Does age matter?

I just hopped off a call where someone asked me if I was 23 years old, I'm currently 26, not that it matters. I didn't say anything out of my normal pitch or say anything dumb to give away my age.


But it got me thinking, has strictly my age ever kept me from getting a deal across the line? I put my camera on during zoom calls, so I give prospects the opportunity to see me and how I look, "young."


But I feel like if you have some age on you, you are automatically more trusted, without question, solely because you look older. Trust is obviously essential to getting a deal across the line.


So does being an older person in sales give you a competitive advantage?


What do y'all think?

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7
Justatitle
Big Shot
3
Account Executive
If it matters to the prospect then itโ€™s a red flag IMO. What should matter is that you can articulate your value and are knowledgeable aside from that fuck em if they judge you on age/looksย 
poweredbycaffeine
WR Lieutenant
3
โ˜•๏ธ
I found that in commercial insurance, brokers treated younger folks (women especially) like children. They wouldn't give us good business, they wouldn't allow us to work on "important" accounts because they thought we'd mess it all up. I think certain industries have that old boys club mentality that ruins relationships for up-and-coming reps who are as good if not leagues better than the old guard.
funcoupons
WR Officer
2
๐Ÿ‘‘
Some people will judge you based on stupid things that shouldn't matter like age, race, or sex. It's an unfortunate reality about human beings.

Yes, older people tend to garner more respect from a young person or someone who looks young.

I'm thankful I sell over the phone. I'm a very capable late twenties woman who looks a few years younger and likes to dress femininely. I know I'd be taken less seriously walking into many places looking the way I do compared to some of my male colleagues in their 30s.

If someone had the audacity to ask me how old I was I'd ask "why do you ask?" Make them feel rude and stupid for asking such a thing. Because they are.ย 
Prizrak
Politicker
1
Disruptor of worlds
Exactly. This is why I never told anyone my age. Look 25. Talk like you're 80. And act 12.ย 
funcoupons
WR Officer
2
๐Ÿ‘‘
I hear that. It's why I don't like turning my camera on for external meetings, especially when they're with boomers or older or women... Sadly that's where I'm most likely to be written off due to my appearance.ย 
MontBlanc
Notable Contributor
2
Senior Account Executive
27 here and shaved my head in summer 2020 due to baldingโ€ฆ I feel like my age is more ambiguous and slightly more confident in video calls. I also sell to IT Leaders and 70% of them seem to be bald as well, so it doubles as a connection point ๐Ÿง‘โ€๐Ÿฆฒ
GDO
Politicker
1
BDM
Haha ๐Ÿ˜‚ย 
So if age would matter, we should just shave our head?
Iโ€™m balding as well, do not have the guts to shave it just yet.ย 
MontBlanc
Notable Contributor
0
Senior Account Executive
I see youโ€™ve found Occamโ€™s razor ;) now use it!
Nairobi
Politicker
1
AE
I think itโ€™s stupid but I know that for a lot of people it matters because to them older=experience=knowledge...
Dr.TruffleShuffle
Personal Narrative
0
Inbound Team Lead
Nah dawg, she just wants "datSaaS" ;)ย 
GDO
Politicker
0
BDM
I tell prospects Iยดm 27. But make sure during the call I behave as if weยดre in the same level (challenger sales techniques work well for this).

They really respect a 27yo that behaves that way. At least it seems that way.
RomyJax2020
Valued Contributor
0
Enterprise Sales Dev
Next time reply with my fav- โ€œIโ€™m surprised you feel comfortable asking me that.โ€
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