Age Issue Cuts Both Ways.

• Author: Marshall, Jeffrey
• Position: Brief Article

Youth is definitely having its day, suggests new research from Exec-U-Net, which surveyed executives and search firms about attitudes toward older executives. The Stamford, Conn.-based career services firm found an increasing tendency for respondents to consider age an issue in job seekers at or just below age 50 - yet a slight change toward more acceptance of older executives.

"The 20- and 30-something CEOs have received a considerable amount of attention this past year, which has made older executives more conscious of their age," says Dave Opton, Exec-U-Net's executive director. "However, many executives over the age of 50 are successfully overcoming age-related bias by effectively demonstrating that their experience can improve a company's leadership and direction."

The biggest change in the company's survey was the...