What's my age again? Does it matter? (Updated) (Ageism and Employment)

Name: delawney

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Product:	Ageism and Employment
Date:	26/01/02 (320 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Employers reckon people will stay longer

Disadvantages: Could be losing out on committed employees with a wealth of experience

It amazes me that employers worry about age at all. How long do people tend to remain in one job these days anyway? Employing a youngster by no means guarantees they will remain with the organisation for any particular length of time.

I studied philosophy at university, which qualifies you to "think very deep thoughts about being unemployed" (Bruce Lee, of all people). I left with my degree, but not really knowing what I wanted to do. All I knew was that I wanted to work somewhere that benefitted society in some way. (Sorry - that makes me sound like a terrible do-gooder!)

Instead, I found myself temping for £3.20 an hour (pre minimum wage) for an insurance company, filing things in alphabetical order. I was so demoralised I used to hide in the toilets and cry.

I had numerous job interviews with no success. The feedback I received was always that they were impressed with my performance, but that they had chosen to appoint someone with more experience. How was I ever supposed to get experience if no one ever gave me a chance?

Eventually I got lucky. I applied for a job with a small charitable organisation who liked my style and saw fit to give me a chance.

I started in a fairly lowly position, but the organisation I work for believed in me, supported me and financed further training. At 26, I was appointed to a senior managerial position. This could only happen in an organisation that saw past my relatively young age.

The organisation I work for has staff with a very wide range of ages, employing young people through to many employees over 50. They give young people a chance, appreciating the enthusiasm and fresh perspective they can bring to the organisation. They also recognise the value in older employees, and the wealth of experience and knowledge that can come along with them.

Before I moved into my current position, I worked very closely with my predecessor, who was about to r
etire. She had been with the organisation for 17 years. She was a mentor to me, and I learned an enormous amount from her. I do not think I would have been able to do the job I do now had I not been able to benefit from her experience.

I believe our organisation is successful because of its balance of employees. An organisation full of older people could be in danger of going 'stale', or not being able to keep up with new technologies. An organisation full of younger people could be full of enthusiasm, but could make foolish mistakes through lack of experience.

It is often said that employers worry about employing older people as they fear they will not be in post for long enough. If employers really want to hang on to people, they should provide them with a pleasant working environment, appropriate rewards and as much job satisfaction as possible. People are far more likely to leave an organisation because they are demoralised than because they want to retire. Employing a younger person is no guarantee someone will remain in post for any particular length or time. Employing someone with a wealth of experience, even if they only stay for a limited period, could bring a wealth of expertise to an orgainisation.

I appreciate that there are young, specialised technology based industries where it may be difficult to find suitably qualified older people. However, in most industries appropriate training can be provided to correct any supposed deficiencies. we never shy away from employing someone we feel is right for the job, even if that necessitates intensive on-the-job training to get them up to speed. Indeed, this can be a positive advantage, as you are not stuck with an individual's long-standing 'way of thinking' - you can teach them to work in a way appropriate for our organisation.

All that should matter is a persons ability, or even potential, to do the job. Often, people will be so grateful to h
ave been given a chance, they will work harder and rise above all your expectations.

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