Taking a chance on mature-aged workers
Recruiters do not admit to discriminating against mature-aged candidates, however the circumstantial evidence suggests otherwise.
As someone who has worked with and managed both young workers, including school leavers, and more mature workers (one still working at 83 years of age) I have come to the conclusion that hiring mature workers is a much safer bet than hiring younger people.
Mature workers have experience, but most of them also have commitments and family, which tends to make them more stable and conscientious. There are always exceptions to every rule but this is my general experience.
With this in mind, why is it that workers over the age of 45 have so much trouble finding employment?
Many redundancies happen at a middle management level in corporations (speaking from personal experience). Many of my close colleagues and I have found it difficult to get recruitment firms to put us forward for jobs that seem to be well within the range of our capabilities.
Interestingly most of these recruitment consultants are quite young themselves and I have had less of an issue when I have spoken with older consulltants.
I was speaking today to a gentleman who has been unemployed for 2 years and cannot get employment as a fork lift driver for which he has over 20 years experience, because he hasnt had a recent job (last 3 years) in that role.
No one will admit to the fact it is because of age but it is difficult to find any other reason why so many mature workers have the same or similar experiences.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts.
John Kirk recently graduated with a MBA from The University of New England and is currently studying for an MBA (advanced) in Corporate Sustainability with Southern Cross University. John has more than 30 years experience in the print industry, having acted as a representative at both state and national levels as a Director of ACFIPS Industry Training Advisory Board and as a member of the Sector Advisory Committee for Innovation Business Skills Australia. John is interested in sustainability, corporate social responsibility, futurism, and developing people. For the last 7 years he has sat on the corporate social responsibility committee for a major corporation.
