Proud to Be Young in the workplace!

You are young, you are keen, and you have recently started on a promising career path. However, you find yourself stuck in the job market. Sound like you or someone you know? Recent articles and surveys confirm this increasingly familiar trend in our society: Young people with tremendous potential are being held back before having a real chance to start. In January 2004, the CIPD reported that one in twelve under 35-year olds have been told they were too young in a job-seeking situation and that twice as many believe theyíve been rejected for the same reason, but do no have the evidence. So, if we focus on people skills rather than on actual fact, what does being too young mean? Who makes the decision?

Whilst true lack of skills and experience can be the deciding factors, and younger generations can often be impatient, too many people take these ëyou are too youngí assumptions at face value and do not explore what other reasons might be lying behind them. Some of these reasons might be:

-The experience and insight they could offer is not valued due to their chronological age, and the perceptions that arise from it.

-Recruiters unconsciously feeling threatened by a younger generation enthusiastic and adaptable, i.e. with a lack of stability, responsibility and loyalty.

-The older generations are retiring later; hence they are keeping themselves safe from othersí progression.

It is also important to consider the question of what valid experience means, especially as it is a subjective one. Job adverts often state a specific amount of years of experience as a requirement. Where does this number come from? How can someone say that one personís 3-5 years is the same as another personís? It is highly probable that they are incomparable. This is even more so with intangible skills and experience, as some individuals have some skills naturally, and do not need years of experience to gain them. The truth is that what is often missing or lacking of impact is more how the individual comes across and ìsellsî his experience and talents, rather what actual experience and skills he possess.

So, as a young professional, what can You do to take up the challenge that the job market is throwing at you?

1) Do not give up ñ thatís a start. See this challenge as an opportunity to grow.

2) Believe that what you know inherently is true. Forget about what others may tell you.

3) Increase your self-confidence.

4) Know and understand your ìselfî, i.e. the added value you carry with you. It will set you apart.

5) Find out how others perceive you and work at making this perceived element consistent with whom you are deep inside.

6) Let people know about you. You have to tell them; otherwise, you will remain a secret.

7) Consider seeing and doing things differently. There is never only one way to approach a challenge.

8) Take responsibility for your own life and career progression ñ you are the only person who has got your best interest in mind ñ always.

9) Know that there are people out there who are fulfilled and happy with their work, they went and found it themselves, you can too!

10) Most of all, believe that you are a fresh mind, someone who can think out of the box


Professional Coaches
Geraldine Morel (www.geraldinemorel.com) and
Satu Kreula (www.satukreula.com) have put together ìProud to Be Young ñ Watch Out Worldî ñ a workshop that will help you increase your self-confidence, become more self-aware and help others see who you really are and what you are capable of. The same workshop will be held twice in Central London: Saturday, March 13, 2004, and Saturday, April 17, 2004; both from 10am to 5pm.

For more information, contact Geraldine@geraldinemorel.com or phone: 44 (0) 7748 620 217(Geraldine) or 44 (0) 7713 740 926 (Satu)

By Geraldine Morel and Satu Kreula, Professional Coaches