my dad was about 51 at the time and in marketing for a (insert name of major health insurance/HMO company here). my dad was educated in the school of "hard knocks" and was always quite the charmer, with a subtle english accent, thus perfect for sales. he was disatisfied at the way "young managers were ruining the company." he IS the most "power of positive thinking" optimist i will EVER meet; NEVER gets discouraged ordinarily, however, he had a HELL of a time finding a job.
he moved out of NY and for almost a year, he couldn't find employment. after my mother was worrying herself to a frazzle, he finally relented to working for the SAME insurance company; just in a different state; and this was a state that was entering an economic boom at the time.
my dad found out in a hurry that there is no such thing as the "experience card" anymore (even after 30 years experience in the sales field).
me thinks ernbatavia is in for a MUCH rougher time than he thinks.