Is Age A Factor When Looking For A Job In Kenya?

Is Age A Factor When Looking For A Job In Kenya?

By Perminus Wainaina

I have had a series of short contract engagements in NGO from 2008-2011. In my CV, I have listed four different employers. The longest engagement I had locally was with a local tier 1 bank, still on contract in a NGO role. All the other jobs I have had have been in foreign organizations.

My last job came to an end and I actively started looking for jobs. I have had numerous interviews so far, but I am yet to get a job. I get the impression panelists feel I am too old and that I may be overqualified. My question is, could my age, I am 42, be a factor?

I recently received this email from Josephat (not his real name). He had been called for numerous interviews, but was unable to secure the jobs. He didn’t understand why. And for him, his age seemed to be the only hindrance.

Although there are legal protections that ensure that candidates cannot be discriminated against by things like race, gender, or even age, employers still have expectations for who their employees are, and how they will benefit their company.

When hiring for entry level positions for example, employers are looking for a recent graduate. The same applies to when they are hiring for a senior manager, they are usually looking for someone with solid experience.

Often times, these expectations from employers, play a role in the hiring process, even if they are not doing it consciously.

While it may seem unfair for you, these expectations and concerns reflect a reality – employers generally do want a younger person in a role that requires less experience, and an older person in a role with more authority, because younger people have more room to grow and older workers tend to have transferrable skills and expertise.

With all these factors in mind, as a job seeker, how do you ensure that you get the job you qualify for, despite being older or younger?

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