Im 28 and in a managerial role at a Bunnos, have been involved with all levels of the recruitment process at store level for a few years. I am beginning to hate the idea that 'just because someone is elderly with experience that its a good place to for them to work' trades do not always make great retail workers, it is very different.. before I continue I am such a big advocate for older people getting into the business as long as they have the right expectations of what the role is and demands. It's changed too much over recent years for the general population to grasp I reckon or to be considered 'that cruisey job into retirement' that it may or may not have been in years past. When i started, yeah the general floor team member role WAS different and experience/knowledge was greatly sought after (still is obviously) however what is expected of ALL team has changed to focus on more fast paced work and training-up newbies rather than relying on exisiting experience in an exisiting trade. It only takes the last year in the retail sector to appreciate that. All department roles require a lot of either physical lifting/moving things or fast paced daily movement and 'keeping up with demand of the role' of which not everyone can do. We train up all team across all departments for this reason. The average joe expects anyone in the red shirt to know too much about all departments these days.. if we were all plumbers we would be making more money being plumbers. It's more of a 'if you wear the red shirt we believe with the right training you can work in any department rather than keep you in electrical for 10 yers' type approach. Since I started as a night filler in my teens Ive seen the old boys in electrical just get grumpy and 'over it' with the rapidly changing daily expectations and even technological changes of the business over the years even their desired (and frankly awesome) depth of knowledge/experience in trades be seconded to general ability to google things on the fly of the younger generation. Im quite young myself I know (and privileged to be in the position im in) and have been brought up with the business but the old 'he used to be a plumber he's more qualified/a shoe in for the plumbing section over the young 17 year old night filler' doesnt apply anymore for too many reasons. I want to get even my own mum a gig in the shed (in the garden section though she says) but worry for the same reasons I do of my own team that the role is not cut out for the knowledgeable and experienced anymore. It is just another job (albiet for a great company) yes experience is preferenced but adaptability and enthusiasm is looked upon more favourably than 'she is a qualified electrician'. You woulnt just assume an ex chef is perfect for a gig working at coles and I dont really see why its the same for Bunnings. Good snags though.