to enter into, but it could help women access those opportunities, and businesses/organizations access them.

Thank you again for presenting an intelligent voice online advocating for women.

I graduated from college at the ripe age of 60, two years ago, with a GPA of 3.47.  My BA is in History, with an art minor, and only lack a semester having a BA in Art.  I worked as a purchasing agent and in the purchasing side of several large corporations, and it never occurred to me that I would not be able to find a job after I graduated! 

Think again.  I can’t tell you how many applications I have filled out and interviews I have had, but I have been told over and over "you are overqualified, over-educated, and the thing that is never said out loud, Over-aged.  I have always worked, and wanted to work again, but have given up.  I will begin getting my social security next month, and will keep my grandchildren.  I have tried to find a legitimate job working from home on the internet, but have had no success, mainly because I don’t trust that any are legit.  

 I live in West Texas, a part of the country that is never mentioned on the weather channel, so the chances of an internship are as remote as a traffic jam.  I know there are many others my age that have hit the age wall.  How sad, I have so much to offer.

Last year at 54, I went back to college.  I want to work in the renewable energy field and would love to intern for my last summer semester!  What looks really interesting is the smart grid city being set up by Excel Energy in Golden Colorado.  This is far more reaching than keeping your tires aired at the same amount or recycling plastics. 

We had a huge ice storm here last winter and many were out of power for 2 and 3 weeks.  For us to be able to produce some of our own power, keeping maybe the frig, freezer or heater going as well as to choose how to recieve our power is very interesting to me. There is a lot of innovation going on in all the renewables and I want to be a part of this exciting field.  My degree will be a BSBA in Management with a minor in HR. 

Lots of the Green Jobs require 5+ years of experience!  Unless you live in California or Europe, you couldn’t come close to having any experience at all.  

The electric companies here will tell you that the renewables are nowhere close to being competitive but I found a company, Nanosilver, who says they were very much so.  Large storage batteries are being sized down to suitcase size-some using foam instead of lead and at times we have wind that calls for one to wear an anchor to walk…Better use of our resources, conservation and the use of renewables looks like the way to help employ many who are out of work now and would continue to employ many down the road.  How these companies expect to get employees with the experience they want is beyond me.  Are there really any internships out there?  

Sincerely,

Nancy Washburn

I’m alittle over the age limit but I look much younger no gray

I write poetry and and I think I have a New York Jewish humor.

Really it’s better than that I get a kick out of making someone laugh.

My background could not be further from  the publishing orb.

I’ll make a deal with you all I’ll pay you to hire me.  

Anyway thank you the the information

                                               Myr Sylvia Nielsen

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I just discovered this site because of the Today show and was excited about it.  I am 53 and own a seasonal business for 5 years with my husband.  It is a lawn and tree business.  I have been a manager of a real estate office  for years and and other management positions. 

I am looking for something for me to work out of my home office.  My interests lie with fashion and working with women.  I am open to any suggestions or ideas.

I love your article but just a note for the record.  When I first looked at the comments the first one visible was over a week old.  It might just be me but I almost left the site before I looked through because when I see comments that old I assume that the story is dated or old news.  Fortunately I looked at the last page just to see if the comments might be from earliest date to latest date and I was please to see that there recent entries.  That means to me that the conversation is still active and live.  Perhaps you could at least make a note that the comments are first to last, as opposed to last to first.  Just a suggestion.  As a would be poet and novelist, fifty something, retired, divorced, Southern born and bred, ex-business executive, ex-English literature college teacher, mother, grandmother, bipolar woman, I would perhaps have an unusual perspective on political news, world news and current events.  I rarely see people who have my demographic in opinion columns.  To make my perspective more unique, I moved back, for family reasons,  to my little home town, leaving the more metro Southern cities behind.  Talk about a culture shock.  They say you can never go home again.  Well, sometimes you have no choice.  Being eccentric anyway, I am a strange bird here but I look at these once familiar surroundings with a semi-outsider’s eye, yet know that this is from whence I came.  Perhaps you would like to hear my thoughts about life in general?