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Age No Barrier

OS magazine, October/November 2009

Richard Grace, Joint MD Gordon Yates, heads up OS magazine’s regular Career Clinic. Here he considers attitudes towards recruiting older people.

I’ve been a PA for over 20 years and was PA to the Owner/MD of a national furniture retailer for eight years. I left to temp (still as a PA) so that I could spend more time with my terminally ill brother. After my brother passed away in 2005, I took on a PA role as a temp and secured the role permanently.  I’m very happy, have a wonderful boss and an assistant of my own for the first time in my career! However, due to company restructuring the office will close by the end of March 2010 and I`m facing redundancy at the ripe `old/young` age of 53! My question is: when I apply for a new job, will I face a negative response due to my age? I do realise that theoretically it is illegal to age discriminate, but what is the reality?
Clare Vowles

The economic downturn has disrupted so many lives that it’s sometimes hard to see the positive side – but I find your story inspiring. 

Giving up what sounds like a brilliant career role to look after your brother must have taken courage as well as love. Then you managed to return to the workplace and build, through merit, an arguably better role. 

More disruption now beckons which is totally undeserved and I offer heartfelt commiserations. Realistically, this isn’t the best time to be looking for a new job. Despite signs that the economy is turning the corner, this has yet to show in the employment figures. Also, as you fear, despite age discrimination legislation some employers are still reluctant to take on older employees

But let’s keep a sense of proportion about this because things are rapidly changing. A decade ago, people in their fifties were considered ripe for early retirement. That’s not the case today; people are living longer and enjoying active lifestyles long past retirement age.

Today, 12 per cent of men over 65 and women over 60 are still working – 50% more than in 1992. The government is encouraging this trend by requiring employers to give proper consideration to anyone wanting to work beyond retirement age. It is increasingly accepted that older people have a role to play and indeed need to, if the country is to balance its pension books!  Attitudes take a long time to shift, but the landscape is changing and you should take heart from this.

Gordon Yates is currently working with the government, businesses and individuals to help redundant people get back into work. This has brought the human cost of the recession close to home. It has also underlined how almost everyone has an obstacle or challenge to overcome. This could be lack of experience – or too many years on the clock! Some are handicapped by a career spent with just one company; others have a CV showing too many job changes. 

The question for each of us is: what is my obstacle and how can I overcome it? 

Age is only an obstacle if you let it be. If you’re too old to take an interest, learn new things or relate to the fast-changing modern world, then age is certainly a problem – not because of ‘age’, but because of ‘you’. 

Your story gives only a tiny insight into the kind of person you are, but I don’t think age or any other obstacle will limit you. I wish you every success, even though I don’t think you need it. There are good jobs out there and I think you’ll be fine! 

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