Ageism in accountancy?

The 9 February edition of the UK television programme Dispatches, entitled 'Too Old to Work', has generated a lot of anger from ACCA members, with one writing to say that it was 'a vivid illustration of how some of the big well-known accountancy recruitment agencies actively discriminate against older applicants'.

The programme showed how a 56-year-old chartered accountant, Martin Lloyd-Penney, found that some of the agencies often 'lost' his CV, while at the same time his unqualified daughter was receiving lots of calls and interest from the same recruiters.

Not only is ageism illegal - (and who is enforcing this law, by the way?) - but it's also bad business practice.

If the current economic situation has shown us anything, it's that those organisations best suited to dealing with crises are like the best sports teams - a blend of youth and experience.

If you've never worked through a recession or downturn - and if there are no colleagues on hand who have - how on earth can you be expected to know how to handle it?

Have you suffered from ageism? How big an issue is it in our profession? Let me know your views by leaving a comment below and I'll reply where possible.

Comments

[chinweike]

Ageism is really a problem most especially in Nigeria.I have been a graduate of accounting with a second class upper division degree since 2005 and till now have not even received a call for interview. Most of the company especially banks would want you to be below the age of 25 before you will be given a chance. This they still do even when it is obvious that one is more than the claimed age. This is really a problem and needs to be taken care of before it gets out of hand

[Joe]

Experience is cruical when dealing with complex situations.

Many ACCA students and affiliates seem to consider a job to be a 'textbook' approach; something they learnt in an exam.However in reality it is about dealing with uncertain events and this requires a mature approach. And YES you guessed it, age brings maturity; well to most of us.

Final word to all the students and affiliates - your time will come when you become old and hopefully wiser.

[Jeremy]

Part of the problem is that the law would be so difficult to enforce - how do you prove that someone wasn't given an opportunity because of their age?

I would be interested to hear the views of a recruitment professional on this matter...

[cuthy]

Whilst it is true I believe that there are cold hard facts that must be considered when debating this topic - yes older people may have the experience, but in some cases these people are set in their ways and usually cannot be moulded as an employer would want. One would also have to look at issues to deal with succession and continuity, odds are an older person will retire in the not too distant future thereby depriving the organisation of maximum benefit from its investment.
Other factors such as productivity, energy levels and enthusiasm also play against older candidates. That said, I too have been a victim of ageism but I have always taken it in my stride. Some employers do seek to blend the experience that only older candidates bring and the fresh ideas that youthful candidate provide, and that should be the route taken by all employers.

[Surachna]

This is absolutely a hard fact. Being an ACCA affiliate I myself am facing this problem... I am 35 years old and I finished ACCA as an additional qualification. I achieved affiliate status, I stood among the top 20 HK affiliates. But I haven't received even a single interview call as I do not have the relevant experience and I am too old to gain it when compared to the other younger candidates. This was the reason given by one of the recruitment agencies. I have finished my examinations and am still struggling to find the opportunity to finish the practical experience requirement... I do not know why the recruiters do not think about the reality that someone has to provide an opportunity for us to gain the experience.
I feel this is discriminatory behaviour.