In this current climate of candidate driven markets and millennials, employers spend many hours each year placing ads, pre-screening and interviewing candidates, then hiring them and proceeding to training their newly employed people. It is only after that these employers find that many of the people they hire, leave after just a few months because they want to do something different or because a better opportunity has come their way.
So where can businesses find a dependable, candidate who has no plans to move up and out? A candidate dedicated to the job and who takes pride in his/her work? And in most cases may cost them less to hire, train and maintain?
The Answer? Older Employees
Unfortunately age discrimination remains widespread in the workplace. Which makes job hunting an especially difficult experience for candidates age 50+.
These candidates may be looking for a new job because of:
- Redundancy
- Marital status change
- Change in health
- Relocation
- Taking a step back professionally
Though this might sound foreign to senior management and human resources professionals, it is common for many older employees to have a genuine interest in moving away from a management role to that of an individual contributor within a company. Age enables older candidates to bring to the table what younger candidates do not yet possess. For example, they already have many years of practical work experience. This experience helps them to apply the knowledge they have learnt to the real world. This is something that is very valuable to a lot of employers.
10 Benefits of Hiring Older Workers
Reasonable salary expectations. This could be a significant benefit when hiring older workers. Most are already financially stable or have an additional source of income and as a result they are willing to compromise to land the job they want. They understand that working for a company can be about much more than just collecting a salary at the end of every month.
Confidence and Efficiency. Sharing recommendations and ideas makes older workers the ideal employees. The years of experience within the workplace gives them, in many cases, a better understanding of how the job can be done. Confidence built up through the years, means they won't hesitate to share their ideas with management and help coach younger members of staff.
Dedicated. Older workers produce high quality work, which can result in a significant cost savings for the company. This is because, older workers are likely to have gained more in depth knowledge in the given industry or job from previous work experience, thus making them faster workers and more able to understand the procedures required to reach the final goal.
Punctuality. Seems to be a given for older workers, who are more disciplined employees. Most of them look forward to going to work each day, so they're likely to arrive on time and be ready for a day's work.
Attention to detail and Focused. Both are skills that add an intangible value that rubs off on other employees.
Pride in a job well done. This has become difficult to find in some cases. Younger team members want to put in their time at work and leave, while older team members are more willingly to go the extra mile to get a job done because of their sense of pride in the final product.
Honesty. Common among older team members. Often older employees are more real to situations and have less insecurities making it much easier to call a spade a spade
Communication skills. Knowing when and how to communicate are skills gained through years of experience of dealing with different people on different levels. Older workers understand workplace dynamics better and know how to be diplomatic,tactful and efficient in dealing with workplace situations.
Maturity. This too is obtained from years of life and work experience which enables older team members to deal better with situations when and if problems occur, making them more diplomatic, and helping them in guiding other employees to build resistance to certain situations.
Flexibility. Older workers are more likely to be able to vary their work schedule and tasks because they do not have the same obligations as a younger person.
Any business that hesitates to hire an older candidates should consider the above benefits. Older candidates have unique skills and values and could add potential savings and more importantly add a dose of sanity to the organisation. Their contribution to your company could positively impact your bottom line for years to come.
Catherine Ratcliffe
Generalist Recruitment Specialist
See Also:
Four Signs Your Recruiter Is Looking Out For You