Older Candidates And Stereotypes

I know an older job seeker who feels perpetually discriminated against. He’s projected the same attitude as long as I’ve known him. He believes that employers see him as inflexible, unwilling to learn new skills, set in his ways. Honestly, I think he works hard to live up to these attitudes. He wears these attitudes on his sleeve, as they say — along with the bitterness he feels about being “discriminated against.” But I’ve never known him to do anything constructive to alter these perceptions.

I have another colleague, a woman who is almost 15 years senior to my friend. Every time I interact with this woman, I am left in awe of the tremendous depth of knowledge and experience she embodies. She is also amazingly hip to new technologies, trends, and attitudes. She works hard to stay one step ahead, and she’s not bitter about anything, not even some significant health problems.

These two older workers, one unemployed and one employed, embody prevalent stereotypes. We’ve all met them many times before, in one form or another. The stereotypes are so common, it’s easy to quickly pigeonhole older workers into one or the other. If you are an older candidate, this is a challenge you face. The good news is that it’s largely up to you to control which way you are likely to be seen.

I am not making light of the challenges older workers face, suggesting that there is no such thing as age discrimination, or implying that the solutions are instant and easy. But I do want to highlight two specific things about these older workers, and why I believe they are perceived so differently.

First, each of these people is seen very much the way that they see themselves. Granted, this isn’t always the case — we all know people whose self-image is skewed (often quite generously). But it is universally true that our attitudes tend to inform the way we present ourselves and the way we are seen.

Second, perhaps as an extension of the way they see themselves, both of these older workers act accordingly. The older of the two reads voraciously, she takes and teaches classes at the local community college, and she makes a point of keeping herself on the forefront of her field. In contrast, the embittered gentleman (although he’s unemployed) often grumbles about how he “doesn’t have time to keep up with every stupid new fad.”

A recent study confirmed a common link between creativity and age. Add to that the variety and magnitude of experience older workers often bring to the table, as well as other life experiences, vast personal and professional networks, maturity and wisdom — what a powerful package. But these qualities and gifts aren’t inevitable consequences of age. They are the results of choices we all make, throughout our lives and our careers.

Comments

[rod]

Nobody seems to comment on this blog. Question to the blogmaster: are you "Chicago George"? I am Rod, although I'm not sure if I was Rod then. At one point I lived in Japan. Now I live in Indiana. Like a cicada, once every 17 years I wake up and try to get in touch with people.

[Dan Schawbel]

You need to stay positive, so that you are perceived as positive by your audience.

[George Blomgren]

Hey Rod, Yup, Chicago George -- Glasgow? Drop me an email.

[Rick75]

Experience speaks for itself but, in many cases, it all comes down to attitude. Some older workers merely shut their eyes to new things and some even ignore the trends in their professions. I have two words of advice: You can't! You certainly can't escape these changes if you're in a customer-facing position, but even in "back office" functions, you need to think about today and tomorrow, and how your skills can fit in. Then, you have to believe in the "value" you can deliver to an employer. It's all about staying positive, as Dan Schawbel says, and communicating a positive message.

[Michael Holley Smith]

Older workers in particular can benefit from using a powerful bioblog rather than a (limiting) traditional resume, either chronological or functional, since both point towards the past rather than a bioblog, which paints the future. (What an employer is going to be betting on.) Images over words in these circumstances are a sly way around the negatives. Potential trumps the past.

[Anita Bruzzese]

It's interesting how some people set themselves up to fail, no matter their age. It's like the 20-something who blames GenX and the Baby Boomers for all the world's ills, or the 50-plus person who claims to think FaceBook or MySpace is stupid and has no interest in even hearing about them. When we close ourselves off to other ideas and other people who are different than ourselves, we really limit our opportunities and possibilities.
Anita Bruzzese
www.45things.com

[Employment Finder]

The more you stay alert on job offering you can make more out of it. Simple see whats coming your way

[Marcia Robinson]

Great post.

I had a conversation with a friend today who has been with the same company for 20 years. The company has been warning for the last 5 months about restructuring.

They offered buy outs, early retirement or other jobs in other departments.

My friend chose none of these options despite knowing full well he was in a disappearing industry. He was let go this past Friday and is still amazed that the company could do this to him so close to retirement.

Many people perceive change as loss and many would rather complain rather than make a plan and take a chance. One behavior is about looking out and one is about looking in.

We all need to look in more.

Marcia Robinson
www.bullseyeresumes.com

[Medical Sales Recruiter]

Good Stuff! I really liked the part about attitude. I liked Anita's comment about myspace and facebook...That is funny!!

[Gustafson]

Something that older job seekers need to keep in mind as well as that as a job hunter, we aren't limited to the industry that we have always been a part of...

perhaps those skills that made us good at what we do will help us succeed somewhere else...

--
Gustafson
http://www.theviewfromhome.com/thejobhunt - my job search notes

[Lee]

I appreciate this post. It's applicable on either end of the age spectrum and to just about any other perceived prejudice that job seekers think is holding them back. Your point is dead-on, the prejudice may very well exist, but allowing that to cause you to give up will guarantee failure. Accepting it, then powering ahead anyway is far more logical and will always produce superior results.

[Emily Sanders]

Older job seekers as well as younger ones can benefit from having a winning resume, too. I found a company that reworks resumes so that they are as effective as they can be. They are here: www.careerexperts.org

[Emily Sanders]

I worked for the company above for 3 weeks and was never paid. They are FRAUDULENT.

DO NOT accept online positions or ask for resume help from

Careerexperts.org.

This is a SCAM! I wanted people to know so other people don't get defrauded as I did.

[Resume Help]

Good post.

With the current economic situation, anyone, young or old, may be faced with needing to dust off the resume and search for a new position. The attitude you take to the interview, and to your job, is certainly a key factor. An employee (or prospective employee) who doesn't quite have all the needed job skills but who is eager to learn and to improve is much more valuable to an employer than someone who is technically competent right now but who isn't interested in doing the things that will keep them productive in the future.

_________________
Resume to Referral
Resume and Career Services
http://www.resumetoreferral.com

[ITJobHelper]

Good stuff. I like what Employment Finder said up top.
indemandjobs.blogspot.com

[Russ]

Always be a lifetime learner and you will succeed at new ventures. What I am realizing is that any job we currently have, things are never static - always changing