Don’t Be Afraid

One more step on the ladder of learning

For a long time we’ve all heard this common complaint about older workers (and older job seekers): they’re not technologically savvy. That may have been true 20 years ago, but it’s 2025 now and, it should come as no surprise to anyone, times have changed. The computer knowledge gap between older and younger workers, which was significant in the 1980s and 1990s, has largely disappeared.

Experts agree

This opinion ranks among several well-recognized and well-respected sources such as nextavenue.org and capterra.com, and others. “Older workers often excel in applied tech skills, especially if they've worked in tech-heavy industries. Their depth of understanding in systems and troubleshooting can sometimes outpace younger users.”

But now there is a new wrinkle that has many job seekers – of all generations – quaking in their boots. The latest boogie man on the block is artificial intelligence (AI). Projections are flying in and out of employers everywhere — AI is going to wipe out middle management and/or the middle class. AI is just a fad that will be absorbed into the business fabric and won’t be more than a blip on the screen of progress. And many opinions in between.

Should you, as an older job seeker fear AI? Perhaps the most rational answer is that, in the final analysis, it’s up to you. Don’t fear what you don’t know; learn it, understand it. You don’t need to be 100 percent proficient at it. But you should understand it and how to make it work for you.

It’s not some gigantic monster waiting to gobble entire industries and workforces. But it does need to be taken seriously. It’s here to stay and it won’t go away until the next “big thing” comes along. And with some effort and concentration as well as curiosity and a thirst for knowledge, it’s conquerable.

Hint: parts of this article used AI. If we can do it, why can’t you?

More tips.