Restoring my soul.

I go? This past week I have encountered three very different job interview styles.

One required me to make a video and post it to youtube and get as many likes and views as possible.  Which was exciting and fun and really challenged my understanding of the new job world.

The second; was more traditional (read boring) “Hi my name is…”  “Where do you want to be in the next five years?”  “What can you do for the company?”  “We also expect you to work double your hours for free.” Thanks but ummm No thanks.

The third; isn’t even worth talking about, oh you are “old”, “sorry but you won’t fit.”  I couldn’t believe that this was still acceptable work practice.

My point is the job market is as diverse as the people that work within it.  The employer needs to move out of outdated ideals for what makes a “good employee” and begin to realise that younger is NOT always better.  Sometimes well rounded, range of experiences and aged like a good wine is much better for their bottom line and their workplace culture.

Employees are asking for better work/life balance, they want flexibility in their hours, they want more time at home with the kids.

As a society we are switched on 24hours a day, for jobs that are effectively “office” environment the need to be ‘in’ the office for 12 hours a day is redundant.  An employee can sell insurance just as effectively from their home office as they can in a call centre.  A Personal Assistant can cyber commute to the office via email, instant messaging, telephone and social media.

So why can’t employers get on board? With the exception of Google, Twitter, Apple, Samsung and other telecommunications companies who have embraced the ‘new world order’, there are many more companies who are balking at entering the 21st Century.

Employer’s reason that some staff would take advantage of the ‘freedom’ and use work time to complete personal tasks if they are not required to be onsite.  What do they think their staff do anyway most spend time checking social media accounts, banking, insurance and other personal enquiries that may need to happen during work hours.

A more flexible, accepting, diverse range of opportunities and business models need to be explored to allow the natural workplace flow to occur.

There must be a better way to ensure that regardless of age there is a place in the workforce for them.  Come on employers get on board, expand your criteria and expectations and embrace the current technologies and watch the profits grow and staff morale increase exponentially.