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“It’s very difficult because people either think you’re too old, you cost too much; or if you try to look for something a lot ‘lower’, people think: ‘Is there something wrong with you?’”
The challenges for PMETs are real. While employers can do better to hire senior people, I believe that the burden ultimately falls to the senior PMET for the simple reason that economics dictates that employers hire those who add the most value.
The following are three additional points I want to share in response to the article by Channel News Asia’s IN FOCUS article on ageism in the hiring process.
1. Organizations are pyramids. There are therefore fewer jobs at the top, and naturally the higher up the pyramid you aim for, the more competitive it is. You will not only be competing with other job seekers but also internal candidates looking to move up. If you are switching industries, aim lower to get in, prove yourself and move up.
2. Certification means less without experience. While you may have obtained a certificate of competency, it means the same as a fresh school graduate if you do not have the relevant experience. The training you attended is however not without value, it just…
