Employee AND entrepreneur!
During his career Hubert Tridon de Rey alternated between the two statuses. But in January 2022, for lack of fundraising and partners, he had to face the facts and stop the activity of his company specializing in medical equipment. Here he is at 59 years old on the job market.
Without unemployment benefit because as a former CEO, he is not eligible. As of March 2022, he has a first CDI proposal.
“Finally, the shareholders did not want to put the pot to hire me. For another position, the CEO agreed to recruit me but the CEO vetoed it, considering that I had too many bottles compared to him,” he recalls. No doubt the fear that Hubert Tridon de Rey would overshadow him.
“How old do you think I am? »
He then continues the applications. Responds to 21 advertisements and follows 10 complete recruitment processes passing 3-4 steps each time.
To break the ice, I asked my interlocutors how old they gave me. Often, they answered 50 years old, which allowed me to say that I was almost 60. I look young. In the end, I was criticized for having too much experience. We were wondering what we were going to be able to make me do. I was even made to feel like I made too much money as an entrepreneur
And then, he responds to an ad for a sales position via the recruitment firm Uptoo, which he already knows. After a prequalification interview, he discusses with the co-founder of PicNic, specialized in the design of mobile kiosk intended for street marketing, snacking, reception points…. More than a month and a half passes without any news.
” I did not believe it anymore. And then, he contacted me again for a new interview with his partner. There, we talked about the commercial process and I explained to them my action plan for the company. I specified that in view of my experience, I was going to be more expensive than a junior. They took note of it,” he said.
An “old man” who federates
After a second stage of successful recruitment (visit of premises, technical explanation of the products), his hiring is validated. A permanent contract from January 2023. “I was asking for 10,000 euros more per year than their initial proposal. We finally cut the pear in half with an evolutionary position towards sales management at the end of my 4-month trial period, ”he explains.
Today, Hubert Tridon de Rey is PicNic Kiosque’s development manager and the oldest in the company. “Each with their experience brings their stone to the building, all in kindness,” he says. With customers? “People often take me for the boss because they are always waiting for an ‘old man’ at the helm of a company,” he smiles. Delighted with his new professional experience, Hubert Tridon de Rey intends to work until he is 65, or even 67. “Work is health! At 60, I’m in great shape. I’m a karate teacher so I even run energy workshops in the company to give them the keys to staying on top,” he smiles.