How can you get taken seriously when you’re seen as being too young for the role?
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This blog continues this series of questions that I was asked at a recent high potential career conference.
If you’re wondering if you’ll be taken seriously when you’re “too young” for a role, the first question I’d ask is whether you really are too young, of if that’s just your perception? I’m not saying that it’s untrue – some people may see you as too young and not take you seriously. But you do need to differentiate between what’s perception and what’s reality.
One great way to think about it is that instead of “not having enough experience”, it’s that you just have a different type of experience to the other candidates.
This is something that struck me very early in my own career when I was given a role that I wasn’t fully qualified for. I was up against much older, wiser, and more credible candidates – and so I didn’t think I stood a chance. So when I was appointed, one of the first questions I asked was why – what made me the suitable candidate at the age of 27? I was told in my feedback it was because of three things:
That said; it’s one thing getting the job, but another thing entirely to be taken seriously. Sadly, there is still a dynamic that means grey hair equates to credibility (ironically, it can be lost easily after that because it doesn’t always follow that age means that you’re fantastic!) But whatever age you are, there are things you can do to gain credibility and to be taken seriously:
Whatever your age, no one should get instant credibility – everyone should have to work to earn credibility. And remember, it’s not as tough to be taken seriously as it seems.
If you’re wondering if you’ll be taken seriously when you’re “too young” for a role, the first question I’d ask is whether you really are too young, of if that’s just your perception? I’m not saying that it’s untrue – some people may see you as too young and not take you seriously. But you do need to differentiate between what’s perception and what’s reality.
One great way to think about it is that instead of “not having enough experience”, it’s that you just have a different type of experience to the other candidates.
This is something that struck me very early in my own career when I was given a role that I wasn’t fully qualified for. I was up against much older, wiser, and more credible candidates – and so I didn’t think I stood a chance. So when I was appointed, one of the first questions I asked was why – what made me the suitable candidate at the age of 27? I was told in my feedback it was because of three things:
- I had good technical capability;
- I was enthusiastic and passionate about what the role could accomplish; and
- I already had a load of ideas around how the job could be done and what the new department should look like
That said; it’s one thing getting the job, but another thing entirely to be taken seriously. Sadly, there is still a dynamic that means grey hair equates to credibility (ironically, it can be lost easily after that because it doesn’t always follow that age means that you’re fantastic!) But whatever age you are, there are things you can do to gain credibility and to be taken seriously:
- Listen and take advice.
Make people feel like you are taking seriously what they say, and that you are listening. This will elevate you in their estimation. - Build relationships.
It’s easy to not take someone seriously when you don’t know them properly. So take the time to let the people involved in recruiting for the role (and future roles you might apply for) get to know you. - Ask good questions.
Lots of people judge candidates on the quality of the questions that they ask. Ask questions that are strategic and challenging, try to move the agenda forward, and shows that you’re curious to get to grips with the situation and to fully understand it. - Keep your promises.
This really gets people to sit up and take notice. Sometimes it’s better to promise less and deliver on every aspect that you’ve promised than to promise the earth and miss the mark.
Whatever your age, no one should get instant credibility – everyone should have to work to earn credibility. And remember, it’s not as tough to be taken seriously as it seems.