The Benefits of Older Employees

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When I was studying to be a teacher, one of my education professors pulled me aside and advised me to leave the program. Why? It wasn't my grades or my skills, but it was my young, high-pitched voice. I was told that my future male high school students wouldn't listen to a woman with such a high-pitched voice. 

It was a stupid thing to say on his part, though I'm certain he thought he was helping me. I chose to stay and finish my degree, becoming a teacher. Oddly enough, out of all the complaints I had during my career, no one complained about my voice. 

We all have dynamic traits and idiosyncrasies that define us, but none of us should be solely restricted by them. Sure, I had an annoyingly high-pitched voice at 22 years old, but I also had empathy and compassion, drive and determination, intelligence and capability. 

In fact, as I've grown older, my compassion and empathy, drive and determination, intelligence, capability, and experience have grown too. I'm vastly more open-minded than I was at 22. Thanks to my age and experience, I better understand that everyone has struggles I don't understand or need to know; I just need to be kind.

These are skills I bring with me as a freelance writer and content creator. Compassion. Empathy. A willingness to learn. The ability to use constructive criticism to improve my work and self. The understanding of how and why I need to set my ego aside. 

Older workers, especially those of us transitioning to a new profession, are ready and willing to learn and grow. Is it time for you to take a risk and hire an older freelancer?