The Invisibility Cloak is alive and well.

As featured In JK Rowlings Harry Potter books, the invisibility clock is alive and well in the world of Recruitment.

Working with Executives, both male and female, it would appear that once they reach a certain age the ‘cloak of invisibility’ comes into effect. When applying for jobs they would appear to be automatically consigned to the “No” pile or only considered for lesser roles than their experience would normally dictate.

But why?

The national age for retirement in the UK currently stands at 66, although that is likely to increase in the coming years. The average life expectancy, according to government figures, are 78.6 years for males and 83 for females.

60 could and should be the new 40! With years of experience, usually at a senior level, wisdom, patience and leadership skills have been truly honed. Family commitments are less as their offspring are now independent, external commitments fewer and in most cases the mature candidates tick all the boxes and still have years before the grim reaper arrives.

We, Coaches / Executive Recruiters / HR etc must wake up and see the value of our most experienced Executives. Understand what they can bring to the workplace and educate the gatekeepers, the rookie recruiters, our Clients etc. That age is but a number, but experience speaks volumes, brings value and a return on investment.