Auto industry ageism ‘noticeably receding’, claim Jobco-op Automotive

Friday, October 11, 2013 - 14:00
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OLDER: Auto industry battling ageism

Ageism is becoming much less of an issue in motor industry recruitment, Jobco-op Automotive have claimed.

Candidates aged over 50 are now regularly gaining interviews and winning jobs, Jobco-op have noted, whereas five years ago they would have been passed over.

Derek Webb, Sales Director of Jobco-op Automotive, said: “While it was never a blanket belief, just a few years ago you knew that anyone aged 55 or over was perhaps going to hit some problems with finding a new job because they would be considered too old, no matter how good their CV.

“Now, while the issue has not disappeared, it is clearly much less prevalent.

“If you have a strong track record and can make a positive impression at interview, you have every chance of succeeding.”

A key part of this shift, Mr Webb added, was that it was now becoming accepted that people will now be working until an older age.

“Again, just before the credit crunch, there was perhaps a general feeling that anyone nudging 60 would be looking to retire as soon as possible,” he said.

“Now, thanks to longer life expectancies and even difficulties over pensions, you could perhaps add a decade to that.”

Jobco-op Automotive also claim that many dealerships and manufacturers are recognising that having a spread of people of different ages and experiences on their staff is useful.

“This may especially be the case in customer facing roles where the ‘greying’ of the general population means that more customers are themselves in their 60s, 70s and even 80s,” added Mr Webb.

“It is useful to have an older person’s perspective within the business.”

Image courtesy of LOSINPUN, with thanks.

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