New job. New company. New perspective.

Among the many advantages of hiring older workers is the experience they bring to the job. That’s a no brainer. What’s more, in most cases, that experience spans several decades and very often several different former employers.
So far, so good.
What’s sometimes written between the lines that is not always readily apparent is the perspective that the older worker brings. Different ways of doing the same thing. Different approaches to solving common problems.
Of course, new ideas and new perspectives are sometimes met with derision. “This is the way we’ve always done it,” is the familiar refrain. Sometimes the old tried and true way isn’t necessarily the best way. Even if it was the odds-on favorite back in the day, the new employee – YOU – may have experience doing it some other way that works better, more efficiently, more economically, etc. This is especially true in today’s ever-changing business landscape.
A major advantage to the older, more experienced workers is the outside-in perspective that they bring to the table. Something that may seem normal and accepted to you, may be like a lightning bolt out of the blue to your new employer.
This can often be the case when you’re changing careers or industries. What you view as standard and accepted, may seem to be completely out of left field.
There is another side to this coin, however. Another advantage of your experience is knowing when to back off as well. Your ideas and approaches may be new and different – and ultimately better – but if the stonewall is too high and too thick, it may be time to bite your lip.
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