Tenure vs. Age
When it comes time to retire, “age” and “tenure” are two terms that are of particular importance. They are also important in the hiring process. Age is a measure of life experience. Tenure refers to the time a person has spent working for a company or has been a member of an organization. Age is also chronological because it tells how old you are – how many years it has been since you were born. Tenure, on the other hand, counts the years since you first started working at your career. Both terms are used to describe a person’s professional capabilities.
As you age and work in a chosen field, you gain life experience and experience on the job. The length of time you have been in this job and have moved up through the ranks constitute tenure, but are also an indication of your age. Age also refers to maturity and your level of confidence in your abilities. The older you are, the more qualified you are to be able to make complex decisions and take on complicated roles. It is a major factor in being hired for a job because companies want to hire a person that has proven his/her ability to carry out the tasks that the job requires. An older person also has a greater sense of responsibility.
Everyone who starts a new job has to take the time to learn the ropes and it is only after being in the position for some time is this person able to do the job automatically. By switching positions or jobs, you can gain experience in many different areas of your field and this increases your chances of being hired because you have developed diverse skills over the years. The total length of time you work with a particular company or organization makes up your tenure.
For some people who land a job that they love, they may spend their entire career with a single company. In this case, their job consists of one tenure. It is of great benefit to you to have lengthy tenures and very few within your career.
Summary
- Both age and tenure are considered by a company or organization when they are hiring personnel.
- Age refers to how old you are but tenure refers to the number of years you have worked at a specific job.
- Age assures experience and maturity, but tenure does not.
- Age is counted in years, but tenure can be counted in weeks, months or years.
- Age is a criteria in job selection rather than tenure.
- Sometimes age is overlooked and tenure is considered to be more important.
- A young person may often get the job over an older person.