December 18, 2015

"When you're green, you’re growing. When you're ripe, you rot." - Ray Kroc, Former CEO – McDonalds

Food for thought (no pun intended)? Quickly, a person considered by HR, third-party recruiters, and/or hiring decision-makers (DMs) as being “too old,” or “too young” (a relative term) might consider Mr. Kroc’s quote above. I understand this message. This is NOT about age, but about self-improvement and enabling your career to grow and open new, professional doors....

When is a candidate "too old," or "too young?"

Suppose that this 1975 graduate has progressed his/her career with diverse, or perhaps targeted coursework? They are well read with excellent communicative and writing skills. They function professionally at a high level within their area(s) of expertise. They have taken the time, effort, and money to earn certifications pertinent to improving their expertise over the years. Are you interested in interviewing them Mr. /Ms. DM?
 
Another candidate received an undergraduate degree from a Top Ten university, immediately followed with an MBA from Stanford (#1) in 1995 as noted on his/her resume. Nice career progression with a Fortune 100 company. Are you also interested in interviewing him/her, Mr./Ms. DM?
 
Whether that graduation year (which should not appear on a resume unless graduation was relatively recent) was from High School, Undergraduate, or Graduate school, how much of that material has changed in 40 years, in the first scenario, or 20 years, in the second scenario, and is it still relevant in today’s high-tech, global economy. There were no mobile phones, PCs, laptops, Wi-Fi, or even a usable Internet in 1975. In 1995, no applications, no software – just monsterous servers that required an entire floor, or more, with eye-protection kits everywhere within the headquarters accepting, and spitting out DOS-format IF the company even made that investment. Bill Gates dropped-out of Harvard and founded Microsoft in ’95!
 
Our first person is, what, between 54 and 58-years old. The second, about 45, or 46 – close?
Our second person has been hanging those prestigious diplomas on the wall and never took his/her formal education further, nor bothered with pertinent certifications, e.g. Six Sigma, PMP, PE, SHRM-SCP, CPA, MCSE, et al. Between the two, NOW whom is “green and growing” and whom is “ripe and rotting?” The 50-some year old has never stopped “growing!” No offense to the Princeton grad – nice work! But are you getting my point? Great interviews could provide the real separation between the two, but how many DMs consider their interviews to be “great?”
 
For some, both may be considered “too old” since ALL hold some number of biases, albeit you would have to “peel back the onion” to uncover them, but they are definitely there! Dig deeply within yourself and you’ll uncover certain appearances, communication, et al that you believe do not match-up with your team, or “vision” of your new employee, or you just flat do not like – guaranteed.
 
In the end, no matter where formal education ceased, one can keep themselves “green and growing” despite being “too young,” or “too old” through trade schools with the latest technology, perhaps an undergraduate, or Master’s Degree (if you’re younger than me), pertinent coursework, and definitely Certifications that are held in rather high esteem within your department, or area(s) of expertise.
 
It is completely within your control. My theory is “If I can control it, I will and if it’s something that I cannot control, I give it the examination it deserves and worry no further about it.”
 
Mr. Kroc (now passed), was a phenomenal, business entrepreneur, but did not “invent” the Big Mac! LOL! However, his phrase above still rings true today. So, are YOU green and growing, or ripe and rotting? Age doesn’t matter! Keep yourself green and growing and your career can always follow. That WAS food for thought; I’m getting hungry!  :o)

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