Follow up on "Older Workers"

This is a follow up to the previous post.

The blog post was still warm when this was brought to my attention:

The job description itself by implication excludes older workers as most college graduates are in their twenties. What if I’m an older worker that’s changing careers? What if I like sales?

There is a not-so subtle implication that only young people should apply for this position, many people will see this and feel that “I’m not just out of college, I probably shouldn’t even apply”.

Based on the implied bias in this posting, how many talented people are they alienating?

Older Workers

It’s a well known anecdotal “truth” that companies, especially silicon valley and high tech, tend to eschew or avoid older workers. Recently there have even been allegations, and lawsuits alleging age-bias in redundancies, layoffs, and downsizing.

In a report from the Urban Institute, it appears that the problem most likely worse than believed:

“we find that about one-half of full-time, full-year workers ages 51 to 54 experience an employer-related involuntary job separation after age 50 that substantially reduces earnings for years or leads to long-term unemployment”

Link to Source, Full Report

The idea that older workers are somehow “less technical” is silly, many of the people that innovated or created the technologies that the internet, and society run on are over 50.

Are you guilty of interviewing an older candidate and passing on them for a younger one? Have you ever really considered your motives? Only by honestly examining and being aware of our own biases can we be sure we are choosing the right candidate.

Myths About Cybersecurity Careers

A great article by Charles Eaton at ITSP Magazine.

"...there are issues confounding and complicating raising the next generation of technologists. Seven myths about technology careers discourage potential teenage technologists and their parents. So, in my position as leader of a philanthropic organization dedicated to creating on-ramps to tech careers, I consider busting those myths not only a duty, but a pleasure.

Let’s take the seven myths one-by-one in a series of entries in this Experts Corner article, starting with the biggest misconception of them all:"

Go and read the rest of the article.