Don’t delete the important parts of you
You may have heard about Stacey Duguid, a former fashion editor, who’s struggling to find a job at the age of 52. I became aware of the challenges she’s faced in a piece by Claer Barrett in FT Weekend (‘Ageism: the silent but deadly threat to your retirement’). Claer writes that Stacey has submitted hundreds of job applications. Most have gone unanswered. Stacey’s since updated her CV so it no longer displays her age. Claer says ‘she’s chopped off 20 years of work experience in a bid to counter algorithmic ageism.’
It echoes the advice given to a good friend of mine. He was recently made redundant. He’s in his early 60s and a career coach suggested he similarly trim his CV. He should only talk about the last ten to fifteen years of his career and forget earlier roles.
I feel, however by editing our careers, it’s a missed opportunity. I’m not in the job market, but at 58 years old what makes me interesting to clients is the wide range of things I’ve done in my career. I have a depth of experience from many decades in the world of work.
For example, this photo taken on Monday shows me outside a building on Delancey Passage, Camden. It used to be my office (and here I am at my desk - see below). In 1992 I was part of a small team at Sol Entertainment. We organised a London-wide music festival in partnership with BBC Radio One sponsored by Sol beer. I was 24. It was only a very small chapter in my career, but it was both memorable and formative. I’d never worked in live music events before and a music festival was completely new territory - there was no training or induction. I gave a presentation to the Controller of Radio One in the presence of various DJs. I was interviewed on air by Nicky Campbell about the festival. It was a crazy time. I was very much ‘in at the deep end,’ but I learned so much in this role.
In my thirty six year career I have eschewed traditional career paths and embraced a ‘mash-up’ career, full of adventures. They are what makes me me. I wouldn’t want to airbrush or delete any of that.
That’s why I advocate competing on our grey hairs. It’s a shame to have to hide our age - and all our experience - away. It feels we’re denying vital bits of ourselves if we delete our history.
I’d much prefer to tell the stories that reflect the journeys we've been on. Wouldn’t it be a shame if we were made to become homogenised to blend in, instead of using our colourful histories to stand out?
