By: Elena
Hello. My name is Elena and I think I might be a victim of ageism. I was one of two finalists for an exciting job at the beginning of this year, and despite exceeding all interview expectations and representing all of the qualities they were looking for in their ideal candidate (or so I thought...all their words to me, not mine), I was ultimately not offered the position. Looking back now, I can say that it was a blessing, not a curse. But as some of my other close friends, both within and outside of the arts, undertook their own job hunts, I noticed a trend beginning to emerge.
Despite my abhorrence at the term, I am on the older side of being demographically considered a “Millennial”. *Shudder* And it wasn’t until I received a phone call from the interviewer that I found out that one of the sole reasons I was passed over for that exciting job earlier this year was because they wanted to go with someone “older who had more experience”.
With that being said, let me drop some knowledge before I get into my rant (sorry y’all...it’s gonna get ranty).
1. Millennials are extremely educated. As a result of avoiding unfavorable job prospects during the recession, they stayed enrolled in schools and universities (present company included….guess who’s getting a Masters Degree!). In the last year alone, “34 percent of 25 to 29 year-olds held a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, professional degree or doctoral degree last year, a higher share than in any year in data going back to 1968”. That’s a lot of student loans and we all know that Sallie Mae is a scary woman to cross.
2. It should come as no surprise that the Baby Boomer generation is nearing their “handing over of the reigns” retirement time. However, American Boomers aren’t moving on. They are working well beyond the “age 65” retirement year and as more workers age up to that milestone, more are remaining in their positions. Whether it be from a lack of financial preparedness for retirement or continuing professional vitality, higher-level positions within organizations are beginning to be held by an older age-group of workers.
3. Many of the statistics on Millennials paint a picture of distrust, disconnection with politics and religion, burdened with debt, and heavily linked to digital technology. This is one of the biggest reasons why I personally despise being lumped into the Millennial category, because I certainly don’t see myself reflected in these qualities. But who’s to argue against the fact that all of those Boomer Executives believe in these statistics and assume that those negative attributes will carry over into all areas of a Millennial’s life...aka their jobs? I mean, if the Pew Research Center says so, it must be true right?
Despite my abhorrence at the term, I am on the older side of being demographically considered a “Millennial”. *Shudder* And it wasn’t until I received a phone call from the interviewer that I found out that one of the sole reasons I was passed over for that exciting job earlier this year was because they wanted to go with someone “older who had more experience”.
With that being said, let me drop some knowledge before I get into my rant (sorry y’all...it’s gonna get ranty).
1. Millennials are extremely educated. As a result of avoiding unfavorable job prospects during the recession, they stayed enrolled in schools and universities (present company included….guess who’s getting a Masters Degree!). In the last year alone, “34 percent of 25 to 29 year-olds held a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, professional degree or doctoral degree last year, a higher share than in any year in data going back to 1968”. That’s a lot of student loans and we all know that Sallie Mae is a scary woman to cross.
2. It should come as no surprise that the Baby Boomer generation is nearing their “handing over of the reigns” retirement time. However, American Boomers aren’t moving on. They are working well beyond the “age 65” retirement year and as more workers age up to that milestone, more are remaining in their positions. Whether it be from a lack of financial preparedness for retirement or continuing professional vitality, higher-level positions within organizations are beginning to be held by an older age-group of workers.
3. Many of the statistics on Millennials paint a picture of distrust, disconnection with politics and religion, burdened with debt, and heavily linked to digital technology. This is one of the biggest reasons why I personally despise being lumped into the Millennial category, because I certainly don’t see myself reflected in these qualities. But who’s to argue against the fact that all of those Boomer Executives believe in these statistics and assume that those negative attributes will carry over into all areas of a Millennial’s life...aka their jobs? I mean, if the Pew Research Center says so, it must be true right?
So, we have an EXTREMELY educated pool of people trying to enter into a workforce that is dominated and controlled by aging, and potentially dated, perspectives when access to entry will most likely be through new technologies and innovations, some of which may even be cutting edge...and you blame the Millennials for being Debbie Downers about their job prospects?
In the last several months, I hear from my friends that they are repeatedly asked to justify their knowledge and experience as it relates to their age during job interviews. To me, this is completely unacceptable. Is it really that hard to believe that one of the most educated generations may actually be qualified to step into a managerial role at the “tender” age of 26? Our crushing debt and optimism for the future (see the Pew Article….it’s in there. We’re optimistic.) is forcing us to do more than just hang those degrees on a wall and instead, actually utilize the skills we spent so much time in a classroom to learn to make a paycheck.
And since when is age synonymous with experience anyway? As an arts manager, I have held positions that have given me universal knowledge of department and organization operations. I’ve created annual budgets, I’ve researched and written grants that have gotten funded time and time again, I’ve planned and executed events that continue to increase net revenues, I’ve had people work “under” me (I quote-ize under purely because I think the arts intern should never be looked at as under someone, but that is a post for another day), and I’m getting a Masters so that I can be the best at what I do and apply new ways of thinking to my job....so does any of that make me any less “experienced” than someone who has done those same things for 10, 15, 20 years longer than I have?
In my opinion, no, but I suppose it’s a catch-22...all I know is that if I continue to type about this I’ll get angry….and you won’t like me when I’m angry. #hulksmash So instead I ask you, the reader, what are your thoughts? Opinions? Can you identify with this trend? Why or why not? Are there other important statistics that may support or contradict what I’m putting out into the web-iverse?
Or do you just see all of this as an excuse for my wompy Millennial mind to find another excuse to distrust the system? ;)
In the last several months, I hear from my friends that they are repeatedly asked to justify their knowledge and experience as it relates to their age during job interviews. To me, this is completely unacceptable. Is it really that hard to believe that one of the most educated generations may actually be qualified to step into a managerial role at the “tender” age of 26? Our crushing debt and optimism for the future (see the Pew Article….it’s in there. We’re optimistic.) is forcing us to do more than just hang those degrees on a wall and instead, actually utilize the skills we spent so much time in a classroom to learn to make a paycheck.
And since when is age synonymous with experience anyway? As an arts manager, I have held positions that have given me universal knowledge of department and organization operations. I’ve created annual budgets, I’ve researched and written grants that have gotten funded time and time again, I’ve planned and executed events that continue to increase net revenues, I’ve had people work “under” me (I quote-ize under purely because I think the arts intern should never be looked at as under someone, but that is a post for another day), and I’m getting a Masters so that I can be the best at what I do and apply new ways of thinking to my job....so does any of that make me any less “experienced” than someone who has done those same things for 10, 15, 20 years longer than I have?
In my opinion, no, but I suppose it’s a catch-22...all I know is that if I continue to type about this I’ll get angry….and you won’t like me when I’m angry. #hulksmash So instead I ask you, the reader, what are your thoughts? Opinions? Can you identify with this trend? Why or why not? Are there other important statistics that may support or contradict what I’m putting out into the web-iverse?
Or do you just see all of this as an excuse for my wompy Millennial mind to find another excuse to distrust the system? ;)
Like a good grad student, I have cited my sources for the aforementioned “knowledge” and linked the articles below if further reading tickles your fancy.
Knowledge-Bomb #s (as used/referenced in above post):
1: "Millennials Most Educated US Age-Group After Downturn: Economy"; Bloomberg Business
2. "US Baby Boomers Likely to Delay Retirement"; PRB
3. "Millennials in Adulthood"; Pew Research Center
And for your entertainment.....this YouTube video.