You're Never Too Old To Show Some Enthusiasm

IT veterans should display high energy when interviewing for a new position

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Issue date: April 28, 1997

Q: Although age discrimination is illegal, employers will view a younger job candidate more favorably than an older one, with older defined as about 40 and above. What are some methods to overcome age stereotypes before, during, and after an interview?

First some good news: Several of InformationWeek's career experts question your premise about how old "old" is, especially for mid-level and senior IT executives.

"I disagree that 'older' is defined as over 40," says Jeffrey Christian, president of Christian & Timbers in Cleveland, which recruits IT executives. "I think the number is more like 50."

That assessment is echoed by Paul Daversa, the president and CEO of Resource Systems Group, a technology executive search firm in Stamford, Conn. "This market is so busy that the 40-year-old number is no longer accurate," he says. "So put it out of your mind. You're creating your own stereotype."

But if you still fear age-related prejudice, there are many steps you can take to counter that bias. During the interview, it's not so much what you say, but how you say it and how you look saying it, according to our experts.

"Being in shape and wearing contemporary clothing and glasses are important," says Beverly Lieberman, president of Halbrecht Lieberman Associates Inc., a Stamford, Conn., executive search firm. "Wearing the best colors is also a help. Get your colors analyzed so you can maximize how you look."

Susan Yule, VP at Elliasen Group, an IT staffing company in Wakefield, Mass., prescribes an appearance that is "neat and groomed without overdoing the 'pinstriped' look."

A demeanor that suggests youth's enthusiasm is also important, the experts say.

"Companies evaluate candidates on one criterion: energy level," Daversa says. "Your recruiter needs to see and feel your energy level. I would rather have an engaging, high-energy 45-year-old versus a lethargic 28-year-old."

Getting the high-energy and enthusiastic attitude down may take some work. "Practice answering questions in front of a mirror to learn how to show enthusiasm, energy, and drive," says Laurence Janis, a partner in Integr ated Search Solutions Group LLC in Port Washington, N.Y.

If you play a sport or do some form of exercise, it doesn't hurt to mention that, if the topic happens to come up, Lieberman adds.

To increase your chances of getting an interview in the first place, you may want to downplay in your resumư and cover letter anything that calls attention to your longevity. For example, don't start your letter by referring to your "20 years of experience," says Daversa. If employers want to know how long you've been working, he adds, they can calculate it from your graduation date.

M. Victor Janulaitis, CEO of Positive Support Review Inc., an IT management consulting firm in Santa Monica, Calif., says it's better to leave your graduation date off the resumư altogether.

A nontraditional resumư may be called for, Yule suggests. "Avoid the old-style, chronological format," she advises. "Opt for a clear, concise synopsis of skills."

But if you feel you've been discriminated against, remember that although federal law prohibits age bias against people between the ages of 40 and 70, a company needs only a legal, nondiscriminatory rationale for its action. "The result is that it is hard to prove age discrimination," says Esther Roditti, a New York lawyer specializing in IT labor law.

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