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Jul
29

Why does age matter?

<rant begin> I understand that with age comes wisdom, but age is not the only factor to consider when determining someones experience. I can’t count the number of times that I have talked with people over twitter, email and phone, then met them in person and had the same reaction – shock at my age.

I am young, 25, and as I have learned, this can be a serious disadvantage. In fact, it has been such an interference that I am looking forward to the day I turn 30. When I speak with people over the phone or they read my work, most assume that I am in my early 30′s (I guess I come across older in voice/writing?)…but, when they meet me in person and see that I am not in my 30′s, it is as if a cold wind has blown in and all of a sudden their mood changes. They start asking about my experience again, wonder when I graduated college, how I learned what I learned…all questions that my portfolio and site answer, but they begin to doubt me. Their entire belief towards me shifts in one fell swoop. I can’t prove that this has lost me business – as no one has ever come out and told me “we want someone older”, but I feel like it has been a serious interference, and is definitely frustrating. I hate having to try and explain myself – to try and clarify that yes I am young, but I am the same person that just a day ago you were enamored with and loved my work.

Why should my age matter? If what you are looking for what I would do well, and you had faith in me based on my portfolio, writing and conversation – why does my age change any of this? </rant over>

What do you think about age? Have you had an experience where your age was a problem?

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  • Smit

    It is the same as you get older just in a different way :) Good rant….just keep on doing what your doing your good at it young or not, LOL.

    • kirstenwright

      Thanks – I plan on it! Sometimes it just feels good to air it out :)

      • Smit

        boy I re-read my post and I sound old….I'm really not, LOL. I understand it does feel good to air it out….great thing about blogs! I have just started blogging myself….need ALOT of work :) :(

  • http://swankypaper.blogspot.com Heather

    I understand your frustration, however, you have become a successful businesswoman – so who cares how old you are. I actually get the same thing, except I look younger than I really am – a blessing yes, but the comments I get are just absurd. Just the other day, I was asked if ALL 3 of my kids were mine. After I confirmed they were I expected the woman to say, “boy, you sure have your hands full” – the most often comment made, instead the woman said, “my goodness, you got an early start” Seriously?!! I didn't know 29 was too young to start having kids.

    • kirstenwright

      Thanks Heather! I sometimes have to remind myself of that fact.

    • http://twitter.com/momofrose Michelle Stillson

      Heather, I get that a lot, too, though I was 21 when I had my daughter. Most people assume it was an accident because I was so young. Hate THOSE looks/judgements, too.

  • Lexington_Steel

    Age is the only real measure of dedication in a profession aspect; in other words: people feel better about a salesman if he/she has been selling the product for a long time, people feel safer with an older pilot than a younger pilot holding consent the number of flight hours logged, etc. Young people can be very passionate about a job today, but, dedication shows in time if they're doing that same job tomorrow.

    • kirstenwright

      I do agree that time does prove that someone has dedication and can “stick around”, but time can also make someone lazy and complacent about their work. Passion can provide stellar results – and if you think their work is what you need – should you just them based on their age?

      And an experienced pilot can crash as easily as a new pilot can…

  • Lexington_Steel

    or it could just be my hubris :/

  • http://twitter.com/daveconrey Dave Conrey

    I'm sure it's relative to industry, but as far as creatives go, age is hardly ever a factor for me. Experience can possibly be relative to age, because you obviously haven't had the same experiences as a designer who has been doing the work for 20 years, but I know some 20-year art directors that have way less actual creative ability than some fresh-out-of-school designers. You and I already touched on this subject, but how your work, and how you carry yourself go a long way toward defining how people perceive you. When you told me you were 25, I was a bit taken back by that, but not in a negative way. You just carry yourself like a woman of much more experience.

    • kirstenwright

      Thanks Dave – I think that maybe it is more of a generation thing too…

  • http://twitter.com/techburgh Andy Quayle

    Firstly, Google should totally adopt the <rant> tagging system :)
    I've had age issues throughout my IT career.
    I started out at 16, training staff in rather large businesses to be more productive with their applications. This, they didn't appreciate because if they adopted new formulas and practices, they saved time and had more time in their day to do more.
    News like this wasn't appreciated from a 16 year old, fresh out of high school.
    Now I'm 30 and am the CEO of an Internet Solutions company. Many see this as young for such a position, even moreso in the company that I founded…. strangely.
    You'd think that it is “those youngsters” who get this IT stuff, which to a point it is. However it is “those oldsters” who don't get that “those youngsters” do get it, do know it and are darned good at it!

