You are what you are – white hair and all
➔ Hall of Fame football coach Bill Parcells is often quoted as saying that “You are what your record says you are.” If your won-loss record says “last place,” in all probability, you’re a last place team. The same holds true for job seekers.
If you’re a woman and concerned about gender discrimination, you’re still a woman. If you’re black and you’re concerned about racial discrimination, you can’t change that. And if you’re over 50, you can’t wave a magic wand and make yourself age 22.
It is what it is
We ran a piece recently how people will try to hide the fact that they’re female, or black or old by not posting a photo on their LinkedIn profiles. Not only can you not hide what you are, any savvy recruiter or hiring manager’s first reaction will be “Why is there no photo here? What are they trying to hide?” Not exactly the way to make a good first impression.
You can’t hide the fact that you’re old. And any company that would reject you because of your age will do so no matter how you try to disguise it. Wearing a hat to cover your gray hair or getting a good dye job will not change that fact. Rest assured, they’re going to find out. You’re just postponing the inevitable.
You might as well be up front about it. They’re going to find out anyway and doesn’t it seem logical that they will think more highly of you due to your honesty than some pathetic attempt to cover it up?
Good employers, reputable employers, employers who care more about your performance and your abilities will be more interested in what you bring to the table than the year on your birth certificate.
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