Dan Heiman, Cornerstone – Kansas City’s President and Executive Search expert has interviewed thousands of seasoned, experienced professionals, some of which he considers professional “rockstars”. Heiman encourages client companies to be open to the benefits of hiring very experienced Candidates, no matter their age.
For those of you who know me well, you know that I’m an avid Classic Rock guy…among several different genres of music. Bands like Rush, Styx, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin and Heart dominate my music library.
I thoroughly enjoy live performances and have seen some of these bands perform many times. In fact, I recently saw Tesla, Styx and Def Leppard at Starlight Theatre and that experience gave me the inspiration for the post you’re reading right now.
You see, even though some people scoff at bands that have stood the test of time and maybe what some deem as “past their prime” or “geriatric rockers”, I continue to be amazed at the talent, energy level and quality of their output.
Many who are still performing at a grueling pace are in their early, mid and upper 60’s and still “rockin’ the paradise”…and they’re REALLY good at it. In fact, that concert at Starlight I mentioned? It was SOLD OUT, standing room only, and no one left the venue disappointed. I know I certainly didn’t! So I have a question…
What’s the difference between this group of rockers, people that love what they do, and the average professional that works well into his or her early, the mid or upper 60’s?
I would suggest… not much! I meet “seasoned” professionals every day who still love what they do. They work hard, travel a lot and still put in a full week of work.
In fact, because of their extensive experience, they’re often more efficient than their younger counterparts. And, like any good rock star who has stood the test of time, they understand the importance of remaining relevant.
Unfortunately, far too often, age can be an impediment to getting that next opportunity even though a professional has maintained his/her relevance and has a lot more to offer.
So this is a plug for all of those professionals who still have plenty of “gas in the tank” and who have more to offer an employer but sometimes don’t get the opportunity to showcase their skills and talents.
And since most of our professional work isn’t done on the lighted stage in front of thousands of people, how in the world can someone demonstrate their skills if they aren’t given that chance? Keep in mind, we’ll all be there someday. My challenge, therefore, to the professional world is this:
Let’s all be a little more open to what others have to offer regardless of their stage in life.
You just never know when you might find that next rock star.
