Most over 40 job seekers are not interested in being social crusaders, they want a job. Given that I have had personal comments from some friends, that I directed to this blog post, that indicate they found the advice useful I hope there is some practical pointers in amoungst the stereotypes.

One result of this organization style that I see often is a failure to coordinate efforts around one goal long enough to make it to the end. We older workers are more integrated, have broader experience, and can spot that kind of failure in a heartbeat. We also have a variety of experience in multiple areas making us ideal integrators of effort and spotters of holes that spell failure. We can also anticipate unintended consequences more effectively, having lived through many. I would feel better about our economy if I saw more gray heads in the administration.

But as far as what you look like, where do you draw the line? What’s next, plastic surgery, botox, hair dye… and what does it have to do with your job skills? Yes, being clean and well groomed is important for your interview at any age, but whether I wear my hair in a bun or I have it cut in a funky new style will not make one bit of difference in my job performance.

When I lived in New York I used to go to a doctor who was in his 70s and wore polyester pants suits from the 1960s. I went there because he was a good, compassionate and educated doctor. It did not matter what he looked like, he knew his job and he did it well.

And as far as weight, that is a completely different area of discrimination, and that is absolutely not a criteria of job performance, unless your job is such that you could not do it due to your weight.

And what does energy mean? Quite frankly that cuts across the age barrier. I have been involved with some young people who are more likely to want to relax and take breaks on the job than some of the older people I know. Energy is an individual issue.

I am tired of the blame for ageism being placed on the individual who is being discriminated against. The blame of any kind of discrimination comes from the ignorance of the discriminators.

Corporations, recruiters and human resources departments need to be educated in what to look for to find a good employee. They need to get over the insipient stereotypes that that are perpetuated day in and day out by well meaning individuals who say it is all our fault.

You are already setting up a stereotype in your article by assuming old people do not have energy, do not have good hair cuts and don’t know how to act. That is an outrage. Most of us have been in the workforce for years, have kept up with culture, trends and technology. I find it insulting to assume otherwise.

The reason we are discriminated against is not because of who we are, but because our society does not value age and experience. Part of that was started by us, the very individuals who are now feeling its sting. Remember “Never trust anyone over thirty”?

What is needed is awareness and education and more intergenerational experiences where we can all learn the value that we all have to offer.

I made a movie about age discrimination issues in the workforce. It presents all these points, and has well meaning job councilors and coaches saying exactly what you are saying here, but if you listen to the words of the individuals who are affected by age discrimination you will understand it from a whole other perspective.