Employers often say they’re looking for people with experience.
Experience to solve problems.
Experience to navigate change.
Experience to mentor others and make sound decisions.
Yet many seasoned professionals discover there’s an invisible line. Cross it, and the very experience that once made you employable can suddenly become a perceived disadvantage.
It’s a contradiction I’ve come to know well.
Throughout my career, I’ve adapted to new technologies, changing industries and evolving workplaces. I continue to learn, contribute and embrace new challenges.
Yet after positive interviews, the outcome can sometimes suggest that experience has become a liability rather than an asset.
That raises an important question.
If organisations genuinely value experience, why are so many capable professionals finding it harder to secure opportunities later in their careers?
In a workforce facing skills shortages and an ageing population, perhaps it’s time to rethink what “experience” really means, and recognise it as a competitive advantage, not a reason to look elsewhere.
Have you seen this paradox in your workplace, either as a hiring manager or as a candidate?
#careercoaching #ageism #agediversity #equalopportunity #professionaldevelopment
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