Age is not the problem - your value is

Age is not the problem. Your value is.

A common challenge I hear from clients who are in their late 40s or early 50s and struggling to secure new roles is a firm belief their age is a reason they cannot get hired.

In one instance I heard of someone who had been out of work for 3 years despite having 24+ interviews and they believed the only reason this was the case was that they were over 50 years old.

Although age discrimination does exist and does impact hiring decisions, I don’t believe this is the main reason why people in this age bracket struggle when they are out of work.

It is not their age that is the problem, but the perceived value one can offer relative to their age.

When candidates are being screened through a Resume/CV review or a first-stage interview, the employer is building up assumptions about the potential of the applicant.

They might be asking questions such as

• ???????How much money will they be asking for?
• ???????How quickly will he be able to learn and adapt to the role?
• ???????Can I mould him into the type of employee I want?
• ??????Are they looking for a place to grow or a place to cost until retirement?

The chances are that unless the answers to these questions are clear and compelling, the employer may well consider someone else who they perceive to be younger and cheaper.

If they decide to take on someone with half the experience, the expectation is that the candidate will:

• ???????Accept a lower salary
• ?????? Be more coachable
• ???????Have a better grasp of new technology

Although these predictions might be true, there are certain traits that younger, less experienced candidates do not have

This includes:

• ???????Wisdom – They have made fewer mistakes and don’t have the foresight that comes with that
• ???????Less stable – younger candidates could be more likely to switch jobs based on external factors such as relationships, family and personal finances
• ???????Less certainty – They may not have a clear idea of their ideal career path which again could lessen the likelihood of them remaining in a job for a sustainable time period

So, what is the solution?

Rather than trying to disguise your age or shy away from the topic, take ownership of your age, your experience and the immense value that comes with that.

Build your value proposition around areas including:

• ???????Stability – Assurance that you are at a stage in your career where you know exactly what type of role you want and intend to stay over a long-term period
• ???????Wisdom – You have a wealth of experience but also a wealth of lessons learned from mistakes you have made
• ???????Proven track record – You have multiple case studies detailing the contributions you have made to previous employers

How can these things be communicated?

At the very least, your journey to securing a new role will involve a review of your Resume/CV and LinkedIn profile before a formal interview.

1)????Through your Resume/CV

• ???????Show consistent evidence of quantifiable achievements to demonstrate your track record
• ???????Display recent courses and professional development to show your willingness to learn and adapt
• ???????Make reference to consistency, reliability and professionalism in your executive summary/ personal statement

2)????Through your LinkedIn

• ???????Inject some personality into your ‘About’ section to build a personal connection with employers
• ???????Ensure your profile is ‘Complete’ according to LinkedIn’s criteria as a way to prove your willingness to engage with technology
• ???????Don’t be afraid to post about current and previous experiences in work as a way to showcase your wisdom and lessons learned
• ???????Where relevant, complete LinkedIn learning modules to demonstrate your commitment to learning

3)????Through the interview process

• ???????Showing energy and enthusiasm
• ???????Placing focus on consistency, stability and reliability
• ???????Showing an openness to learning ideas
• ???????Having a wealth of success stories to draw upon

You cannot control how old you are, but you can control how your age is perceived in the eyes of employers.

Use your experience as an asset and means to stand out from the crowd, not blend in.

If you would like some support in creating a value proposition that lands you the jobs that you deserve, then feel free to send me a message.

Let's talk!