A 60-year-old woman came to an interview to get a job as a programmer: everyone started laughing at her until they found out who she was 😱 😱
A vacancy for a programmer opened up in one of the largest and most prestigious offices in the city. The project is large-scale, international, with an excellent salary and opportunities for career growth. The company announced an open interview day. Everyone could participate: from graduates to already working specialists, the main thing was knowledge, ambition and passion for the profession.
From the very morning, young, confident candidates gathered in the corridor near the interview room. Some with brand new portfolios in hand, others in perfectly ironed suits. They discussed algorithms, cases, previous projects among themselves and, of course, dreamed of winning.
A 60-year-old woman came to an interview to get a job as a programmer: everyone started laughing at her until they found out who she was
And then… she appeared in the corridor.
A woman of about sixty, in a strict black suit, with neatly styled white hair and a leather briefcase. She walked slowly past the surprised looks and sat down at the very end of the row.
First there was a pause. Then a whisper.
– “Seriously? Who would hire her?”
– “As a programmer? At her age?”
– “This is a joke, right?”
– “I wonder if she remembers how to turn on a computer…”
Some were openly smiling, some were filming stories, some even allowed themselves a couple of sarcastic remarks out loud.
At that moment, no one could even imagine who this elderly woman really was. The full story was told here, and we are interested to know your opinion, is it true that after 60 there is no point in working in such fields? 👇👇
A 60-year-old woman came to an interview to get a job as a programmer: everyone started laughing at her until they found out who she was
Time passed. The first part of the interview began – a group one. All candidates were invited into a spacious hall. Representatives of the HR department and a woman in a strict black suit were already waiting there… that one.
One of the candidates couldn’t stand it:
– “Excuse me, is she going to be interviewed too? It’s just that we have a technical position, not a club of interests…”
At that moment, one of the HR managers stood up and calmly announced:
– “Good afternoon. I am the head of the HR department. And this is my assistant. She is not just a candidate, she is part of today’s test. Our company values professionalism, but above all – humanity. Today we carefully observed how you behaved in the hallway, how you reacted to a person who ‘didn’t fit’ your expectations.”
Pause.
— “And you know what? If you are not able to respect a person who is different from you — in age, appearance, experience — you will not be able to work in a team where understanding, respect and tolerance are important. Because we are not just building IT products. We are building a culture.”
A 60-year-old woman came to an interview to get a job as a programmer: everyone started laughing at her until they found out who she was
Silence. Awkward. Ringing.
Only three of the entire group went further. Those who greeted the elderly woman, gave her their seat and did not allow themselves a single disparaging word.
The rest left the room with their heads down, realizing for the first time that their real test began not at the moment of the first question, but with the first glance in the hallway.
