Is Age a Game Changer?…

As the roar of the crowds get louder, the competition gets hotter, and as the subs wait eagerly in the wing warming up for their next big break, graduates throughout the world anticipate the blow of the final whistle of success.

As I study my diary and as I ‘plan to plan’ the last few weeks of my degree, I can’t help but take a cross sectional view on the big bad jobs market and its competition, and ask myself, is age a game changer?

The optimistic side of me looks at this from an advantageous stance, considering ‘life’ ‘experience’ and certainly a crowded graduate CV, nothing but a positive attribute and certainly one that gives the competitive advantage.

However, following my last encouraging and up beat blog, I bring things back down to earth slightly and crowd source opinion on the split vote matter.

I have once been told, more recently, that my age will be an issue in the fast paced marketing and advertising industry, having no time to dip my toe in what ever may come my way and embracing both time and opportunity.

At a ripe old age of 27, as young as I may look (!), I can’t help but smile when asked for ID for the classless bottle of Pinot Grigio I intend to utilise on an idle Monday evening.

As self indulgent as this may sound, I have had years of experience in the ‘real world’ of work, in a number of client facing roles and target driven positions.

Throughout my personal three year degree journey, I have pushed my capacity to its limits, with a number of relevent internships, jobs, networking, and extra curricular qualifications and programs to guarantee my spot on the previously discussed guest list that everyone seems to already be on.

I digress…

So, as the pre-match build up sets the scene, I ask the questions…

Should, or more importantly DOES age matter?

Will I be ‘pipped to the post’ in the employability version of Aintree’s Grand National?

Should I change my directional course, being mindful of the 6-year age gap between me and the fresh-faced graduates donning their cap and gown?

I certainly welcome diverse opinion and thought on the matter, and don’t worry your little souls, I won’t be offended… Unless the next time I grab that bottle of vino, the 18 year old baby faced college student giggles as I grasp hold my photo ID, waiting for the flattering question that’s not to come…