Overcoming Ageism The rise of the Greypreneur.

A few days ago, I had the pleasure of speaking with DAVID WARD ????♂? a vibrant energetic experienced Entrepreneur who has been active for several years in driving various purpose driven enterprises.

His experiences over the last few years resonated with me and hence I’d like to share our conversation in a way that addresses the current biases when it comes to experienced professionals over 50 years old. So, this is not an article with a back and forth but a result of our conversation.

There is no doubt that over 50-year-old workers, especially those in mid to senior management at times will feel the “squeeze being put on them” as age becomes a factor in their day-to-day job while still performing professionally and delivering results that for the most part meet senior management expectations.

The most common statement that is most alarming is when a senior VP perhaps of the same age or even younger tells you: “We need younger fresh blood to fill our ranks” in passing with a smirk on his face. Don’t tell me you have not experienced something similar yourself.

Most have no issue working for a younger boss and most use their experience and knowledge in the workplace to guide and develop up and coming talent, even when this could potentially threaten their employment status.

In global corporations’ redundancies are common and based on years of tenure you can receive a substantial sum as a redundancy payment when asked to leave. Many older workers take the package because these workers are at a stage in their lives where they are close to having paid of their mortgage and have put most of their kids through college.

Once you are out, now what?

Looking for a job online?

You can look for another job and you will soon find out that the recruitment industry and hiring managers have changed their selection process, they use an Application Tracking System (ATS) which makes their job easier. There are a lot of issues with ATS. If you use the wrong font and size in your resume, it simply will not pass, and your application goes into the trash even though you may be the perfect candidate. Add to that the sheer volume of applicants from both employed and out of work job seekers you will find that you must compete with hundreds of other applicants, most of them much younger than you and perhaps not even as ambitious as you.?

An ex-college of mine recently posted that she applied for over 1000 roles and ended up being hired by the same employer that last made her redundant. I guess they made a mistake in firing her in the first place.

So, if online is not working what’s next?

Find a Job using your network?

In my experience this has always worked for me, every job I’ve had has come from friends and ex colleagues who knew of a role available somewhere and could put in a good word for me in addition to him/her passing on my resume to the hiring manager. Basically, bypassing the entire “system”. This still works best.

However, there is a catch which is hiring bias. When you pass an initial hiring manager selection process you still need to interview with at least 3 to even 7 managers before a vote on a candidate is made. If you and your hiring manager cannot convince them, you are the right candidate then you are out. Biases play a role hence multiple interviews to mitigate against this. However, there are so many biases to overcome so interviewing 3 or 7 times is no guarantee.

Do you know how many biases job seekers must deal with?

Here I list the top 10.

·??????Affinity/similarity bias

·??????In-Group Bias

·??????Halo effect

·??????Horn effect

·??????Confirmation bias

·??????Social Bias (This by far effects workers over 50 most)

·??????Illusory correlation bias

·??????Anchoring Bias

·??????Attribution Bias

·??????Beauty Bias (Another Big one)

Depending on how strong and influential your hiring manager is will ultimately determine if you get the job and if you don’t after all this, what is the next step?

So you say &#*& it I still have some money or savings from my redundancy package left after paying of my debts.

I’m going to start my own business; I have so much experience, so many skills and I have this desire to do good for people and planet because Oh My God are we in a pickle. I can help.

Whatever your motivation to start a company is, you are venturing into a relatively new domain. If you’ve had a side hustle and turn that into a business, that’s great. For others you soon find out that you need a new kind of network.

For older entrepreneurs this network and community seems to be elusive.; You are on your own now and trying to find your way in the business world to create sustainable living conditions for you and your family.

Here is where the Greypreneur or what I like to call the Grey’s network comes in and has been created for the purpose of supporting over 50-year-old entrepreneurs become successful in their endeavors to build a sustainable future.

Lending community driven support for likeminded individuals who wish to make a difference. Leveraging centuries worth of experience to become a dominant force for good.

Did you know that start-ups where the founder was over 45 have a higher survival rate than those start-ups that were founded by individuals under 45. They also don’t make their first pitches for investment with VCs.

Start-ups still fail left right and center but having access to knowledge, advise and sharing experiences may help you to avoid failure.

Hence the creation of the Greypreneur community and I encourage each and every one who is in the same boat as David and Me to join and follow us on?https://www.dhirubhai.net/company/the-greypreneur/

Join the network and you will receive a free eBook from David that will guide you to become a successful Greypreneur.

Thank you, David, for setting this up and looking forward to building this network up globally.