    No, age shouldn't matter. Maturity and experience should matter. If only what does matter and what should matter were the same thing.

    • kirstenwright

      Andy – Thank you so much for your thoughts and experience!! Wow, 16? That is just impressive, and gives me the strength to know that I can do it my way, and as long as I keep at it and prove myself, I will be fine! :)

      and yes, the <rant> tag definitely needs to be used more!

  • http://twitter.com/momofrose Michelle Stillson

    I think it depends on the industry. At my full-time “desk” job, people actually treat me with more respect when they learn I'm 27 and have learned so much in a short time with the company (almost 4 years). But at my part-time “sales” job of 7 years, I can see the disbelief in people's faces, like I'm not old enough to know as much as I say I do about the products. Annoying.

    • kirstenwright

      Interesting insight – I would have expected the office would have been tougher than the sales job on the age. Surprising, but good to know!

  • Jackie

    Being judged by looks is SOP. It's part of the equation in anyone's opinion about a person. He/she is too young, too old, too fat, too thin. You get the idea. Use it to your advantage, include it as a topic of introduction prior to a face-to-face.
    Before you know it, you will be looked at as too old!

  • Anonymous

    Thanks Dave – I think that maybe it is more of a generation thing too…

  • Anonymous

    I do agree that time does prove that someone has dedication and can “stick around”, but time can also make someone lazy and complacent about their work. Passion can provide stellar results – and if you think their work is what you need – should you just them based on their age?nnAnd an experienced pilot can crash as easily as a new pilot can…

  • http://twitter.com/techburgh Andy Quayle

    Firstly, Google should totally adopt the tagging system :) rnI’ve had age issues throughout my IT career. rnI started out at 16, training staff in rather large businesses to be more productive with their applications. This, they didn’t appreciate because if they adopted new formulas and practices, they saved time and had more time in their day to do more.rnNews like this wasn’t appreciated from a 16 year old, fresh out of high school. rnNow I’m 30 and am the CEO of an Internet Solutions company. Many see this as young for such a position, even moreso in the company that I founded…. strangely. rnYou’d think that it is “those youngsters” who get this IT stuff, which to a point it is. However it is “those oldsters” who don’t get that “those youngsters” do get it, do know it and are darned good at it! rnrnNo, age shouldn’t matter. Maturity and experience should matter. If only what does matter and what should matter were the same thing.

  • Anonymous

    Andy – Thank you so much for your thoughts and experience!! Wow, 16? That is just impressive, and gives me the strength to know that I can do it my way, and as long as I keep at it and prove myself, I will be fine! :) nnand yes, the tag definitely needs to be used more!

  • Smit

    boy I re-read my post and I sound old….I’m really not, LOL. I understand it does feel good to air it out….great thing about blogs! I have just started blogging myself….need ALOT of work :) :(

  • http://twitter.com/momofrose Michelle Stillson

    I think it depends on the industry. At my full-time “desk” job, people actually treat me with more respect when they learn I’m 27 and have learned so much in a short time with the company (almost 4 years). But at my part-time “sales” job of 7 years, I can see the disbelief in people’s faces, like I’m not old enough to know as much as I say I do about the products. Annoying.

  • http://twitter.com/momofrose Michelle Stillson

    Heather, I get that a lot, too, though I was 21 when I had my daughter. Most people assume it was an accident because I was so young. Hate THOSE looks/judgements, too.

  • Anonymous

    Interesting insight – I would have expected the office would have been tougher than the sales job on the age. Surprising, but good to know!

  • Jackie

    Being judged by looks is SOP. It’s part of the equation in anyone’s opinion about a person. He/she is too young, too old, too fat, too thin. You get the idea. Use it to your advantage, include it as a topic of introduction prior to a face-to-face.nBefore you know it, you will be looked at as too old!

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