I know. I know. Age discrimination is wrong. But it doesnt stop some people from perpetrating it on others. Especially in the workplace. If your age could be problematic for your employment, you need to be prepared in advance to deal with it.
There are some things you can do in advance. And there are some things you can do if youre confronted with age discrimination. First, lets consider what you can do to be prepared for the possibility of age discrimination.
1. Take advantage of your network . . . your contacts . . . the people you know. This is one singular leg-up you have because of your age: you know a lot more people. These people can assist you in your job campaign. But they can also be a valuable resource you can point to when youre talking to a prospective employer.
2. Get on a learning curve. Stay one step ahead in your area of expertise. Be ready to come to the table with knowledge that your competitors wont have. And show how you can use that extra knowledge to add to the bottom line.
3. Dont limit your job search to large organizations. Your age and experience will be much more valued in a smaller company where you have an opportunity to demonstrate the advantages of some unique experiences that you bring to the organization. Frequently youll be dealing with principals who have much more leeway in finding a role for you or even creating one.
4. Remember, in the final analysis, youre going to get hired because someone likes you and sees you fitting into the team. It has little to do with how old you are. So be prepared to make yourself an indispensable member of the organization.
Of course, you may run into discrimination when youre actually interviewing for a job. Its likely to be very subtle. For example, the interviewer may advise you that youre over-qualified, or that the hectic pace of the job requires a high degree of stamina or many extra hours and unusual energy . . . the assumption being that at your age you cant cut it.
If you sense that youre being screened because of your age, dont sit still. Take the initiative and put the issue on the table with the interviewer. Your objective is to give him/her an alternate way of thinking about you in a negative way. In other words, youre going to bring up the issue of age (something they CANT do).
For example, you could say, It occurs to me, Bill, that you want to have someone on board whos a hard worker, willing to put in the extra hours, and who can bring to the table some unique capabilities you couldnt find in someone less experienced. Does that about summarize it? Well let me show you why I think I can make a difference to your company.
You then go on to demonstrate ways that you can add a special dimension to the team that no one else can bring.
The good news is that we can show you how to handle age discrimination and all the other objections youre likely to face as part of your job campaign. Its part of the amazing 21st Century alternative job search and non-traditional career advancement revolution. Isnt it time for you to check it out? |
