Since I’m one of the Baby Boomers, I know the temptation to share my work experience by comparing today’s workplace with the past. We experienced the workplace recreated by “Mad Men” or “Laverne and Shirley.” It was fun and exciting and frustrating as well. In a job interview, you have to give examples of work situations to show you have experience and would be able to handle a job. That’s great. But when you wax nostalgic, get emotional and begin reminiscing, you can get into trouble. These phrases are toxic to a Boomer’s job interview or cover letter:
1. “Back in the Day…” This phrase brings up scenes from “The Waltons,” sitting around the dinner table, passing the biscuits and gravy, and talking about the weather and price of corn. The phrase has a wistful quality; almost you’d like to go back to a simpler gentler time. That may be true, but you have to be able to function in the new reality, not always longing for the past.
2. “In my day, we…” This makes it sound like you’re an unwilling time traveler, transported to a future time. Isn’t TODAY your day, too? A string of sentences, all starting with the same phrase, gives the impression you would rather do things your way, or the old way, rather than learn how things are done today.
3. “I can remember when we used (insert dial phones, typewriters, adding machines, slide rules, our brains…)” You are automatically dating yourself. Like it or not, there is an age bias, and the more you draw attention to your age, the older you seem. Again, it sounds like you’re longing for the old days. Reality check! The old days don’t matter unless they soundly support your qualifications for the job at hand.
4. “What’s a Smartphone (or an I Pad, or Twitter)?” Even though you don’t personally spend hours on Facebook and still have a flip phone with big numbers, you need to be familiar with the latest communications and social networking resources available. If you’re looking for an administrative job, admitting you don’t know how to post on Facebook can take you out of the running. Many companies have Facebook pages and part of an admin job is to manage the company’s social media presence, respond to comments, post status updates, etc. Learn how to navigate on the Internet.
5. “I’ve got children about your age.” That may be true, but that youngster across the desk may just be your potential boss. In one sentence you can destroy your chances of getting hired. You’re now just like Mom or Dad, and no longer seen as a team member, co-worker or peer. Plus, it makes people uncomfortable for them to know you are thinking of them as a child instead of a professional.
Interviewers take the first minutes of an interview to help an applicant relax by making small talk. You can relax and be yourself, but remember you’re not there as a kindly aunt or grandfather, helping out the youngsters. Keep your professional image and mindset to remain a qualified, professional candidate ready to take on today’s challenges.
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