In the current economic climate there are quite a few “mature candidates” who are having to return to the workforce, or delay their retirement due to what has happened to their superannuation investments.
Here is a treasure trove of varied work and life skills, experiences and often a great work ethic that is a big bonus to employers.
So if you have some of these people applying for roles in your business, try and get them on board.
As an employer, mature candidates and employees can be some of your greatest assets.
They tend to be more confident, self assured and have good communication skills and have a variety of life skills that can contribute to their value.
Occasionally they may not be fully up to speed with the latest technology, but they are generally keen and willing to learn.
For one of my clients in the retail sector they are having consistent and successful results employing ‘empty nesters’ as trainee retail managers.
These people want to work, have the time and energy to put into learning, are often flexible and adaptable and thrive on the opportunities given to them.
So please employers, do what you can to retain your current, mature employees, and if you are recruiting new staff, do consider the great benefits of older employees for some of your positions.
From my experience, it is healthy for most workplaces to have a mix of ages, skills and experience in their workforce — but tapping into mature candidates could be a great asset to your business.
