The Ethical Optimist

Where have all the old folks gone? You know, we talk a lot about diversity in the PR businesses. Every conference I attend tries to tackle it (yet those sessions are full of empty seats), but we rarely discuss one of the larger issues facing our industry today, ageism.

In most other industries, elder statesmen are revered. Yet in PR, you’re lucky to get a job after the age of 50 unless you work for yourself. If you think I’m off base here, just take a look around at the next networking meeting or walk into a top ten agency and play “count the old folks.”

In the last few years, I’ve seen a number of good friends and exceptional practitioners squeezed out of high-level agency jobs and reduced to calling everyone in their networking database for help in securing freelance consulting gigs.

At the same time, I get weekly calls from headhunters and agency HR people crying for good leaders. Many are desperately searching for SVP holes to fill.

As I see it, the system needs tweaking…from both sides. Clearly, some older professionals are pricing themselves out of the market and lack the required skill set larger agencies are demanding in terms of social networking and new media savvy. Agencies, on the other hand, need to look at how they view talent, and the type of working environment they offer. Few of us in our 40’s really want to work an 80 hour week.

I remember job hunting shortly before I created Utopia…I was being interviewed for very senior positions by folks half my age, who were taking notes as I advised them on how I’d handle some of the challenges their clients were facing! I even had one recruiter tell me to dye my grey hair so I’d have a better shot at landing a job.

I found it incredibly frustrating. I’d be curious to hear your comments on the subject.