5 clichés about the senior profile in companies!
A senior profile is quite difficult to characterize in view of the multiple definitions given. If we talk in terms of professional career, we estimate that a senior is a person whose age is between 45-55 years old. A senior is also a person who has a certain number of years of experience in a position or a company.
Despite their experiences, they struggle to find a job and sometimes suffer real discrimination in hiring.
This week, Meet My Job dismantles 5 clichés about the senior profile in a company!
1. "A senior costs the company more than a junior"
This sentence is based on the significant difference in salary between the senior and junior profiles. Nevertheless, this claim is partial and misleading.
Indeed, a senior is greedier in terms of remuneration and benefits than a junior, but this difference is justified by multiple factors. His professional experience, his network and his accumulated skills bring significant added value to the company!
In addition, the senior profile is a real asset because he or she may be able to supervise junior profiles and train them for various situations!
Finally, and in view of the difficulties for the senior profile to find a new job, it is here to stay and stay. The junior profile will be more likely to change companies after a few years.
In the long term, therefore, a senior profile is more profitable than a junior profile.
2. " A senior is resistant to change! »
Admittedly, it is sometimes intimidating for a manager to manage a profile with more professional experience than he or she does. There is always the unfounded fear of a potential generational conflict. This is why the manager must have confidence in himself and in his ability to manage diverse profiles.
In addition, the senior profile is fully capable of respecting the hierarchy and letting himself be guided by his manager. The senior must integrate the fact that younger people can bring him new skills and a new perspective. There must be this spirit of sharing between seniors and juniors within the company.
Because what makes a company so rich is this intergenerational sharing between the different profiles.
3. " A senior citizen doesn't know how to use new technologies "
Here again, the cliché about the difficulty of adapting seniors to new technologies has a hard life.
In a world that is constantly changing, new technologies are constantly emerging. If the senior can be left behind by these developments, he can understand the new challenges and uses of technology.
In addition, it is vital for the senior to adapt to the demands imposed by the world of work. In order not to be completely overwhelmed, the senior must therefore inform himself effectively.
4. " A senior is less fast and productive than a junior profile"
This statement is closely linked to the previous one, namely that the senior is often perceived as slower and therefore less productive than a junior.
In reality, the senior tends to take the time and think before acting. This is due to the fact that with his previous professional career, he has acquired a certain wisdom and great maturity. This is why he proceeds with more rigor and caution to avoid encountering problems and succeed in his mission.
However, it is wrong to say that he is less productive than a junior. Indeed, by taking more time, he avoids making mistakes that could be made by a junior who will tend to rush headlong.
5. " A senior has no place in a start-up!"
Finally, seniors regularly feel that they are illegitimate to join a start-up in relation to their age.
Indeed, when a start-up publishes an ad for a job, it mostly states that it is looking for a " young and dynamic " profile. It is this term " young " that acts as a repellent. The senior thinks that he does not fit the required profile and is not at home in this type of environment. The cult of youthism is unfortunately a real obstacle to the employability of seniors.
Still, a fast-growing start-up requires a seasoned person with enough experience to achieve the goals. Whether for any function, a start-up needs people with experience. A senior profile, with the wisdom and maturity he or she demonstrates, is a real backbone for a start-up in full swing!
You have seen the value and benefits of welcoming a senior profile to your company. It is always interesting to have experienced people by your side who are able to deal with multiple situations. So don't listen to the clichés and welcome a senior with open arms to your structure!
Discover our positive impact companies
Meet My Job is the 1st Belgian recruitment platform dedicated to sustainable development. So, what are you waiting for? Find your dream sustainability job/internship here !