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Posted on: 16/05/2012 11:05.
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Age - Be Positive!

All students have differing backgrounds and life experiences and marketing these to an employer is one of the basic career skills you need to learn, whatever your age!

Facts and figures

• Nearly 20 per cent of new graduates are over the age of 25 (Source: Association of Graduate Recruiters)
• There are one million fewer people in their 20s then there was ten years ago. (Source: Employers Forum on Age - EFA)
• Women are more likely to say they have been put off applying for a job because of their age than men.( Source: EFA)
• Close to half of young workers say they’ve been held back at work because of their age. ( Source: EFA)
• 16 per cent of the UK population are aged 65 or over. Source: Office for National Statistics

Age - The Law

From lst October 2006, legislation will outlaw age discrimination in employment and vocational training. The law will cover both private and public sector employers. This means employers will no longer be able to recruit, train, promote or retire people on the basis of age, unless it can be objectively justified.

Age will be the final strand of equality legislation to be implemented and it will be enforced alongside existing
legislation on race, sex, disability, sexual orientation, religion or belief. The regulations cover people of all ages, both old and young - it is suggested that the only time people are free from age discrimination is between the ages of 35 and 40!

The regulations make it unlawful on the grounds of age to:

• Discriminate directly against you – that is, to treat you less favourably than others because of your age – unless objectively justified
• Discriminate indirectly against you – that is, to apply a criterion, provision or practice which disadvantages your particular age unless it can be objectively justified
• Subject you to harassment. Harassment is unwanted conduct that violates your dignity or creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for you having regard to all the circumstances including your perception of the issue
• Victimise you because you have made or intend to make a complaint or allegation or have given or intend to give evidence in relation to a complaint of discrimination on grounds of age
• Discriminate against you, in certain circumstances, after the working relationship has ended.

Treating people differently because of their age will only be justifiable in some exceptional circumstances (health and safety for example).

You can find out more about the legislation from the acas website, which also has advice leaflets you can download. The Government's Age Positive website also has some interesting information and leaflets as to how the law can protect you from age discrimination.

Perceptions

However, there are a number of issues commonly faced by older graduates when considering their career choices and making applications. More often than not, these are about perceptions of the labour market:

• "I won't get onto a graduate scheme because all the other recruits will be 22 and they'll think I won't be able to mix"
• "Employers won't want to spend money on professional training for someone my age"
• "Interviewers younger than me will think I'm set in my ways and boring"
• "Employers will think I'm not up to date with the latest technology and/or working practices"
• "Recruiters will think I'm getting ready for retirement and won't be as productive as someone younger"

There is plenty of evidence to prove that all these statements are wrong - the reality is that employers want to recruit the best people for the job. Older graduates have lots to offer and recruiters recognise this. Evidence proves that older graduates are more likely to commit to an employer for a substantial period, are adaptable, quick to learn, motivated, good time-managers, and have more experience of working with diverse groups. Evidence also shows that older graduates are, in fact, less likely to "throw a sickie" than their younger counterparts!

How to Compete

Applying for a job is a competition and, presuming you meet the essential criteria, older graduates are able to draw on additional resources to evidence. Although you will be competing against others, with similar skills and abilities, that match the job specification, however as an older graduate you will have a variety of life experiences that you can draw on to and you should make the most of these. Make sure you evidence your skills, abilities and life experiences.

Be clear about your skills

Employers will always delve into what personal skills you can offer in addition to your qualifications. This is where older graduates can shine: you’ve had more time to develop and refine your personal skills. Employers regularly comment that mature applicants have valuable skills to offer, but are not very good at marketing themselves. Mature students don’t often recognise that the things they do every day count as skills because they are so used to doing them.

Make a list of the skills you have developed over the years, both at university and from past experiences. For each, list some examples of where you practised and developed that skill. Start with:

• Communication: written, verbal, listening (eg, talking to colleagues at work; writing letters; academic writing)
• Time management: juggling and prioritising commitments (eg, at home, with family, work and study)
• Flexibility: handling change and mixed age environments (eg, previous job changes; studying with younger students)
• Organisation (eg, running a home)
• Teamwork: (eg, on your course; in the community; at home).

Produce a CV

Have a look at the CV/Forms section of our website for information and advice for putting together a CV and a covering letter. We can arrange for you to get it checked over by a Career Development Adviser as well - just call us on 01274 234991 or email careers@bradford.ac.uk for more information.

Develop your confidence

Practice using positive language about your experiences, skills and future hopes and avoid negativity: ‘it was only…’ or ‘I just…’ Learn to describe what you see as a mistake or failure in terms of what you learned from it and how it helped you to move on.

We can arrange for you to talk to a Career Development Adviser to talk about your situation, and practise interview techniques etc. If there are job-hunting issues that worry you (whether age related or not), you will find it useful to talk to one of our qualified staff. Call 01274 234991 or email careers@bradford.ac.uk to arrange an appointment.

Use your network

Chances are, the older you are the more people you know. Make a list or mind map of the people you know and add some of the people they know. Include close family, extended family, your friends and their friends, past colleagues, academic staff, and other students. Some of these people may: give you an insight into the career you hope to enter; help you talk to someone in the sector; help organise some work shadowing or work experience or a temporary job.

Consider employer’s doubts

These will vary between employers but comments might include:

• We are a young industry
  • Emphasise that you’ve spent the last few years on a course with young people
• Older graduates will expect more money at the start
  • Make it clear you expect the going rate for the job, not special consideration. Most mature students will have managed on a reduced income for several years).
• Older people are not interested in IT
  • All students need to be IT literate to complete their course. Recent research (Age at Work: The definitive guide to the UK’s workforce) confirms that the over 50s are as keen to get to grips with new technology as teenagers – 74% of the over 50s like to keep up with new technology, only 5% fewer than teenagers.
• Older people are set in their ways
  • You are no stranger to change: as a mature student you will have adapted to plenty in recent years.

Consider your advantages

These might include:

• More business awareness from previous work experience – paid or voluntary, at senior or junior level.
• More likely to commit to an employer for a substantial period, especially if you are committed to getting into a chosen career and settled in that location.
• More experience of workplace politics, fitting in with new colleagues, the ups and downs of a working day – in essence, work readiness.
• More experience of handling different situations – maturity!

Sources of Further Information

• Age Positive
  A really useful website that promotes information and opportunities related to age. Includes an age toolkit and legislation help and guides for employers.
• Age Action
  A national independent organisation for ageing and older people covering Ireland.
• Arbitration and Conciliation Service
  Downloadable guides for both employers and employees including a list of age discrimination courses aimed at employers.
• Association of Graduate Recruiters
  Includes the AGR position statement on age discrimination and recruitment and how to use competency based interviews, and issues around the use of dates on applications.
• Association of Retured and Persons over 50 (now Heyday)
  Contains a section on work and learn which covers "get that job", and forums for discussion.
• Better Government for Older People
  A thriving movement of organisations working in partnership to change attitudes and services to achieve an improved society for older people across the UK.
• Campaign Against Age Discrimination in Employment
  A website "Fighting for the Rights of Seniors Everywhere" including sections on employment.
• Daphne Jackson Trust
  A trust enabling scientists, engineers and IT specialists to return to work after career breaks.
• Executives Recycled Limited
  A website aimed at executives and managers over 40, including vacancies.
• Fifty On
  User friendly website for those aged around fifty and  looking for a job, information on ageism, offers and discounts, or need advice on work options, lifestyle or retirement.
• Forties People
  Specialises in placing mature office personnel in and around London.
• Maturity Works
  Recruitment Agency focusing on the needs and interests of older workers.

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