Are Years Of Experience Really A Bad Thing In A Job Search?
A quick search through the internet will show you that stereotypes in interviews has become a scary epidemic. Research shows that hiring managers stereotype in just the first 7 words a candidate says to them, and AI is being trained to weed out anyone that doesn’t fit the company culture just from a select few resume lines.
A new issue that prospective employees are finding is that companies are looking for a number of years experience for their open roles, but that they are agist toward anyone who has that number of years on their resume. The question then becomes, why include the number of years experience being looked for in the job description?
Many are concerned that the companies take phone calls with individuals with that many years experience only to learn their ideas and later have them implemented by someone younger. However, it’s often the case that the older workforce isn’t even getting phone calls about the roles, and their resumes are being thrown to the wayside.
In addition, there are many roles that are lower on the career ladder that now expect a prospective employee to have the knowledge and skills of a much more seasoned candidate. It’s clear that the older workforce is being phased out far before their time.
It’s time to plan for the future. If companies are looking for younger employees to do the role of workers with more years of experience, it’s time to make a change, but what does that mean?
First, that means changing our talking points during interviews. We need to make ourselves a story, a narrative that means more than how old we are. We need to be more interesting, more diverse, and irreplaceable.
Second, we need to have conversations about ageism. When it becomes clear in the interview process that you won’t be getting the offer, ask about ageism. Find out from the hiring manager if age has anything to do with their decision. Begin collecting data to make your future interviews better.
Third, we need to create new opportunities, and save more money. Launch a start-up on nights and weekends so you have a backup plan if you find yourself out of work. Plus save a bit extra each month if you can to buy yourself a few extra years if you wind up retired earlier than your benefits kick in.
The fight to end ageism is a long one, but being educated and having plans in place to combat the effects can put you at a massive advantage.
