As my fellow recruiters can tell you, I had one of my cranky moments about the assumptions/implications related to age this week. Interestingly, the Wall Street Journal explored the topic today, as well. Their article provided some new food for thought and provided some balance in examining the issue. Here it is: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121444239121105653.html

The article gave us “oldsters” some possible tools and new approaches to redefine our image. No one likes someone who sits on their laurels and demands respect simply because they have been around and survived for so many years. The market place is the market place. You need to stay in touch. And that means keeping up with the lingo, the technology, the trends; in short, everything that youthful people are good at…. because they have more recent exposure to what’s happening via their education, their childhood exposure to modern media, and their spirit of riding the cutting edge. No reason, the older set can’t have some of the same fun.

The article focused on physical image a bit, but also examined how you present yourself on paper. In truth, it gets back to how you see yourself. And you can’t blame anyone but yourself if you see yourself as somewhat stodgy, unappreciated, or back-burnered. Figure out what sells in your intended market and decide if you are a match. If you are, then figure out how to convey the essence of what you bring to the job without conveying a sense of tiredness, entitlement, or a passe point of view. We can all think young. And it’s a lot of fun.

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