In writing about how to increase your candidate pool,  multiple LinkedIn comments cropped up related to hiring workers over 50.   For example, one comment read:

“Don’t practice age discrimination or you could miss out on some rock steady workers. Those who give thumbs down to the over 50 crowd really do miss out on some great employees.”

Through these comments, it was obvious I should have added a 5^th way to increase your candidate pool in the article:  Include Older Workers.

Also through these comments, there were reasons included as to why hiring workers over 50 is a good idea. Overall, hiring “older” workers can:

1. Allow you to take advantage of skills and attitudes that are only really acquired over time.  So much of what we learn is through experience and that can only be gained over time.   Hiring those with 25-30+ years of workplace experience brings skills that are only gained through 10,000 plus hours of practice.   Read Outliers for more on 10,000 hours of practice.
2. Provide mentoring relationships.  Mentoring relationships can go both ways but having older workers mentor younger workers can allow for the dissemination of things learned through experience (#1) without a mentee having to experience the setback and heartbreaks of bad decisions.   Not to mention the meaningful relationships that add value to any organization.
3. Help with perspective.  I mean this in two ways.  I have experienced workers that are older than I am that can best be described as “wise”.  Meaning, they have a perspective that helps me, well, get some perspective.   Teaching and demonstrating not to sweat the small stuff, enjoying the stages of life and acting with patience and perseverance are qualities older workers can instill in the workplace.  And that brings me to the second view of bringing perspective in the workplace. In the larger context of diversity, hiring workers of all ages helps a workplace innovate.
4. Help you understand your customer.  Chances are your customers are in all different ages and stages of life.  Having a workforce that is pigeon-holed into just one demographic limits your ability to see multiple markets and angles, thus limiting innovation and revenue possibilities.

What advantages does your organization gain from “older” workers?