The advantages of being mature in today’s job market

Just how many times have you felt discriminated during your job interviews lately? We’re not referring to countries where recruitment ads demand youth, or a particular gender, or good looks, or even blatantly suggest that you attach a recent photograph to your resume. What we’re talking about is the interviewing process in North America. When you get to the face to face interview have you noticed the blank look on the face of the ‘fresh out of university’ recruiter sitting in front of you when you may unintentionally talk about growing up in the seventies? Worse they start to yawn. While there’s nothing you can do to change the immaturity (He, or she can’t help it if they are much younger than you are) of your interviewer, what you can most certainly do is change the way you are presenting yourself. Since a first appearance is certainly going to be the last, present yourself in a fantastic gift package, and dress impeccably. Invest in a great piece of outstanding formal wear. Look out for good deals, and always make sure you have a second opinion. Take a spouse or friend with you when you shop. Someone who has a current dress sense. Age discrimination is mindset discrimination first and foremost, so get that out of the way. Review how you are presenting your appearance, mindset and your ambition to succeed –when you walk in to your future employers’ office.  Every HR department asks these questions about you and every other candidate they’re planning on hiring: Will you be able to adapt and grow in this role? Will you be able to learn and accordingly adjust as the role tangibly evolves? Will you be able to master the tools and technologies involved? Will you get along with your team? Will you be able to take direction and feedback, and not be an immovable roadblock?  The truth be told there is a perception on the part of hiring managers, whether right or wrong, that attributes of embracing change and adaptability are more frequently found in the young, as opposed to a mature individual.  However it is important to understand why they think that way.  As the world progresses, as businesses change even more rapidly, and global villages coexist comfortably, organizations will more likely experiment, and embrace new trends, which is more or less like a corporate placebo test. Which is why a workforce that is flexible, open-minded and interested in learning is far better than a workforce that is determined to keep doing it the old-fashioned way. So expecting your future employer to be pleased with your ‘tried and tested’ experience will not cut the cheese. You have to move ahead, and into the mindset, or rather headspace of the company that’s hiring you.

Having said that, here are worthwhile tips: Make sure you recount situations in which you adapted new technologies to the problem at hand. It is helpful if these examples aren’t from your first job, but from recent career transitions.  Or better still how you were able to advise a solution in a scenario that depended on your expertise, not to mention your maturity. Make sure you paint a picture of the challenges you faced, and how you overcame them. Illustrate it with specific stories, and elaborate it with a passion for the work that you do. Communicate clearly about what drives you? What excites you about your work?

Do you know that your younger competitors do this out of habit? For the simple reason that because they cannot talk about decades of success in the business – but you can. Do you understand how much of an advantage you have now? The important thing is that rather than telling the hiring manager that you’re open-minded, curious, flexible, adaptable to new circumstances, and sociable enough for the role, demonstrate to them that you are really a great fit.  However coming to a job interview knowing the names of the latest celebrities, or rock bands, using age-inappropriate colloquiums, and wearing branded clothes that are predominantly catering to a youth target audience might signify desperation and is certainly going to be counter productive. Taking centre stage like this could reconfirm your interviewer’s fears that you’re a fuddy-duddy. Before your face to face meeting, do a thorough research about the company. Write out the questions you need to ask, and carry it to the interview. This shows how much interest you have in that institution, it will also reveal your understanding, and adaptability. Then, your greatest ammunition is to present yourself as you are, to let the light of your renowned past achievements shine through. Above all, you are able to communicate, visually and verbally, that you are knowledgeable of present trends, business dynamics, and the culture of the organization. There you go, you’ve aced the interview! Congratulations!

[Jude Paul Fernandes is the author of ‘Frost Bites’ which is available at the Toronto Public Library.  He is currently working on a novel ‘Lonely in Mumbai’ and can be followed on Twitter @JudePaulFerns]