Always great insights! I'm also seeing ageism as friends are trying to find new jobs, particularly for women in their 50/60s and struggling to be considered for roles that they are qualified or even over qualified for. The years of experience are being discounted. Suggestions to remove any dates from their resumes or dye their hair before interviews so that the employer won't be able to figure out that they are 'old' are becoming commonplace. It's frustrating!
I see many of the same stories on LinkedIn and hear firsthand from people I know. I wonder if recruiters now have AI tools to suss out an approximate age of candidates just from the info they submit, even if no telling dates are listed or the person is seen?
I don’t like being this pessimistic but these stories are all too common. It’s overly simple to note that their years of experience and curated talents CAN be valued by an organization if they can perhaps open their sights in new directions. Easier said than done, but these situations could mean a pivot to great new path.
From a best candidate for the job perspective, I have a lot of respect for the experience and perspective of older applicants. They're more patient and less reactive when it comes to dealing with messy human situations (and let's face it what makes jobs challenging is usually messy human situations). I'm a boomer btw.
However, I find I have less patience with seniors who seem not to have matured and seem stuck in their "mean girl" "jerky guy" personas. It seems sad and unfortunate that your body can be 70+ years old but you haven't gained much wisdom or perspective. Age doesn't make you automatically deserving of reverence. Who you "become" with time and experience is what matters to me.
I think, too, there aren't a lot of good models for healthy aging in our culture. That certainly doesn't help. I've wondered if we should have more education on "Eldering:" what does it mean to be wise elder? So it's not surprising people can end up stuck in their younger personas.
A lot of us are certainly trying to show the many positive aspects of living with more positivity in our older decades, especially as we are living longer and may possibly need to work longer than our parents generation. It is a shame to hear you’ve encountered people who haven’t emotionally matured when they’ve had a lot of years of “adulting” to do so.
Sally, such an important and often overlooked conversation—thank you for the wonderful feature and thoughtful exploration of ageism!
I especially resonate with your insights on the playful banter between generations and the deeper truth beneath it: we truly have much more in common than we often realize.
"ensure we're joking not judging"
As you mentioned, curiosity and empathy go a long way toward closing generational gaps.
Grateful for your voice, and honored to be part of your vibrant community.
Cheers to celebrating connection over categorization! 🎉✨
Always great insights! I'm also seeing ageism as friends are trying to find new jobs, particularly for women in their 50/60s and struggling to be considered for roles that they are qualified or even over qualified for. The years of experience are being discounted. Suggestions to remove any dates from their resumes or dye their hair before interviews so that the employer won't be able to figure out that they are 'old' are becoming commonplace. It's frustrating!
I see many of the same stories on LinkedIn and hear firsthand from people I know. I wonder if recruiters now have AI tools to suss out an approximate age of candidates just from the info they submit, even if no telling dates are listed or the person is seen?
I don’t like being this pessimistic but these stories are all too common. It’s overly simple to note that their years of experience and curated talents CAN be valued by an organization if they can perhaps open their sights in new directions. Easier said than done, but these situations could mean a pivot to great new path.
Spot on. Thank you!
From a best candidate for the job perspective, I have a lot of respect for the experience and perspective of older applicants. They're more patient and less reactive when it comes to dealing with messy human situations (and let's face it what makes jobs challenging is usually messy human situations). I'm a boomer btw.
However, I find I have less patience with seniors who seem not to have matured and seem stuck in their "mean girl" "jerky guy" personas. It seems sad and unfortunate that your body can be 70+ years old but you haven't gained much wisdom or perspective. Age doesn't make you automatically deserving of reverence. Who you "become" with time and experience is what matters to me.
I think, too, there aren't a lot of good models for healthy aging in our culture. That certainly doesn't help. I've wondered if we should have more education on "Eldering:" what does it mean to be wise elder? So it's not surprising people can end up stuck in their younger personas.
A lot of us are certainly trying to show the many positive aspects of living with more positivity in our older decades, especially as we are living longer and may possibly need to work longer than our parents generation. It is a shame to hear you’ve encountered people who haven’t emotionally matured when they’ve had a lot of years of “adulting” to do so.
Sally, such an important and often overlooked conversation—thank you for the wonderful feature and thoughtful exploration of ageism!
I especially resonate with your insights on the playful banter between generations and the deeper truth beneath it: we truly have much more in common than we often realize.
"ensure we're joking not judging"
As you mentioned, curiosity and empathy go a long way toward closing generational gaps.
Grateful for your voice, and honored to be part of your vibrant community.
Cheers to celebrating connection over categorization! 🎉✨