In today’s workplace, being over 40 is unfortunately equated less with being wise and experienced and more with being potentially out of touch and unable to learn new tricks and technologies. And in a job interview, which is all about convincing your potential employers that you can contribute and thrive, being perceived as old in those stereotypical ways can be the kiss of death.
To be sure, there’s no reason to pretend you’re younger than you are, and neither hair dye nor a GQ-inspired wardrobe is going to fool anyone. It’s not about a number anyway — your goal is simply to make it clear you didn’t stop evolving in Clinton’s second term. Think of it this way: If Gawker would snicker at the points you make in a job interview, it’s time to update your pitch.
Over the year-and-a-half I’ve been writing my blog, How Not to Act Old, I’ve talked with hundreds of professionals of all ages about the unconscious ways we unwittingly act old in interview and work situations — and they’re far more subtle than simply offering your interviewer a nice piece of hard candy. Here are a few of the top gaffes to avoid, whether you’re hoping to win a job at a hot new start-up or the leading-edge division of a big company.
http://moneywatch.bnet.com/career-advice/article/job-interview-tips-dont-act-old/395774