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In this section are a sampling of my published articles and links to media appearances.
by Deborah A. Bailey
Recently I had the opportunity to be on a panel of alumni entrepreneurs sponsored by my university's career services office. There were five of us, three men and two women. As we all introduced ourselves, I realized that the oldest man on the panel had been born the year I graduated from college. In an instant I wondered if I should mention the year I graduated. Would this room full of undergrad and grad school students dismiss me as too old to have anything to say to them? I shook off the fear and told them my graduation year.
Except for one pair of raised eyebrows, it wasn't a problem. The students were attentive and asked lots of questions. I totally enjoyed myself and afterwards had conversations with a few of them.
What did I learn? My fear of being considered "too old" was in my head, not theirs. Unless, of course I look at all the advertising telling me that I should be worried about it. Can't I just be who I am instead of fitting into some classification? Yes, I'm older, but that's not a bad thing, especially if one considers the alternative.
From time to time I hear my friends mention how they're afraid no one will hire them after 45 or 50. When I was unemployed a few years ago, I went to a job training session. A gentleman in his early 60's said that if he walked into an interview and the interviewer looked to be in their 30's, he'd just walk right out.
In a society that values youth, it's easy to believe that you'll be rejected if you have wrinkles or are not "youthful" enough. A friend of mine is the only person over 50 in her department. Everyone else who was older was let go in the last downsizing. So yes, it is a factor, but age and experience are not old school, they are valuable and needed. Especially with people living longer, we have to be willing to define ourselves - in spite of what society tries to fit us into.
First published in More Magazine in August 2009
Copyright © 2009 Deborah A. Bailey
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Deborah A. Bailey is a writer, career expert, entrepreneur, author of "Think Like an Entrepreneur: Transform Your Career and Take Charge of Your Life" and host of "Women Entrepreneurs - The Secrets of Success," an Internet radio talk show. For more information about her book and workshops visit her website at www.dbaileycoach.com.
Articles & Blog Posts
For more insights into career changes, check out the posts I've added here on my coaching blog.
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Speaking
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Radio Show and Blog
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