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• listen...you can be 92 if you know the right people...doesnt anybody out there get it? I was 22 and was told i was to old...by HR. If you want to work in this terrible 'unfair' industry you have to know the right people. Look at Warren Buffett lets see oh yes his dad was a US senator can he get a job..I bet lets see the old devil whats his face...hmmm Alan Greenspan how old is he? answers on a postcard. Do you think he would face a problem getting a job? Look I too am looking at the minute and keep hearing the same old chestnust...Your to this, your to that....have things changed over the years...NO..there are every ...ISM in the city you can think about. The only difference now is that they have got better at hiding it..lets see instead of telling you to FFFF off because your 'to old' they simply say your to senior for the role. I shocked after 36 years in Banking you of all people dont know this!!! But then again keping ones eyes open and understanding whats going on aroung you helps!!! Good luck you'll need it....I have a better plan go for the Euro millions this Friday you have more of an honest chance of winning it!!

  philip007 12 May 2008

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• Probably. From what I've seen the age discrimination legislation makes no difference. And the current climate doesn't help. I'm struggling to move at 46 with 13 years experience. I work at a major IB where I'm told that less than 5% of the staff are over 50 and less than 1% over 55, and that's a bank that is perceived to have a higher proportion of 'older' staff than other banks.

  myname 12 May 2008

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• Bluntly yes. As the other responses point out below, there are very few people in banking of your age. Those that there are, are very senior. What you will find challenging is that unless you are hired into a super senior post, there will be questions (probably unasked due to legal reasons) as to your stamina, interest in working hard and travelling long hours etc. If you have a skill that they are looking for, or great relationships with a certain client base, then you may find it easier. Most people of your age and experience either are running the bank or are advisors / consultants. You might find it easier to find a job (not full time though) using specific skills / relationships and offering yourself as a consultant on that basis.

  former MD at a major US investment bank 13 May 2008

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• Depends on your skillset. If you have been doing something that they (anybody) wants, you should easily secure a contract position or be able to start your own business. On the other hand, if you have been a zombie over the years and for some reason they (anyone) has not noticed, you are not going to find anything. Either way, start your own shop on the buy side. These IB's (and most of sell-side finance) are all smoke and mirrors, propped up by governments that are too afraid of losing corporate tax revenue to let the parasites fail on their own.

  aagrant 13 May 2008

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• Hmm. Wondering if this is a real debate person question. C'mon - 59 - in banking terms you are Methuselah. We all know that age discrimination is illegal, but when did that ever stop an IB behaving badly? All they have to do is pay you a pittance and gag you. So yes, 59 is Too Old. (Said as one only just due south of 50 and jittery). 36 years banking and you could potentially have averted the Credit Crunch because you'd seen it all before? Try tell it to the young dogs. They aren't listening. And they're hogging the hiring. Run with your own ideas at last. Go sailing/golfing/make love to your wife/girlfriend/boyfriend (ahem, not concurrently, pls). Much more fun than dreary old IBs. Get your life back. They never owned you.

  Jane 13 May 2008

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