Young Professionals: Are We Getting A Fair Shake?

I was sitting in the lobby at my local Volkswagen dealership while work was being done on my Jetta. An older woman was sitting about three feet directly across from me, and as we both waited, another older woman entered the waiting room and sat on the far side of the seating area. Within a few moments, the close-to-me woman turned toward the far-from-me woman and asked, "Have you been taking your car here long? I was wondering if you could tell me if you trust the people here."

One simple question popped into my mind as their conversation began: Why hadn't she asked me? I was sitting much closer, I had been there longer, and I'd been taking my car there for a while (which, of course, she wouldn't know unless she asked me. Which she didn't).

I'm sure there could be a plethora of reasons why the close-to-me woman decided to ask the far-from-me woman about her experience at our dealership, but I'm assuming it's because I am young. I was wearing typical business casual attire, and was reading the news on my Blackberry, but I was still somehow deemed ill-equipped to provide the kind of information this woman was looking for.

And it got me thinking: Are young professionals not being given a fair shake as long as they are considered, well, young? We all know experience is a valuable thing to have, in any industry, but is it the only valuable thing to have? Is there anything about youth that could be seen as advantageous, as well?

Now, this is not to say that experience and the cluster of things that could possibly come along with youth are mutually exclusive. In my experience (yes, I have experience!), that is often not the case. Many times, the most talented people are those who survive in a given profession, who go on to become experienced and knowledgeable in their field.

However, how does a "talent" come to be discovered, if inexperience is the more visible trait? For example, I eventually came to learn that the far-from-me woman at the dealership had only been taking her car there for a few weeks, and only because her car was under warranty. I have been taking my car there much longer, because I choose to, and was therefore much better prepared to offer feedback on the quality and trustworthiness of the service staff. But that fact was never unearthed.

Even in the world of politics, the debate of experience versus a fresh perspective is being fought as each state votes in its respective primary/caucus. Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton claims she is the better presidential candidate because the experience she has in the political universe far outweighs that of her rival, Barack Obama. But is experience the defining characteristic of a great candidate? (And, if it is, wouldn't McCain be the default winner?) Obama often counters that what he offers, and what this country needs, is change, not experience. Who is right?

And how can we know? As the popular adage goes: If a tree falls in the forest but no one hears it, does it make a sound? Similarly, if a remarkable skill dwells within someone, but he/she is inexperienced in the particular field that his/her skill would be used, does the skill really exist?

I think, to a lot of people, there is great comfort in experience. Someone who has been there, who has seen what there is to see, can make a client or consumer feel that he or she is inherently prepared for what is to come. But is there any value in having a knack for something? In an example that I recently read, in an old blog entry from "Acland Brierty . . . Explained," one can be trained to solve word puzzles, and can have done so for many years. But when a person has a talent for solving word puzzles, they will likely be able to solve even the most difficult of riddles, and produce better results. The blog reads, "Training and experience will only get you so far. You can't teach talent."

So, as a young professional, I wonder whether my future will allow for my talents to be revealed, or if, after time goes by, I will perhaps be seen as better qualified in a certain area because I look or sound older. While youth often does imply inexperience, how often does it imply something that is desirable? Not often enough, I'm afraid.

In the words of Oscar Wilde, "Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes." So, here's to all young professionals, making mistakes every day.