Thinkerbell launches over-55s internship to curb ageism
Thinkerbell has launched a paid, eight-week internship for people 55-and-over to push back against ageism and inject talent with “years of life experience” into the agency and industry.
“This is probably discriminatory to everyone else. Did the lawyers advise against it? Yes,” the PwC-backed agency admitted.
The program, dubbed Thrive@55, comes after WPP’s global CEO, Mark Read, apologised for saying on a recent investor call: “If you look at our people – the average age of someone who works at WPP is less than 30 – they don’t hark back to the 1980s, luckily.”
Apologising on Twitter for the widely-condemned comments, Read said he “was wrong to use age to try to make a point. People over 40 can do great digital marketing just as people under 30 can make great TV ads.”
Thinkerbell has noticed an “obvious age gap” in most advertising agencies, and noted just 5% of agency employees across the world are over 50. The median staff member age is 38.
Emma O’Leary, from Thinkerbell’s culture, operations, and people team, said the agency wants its team and clients to reap the rewards of a more diverse staff line up.
“We’ve created this internship program because our older generation are massively underrepresented in the advertising industry, and have a lifetime of experience to bring to our agency, and our industry,” she said.
“You could be a retired hotel concierge that’s interested in running our front of house, a detective who wants to do some insights work, or a newspaper cartoonist who’s looking for the next creative challenge.
“We don’t mind where your experience comes from, as long as you think you have something to give to our industry.”
The agency is interested in people who could work across creative, account management, office management, finance, media, digital services, illustration, strategy, photography, and more. The streamlined application process asks for over-55s to explain what they can bring to Thinkerbell, what Thinkerbell can bring to them, their life story in 25-words or less, and the weirdest thing about them.
Applications open today, and close on 20 October, at which point shortlisted applicants will go through an interview process. The interns will be based in either the agency’s Sydney or Melbourne offices.
“Oh, and to all you youngsters out there who might feel unfairly treated, don’t worry, we’re always on the look-out for great talent, of all ages – just contact Thinkerbell directly with your enquiries,” the agency added.
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Brittney Rigby was Mumbrella's deputy managing editor - news and analysis. She left Mumbrella in April 2021.
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As the owner of a successful agency, I am over 60. What can I still offer? Other than experience, history of what works and what doesn’t, oversight, caution, direction and the ability to talk to the largest of clients and know what I am talking about, nothing.
It’s easy to write off experienced older people. BTW they have a memory, worked through harder times and even worked in a time when “culture” was a thing in Yoghurt!
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Think this is a great idea, talent can come from anywhere
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I applaud you Thinkerbell.
This is a gamer changer to identify that there are valuable and highly skilled people still out there in the industry that can offer their expertise and life experience, and they don’t have a used by date hovering over them to not contribute.
To work alongside the next generation and share with them the experiences and guidance. Prodiving a point of difference and contribution.
What a brave and amazing initiative.
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What an awesome initiative! Well done Thinkerbell for having the foresight and guts to do this. If every agency in town did the same thing the industry would be far richer for it. And yes, I am over 55 and happily this doesn’t seem to be an issue with any of our clients. Far from it.
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Great Idea !
Marketing ideas come and go, as do the times we live in. What experiences we see today have been in the past as well – just delivered in different formats. The beauty of mixing up ages in an agency is one can learn from each other and also appeal to different clientele. Some customers will appreciate seeing someone with grey hair whilst others will prefer a young fresh faced account executive. It all depends on the approach and how you communicate the benefits an agency can offer it clients. I am ready and over 55 !
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What a great initiative. Well done
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Whenever you read the statistics, it’s the older people who have the most wealth. But the advertising world doesn’t seem to realise that their marketing to that demographic is mostly regarded as inappropriate and unappealing. It would be nice if the agencies listened to their older interns to gain a sense of what will work with that demographic.
Well done Thinkerbell for at least making an effort to combat ageism in the job market. It is sorely needed.
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