How much experience is too much experience?

Orange post-it note with the word Experience written on it
Some senior roles ask for 6–10 years of experience, yet candidates with double or even triple that often hear, “You have too much experience.” Why?

Are assumptions driving these decisions?

  • They’re stuck in their ways.
  • They don’t understand emerging technologies.
  • The role might not be fulfilling enough.
  • They’re too old to relate to the team.
  • They might undermine a less experienced leader.

 

But here’s the thing: experience builds deep knowledge, resilience, and perspective. Dismissing candidates because of this risks wasting valuable insights and lessons learned over decades.

Diverse teams—spanning ages, experiences, and backgrounds—deliver better outcomes.

How might we shift the narrative and leverage the wisdom of experience to build a stronger future?

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