Ageism - Secure. That. Interview.

Ageism in the workplace is something we have all either come up against or have experienced happening to others close to us. It’s a sad state of affairs when you see that an organisation’s mission statement doesn’t match their workplace or culture.

As a recruiter, working for a company like MARS, I am incredibly fortunate that I get to work with clients that I really want to work with, where my values align, where I would want to work. If I work with an organisation that goes against those values, then I know pretty quickly into the recruitment process that they are a client I can’t continue working with.

There are plenty of other recruiters who also stand-up to ageism and refuse to work with business’s where this is commonplace. However, of course, not all organisations use recruiters to find their next hire. For this reason, this article is to provide some tips on how to navigate your career moves, avoid being a target of ageism and get that face-to-face interview where you can show them that your age carries a wealth of experience they couldn’t possibly pass up.

• Don’t apply for any old role – you have years of experience and are a SPECIALIST; apply for the jobs you know you are worth – This particular tip actually applies to all job seekers. Applying for an Administration role when your career has been in Marketing, will not get you to where you need to be. Although you could potentially do this role as you did a similar role prior to your career, there are Administration professionals out there applying for those roles who will get the look in as they have the current, relevant experience. So, these irrelevant applications are a huge waste of your time and real contributor to hurting your mental state when you don't hear back. You might be in a desperate situation, and you’re applying for such a role because you need to pay the bills – but get hungrier with your focus on applying for roles within your specialty, within various business’s that align with your values, where you’re more likely to get an interview.
• Show the hiring manager how your experience gives you an edge over other candidates – Hiring managers look to relate to you when they are looking through your CV. They know their deliverables and the key skills they are looking for, but they are also looking for you, the candidate, to show them what they are missing. Always write a Statement of Suitability when submitting your CV for a role; tell the hiring manager a story of how your experience relates to their business and the key deliverables they have put in their PD. A one-size-fits-all cover letter will not get you to that next step – yes, it is extra work, but it garners the attention you need.
• Take advantage of your network and connections - Don’t feel embarrassed about leveraging these relationships, or that you are bothering them; if you have a relationship there, they will be only happy to help. Think of how many people you have met over your many years carving out your career - who could you re-connect with that can aid you in some way? You know you will do the same for them in the future.
• Take your education dates off your resume – This is to remove the unconscious bias when the hiring manager is reviewing your CV. Do this to your LinkedIn too. They don’t need to know when you went to high school or when you went to University. That is your business. They do need to know if you have been up-skilling since then, which leads into the next tip.
• Keep your skills up to date and continue further learning – This is so easily possible with the thousands of online education courses available. Is there an area that you think is not a strong suit, and not getting you to the interview stage? Look it up on Google (or in my other article titled “Where do I Start? HERE”) and start up-skilling. The courses vary in price, can be FREE or $12 or quite expensive – but they will put you to the top of the pile when it comes to shortlisting for interviews. Add these courses and skills to an entirely different section on your resume under "Skills" - keep this separate from your education, so you can show the dates in which you up-skilled and show the hiring manager that you have recently been hustling to ensure your a brilliant next hire.
• Only include experience going back as far as 10-15 years – If you asked me to do right now exactly what I was doing 15 years ago, it would be a geography exam, so that isn’t quite relevant, but I know I wouldn't be able to do it. If your career spans over 15 years, don’t go back that far on you CV - only list your most recent and relevant experience. If you are a seasoned Marketing Director for the past 10 years across various business’s, list those roles, but don’t go back to prior your Marketing Director experience. We want your next role to be of a similar seniority, or utilising your skillset. If you were working in a role 15 years ago that has no relation to the role you are applying for, don't include it - start your experience from when you want to start your experience from.
• Don’t give up, stay hungry – You have seen a role you want, and you want to apply for it. NOW, do some research. Look up the company on LinkedIn and click on the link that directs you to the employees. See who the role reports into, see who the hiring/HR manager is, and reach out to them. Connect with a personalised message, to show you have made the effort. Make yourself as visible as possible, to further cement your name in their mind for when they see your application. I’m definitely not saying stalk them, but being in their field of view is important to leverage your application.

These are some basic tips to ensure that your age is just a number when applying for your next perfect role. What are your tips? Help your fellow job seekers by commenting below!

Sasha Kinane - Senior Consultant, Marketing & Communications

03 9448 3016 | [email protected] | 0439 986 652