WHAT ARE THE CHANCES OF OVERAGED JOB APPLICANTS?

Sir Jarus, what are the career chances for over-aged applicants? Many of the vacancies I see now have age requirements of 26 years max! Please advise.

Paul

***

Dear Paul,

Many companies set age limit for their entry level recruitments. For most companies, it is 26 or below, but some extend to 28. Some are as low as 24.

Unfortunately, companies have right to set these kinds of policy and there is nothing anybody can do about it.

Most of the companies that do are in the professional services industry (banks, big accounting & auditing firms etc). Most companies that do Graduate/Management Trainee programmes, irrespective of sector, also tend to put age limit.

However,  there are still a good number of good companies that don’t do age limit.  In fact, I am not aware that multinational oil companies do. See Shell’s recent advert here, I can’t find anything as age restriction there.  Except of course you look like the MD’s grandfather and your face scares the interviewer!

In addition, most small firms – like Jarus & Co, Adamu Maigari & Sons, AllTotalServ Professionals etc – as well as government enterprises hardly place emphasis on age too.

For the good companies that put cap on age, it still doesn’t mean you cannot work there, you can still get job there as experienced hire after working in the non-age-emphasizing companies for some years.

For example, after working for say 4 years in a medium size audit firm that doesn’t restrict age, with good professional qualifications or even without, you can still get job in a bank as second level.

SUBSCRIBE TO JARUSHUB

[subscribe2]

With some specialized skills (like IT expertise), quality certifications (like CFA), good MBA from a top school (especially UK or US school), plus some internship experience, some firms will actually give you second level or waive their age requirements for entry level.

Networking is another way you can use to beat the age restriction. This may not work in a PwC or a KPMG, but I can assure you that there are many good firms that will give job based on MD’s or any top level officer’s recommendation. Recommendation is not necessarily a negative, read my article on networking here.

I also discussed networking and other employability skills in my book, THE ROAD TO VICTORIA ISLAND.

I wish you all the best.

Jarus