Are You TOO OLD To Be Hired?

Are you too old to be hired? Do you ever wonder if you’re too old to land another job?  Or that your age is a barrier to what you really want to do?

Now, those of you who already know me will know I get on my high horse about ageism in the workplace and how I believe we are NEVER TOO OLD to reinvent our careers. Yes, that's right - we are NEVER TOO OLD to be the person we were born to be.

In this episode I promised to give you the links to a number of interesting posts and resources and you'll find them at the bottom of these shownotes.

Let me ask you, if you're over 30, over 40, over 50, over 60, over 70 are you too old to:

Be heard?

Be loved?

Be appreciated?

To contribute your years of experience and knowledge to benefit someone who's problems you can help to solve?

To be considered as an individual rather than an age-bracket?

Are you too old to learn something new?

Or to try something different?

And TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT?

Unfortunately, according to a 2021 report by the Australian Human Rights Commission, age discrimination remains a significant issue in the workplace, affecting both job seekers and employees. 

Here are some statistics on ageism in the workplace in Australia:

• Around 27% of workers over the age of 50 reported experiencing age discrimination in the workplace.
• Older job seekers are more likely to experience long-term unemployment, with the average duration of unemployment for workers aged 55 and over being around 71 weeks.
• Older workers are more likely to be retrenched or have their contracts terminated, and they find it more challenging to secure new job opportunities than younger workers.

and this one surprised me:

Despite being a protected attribute under Australian law, only 56% of workers are aware that age discrimination is illegal.

So how can we overcome ageism in the workplace? In this episode I discuss in detail these strategies:

• Upskilling
• Networking
• Highlighting transferable skills 
• Addressing negative stereotypes

To overcome ageism it requires a collective effort from employers, employees, and society as a whole. 

I’d like to ask you: How are you helping to promote a culture of inclusivity and respect for all generations? 

What else can we do to create a more equitable and age-diverse workplace? 

Let’s keep the conversation going and I'd love you to send me a message on LinkedIn or share a post of you in action showing your energy and enthusiasm regardless of age and tag me so I know!

Check out my CAREER SUCCESS Program
Colleen Heidemann in action  wearing a t-shirt with the slogan: OLD IS THE NEW BLACK!

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