Teresa Bau
Journalist with a curious mind
“What is your age?” I have heard this question in many job interviews and from recruiters (not in my current job 😊). It is an illegal question as revealing your age – whatever it is – can lead to discrimination.
The European Commission and the Age Discrimination Employment Act (ADEA) in the US protect workers from age discrimination. So, asking for the applicant’s age can lead to a lawsuit, unless the question is to ascertain that the person is over 18. It is clear to me that older workers (over 40, and especially women) are less likely to receive interview offers than younger ones.
It’s even difficult to get an interview
A study by the Women and Public Policy Program from the Harvard Kennedy School showed that older women were less likely than younger women to be offered interviews for entry level positions, despite having resumes with matched characteristics.
I have many female friends in their 40s that would like to change jobs. But they find it very hard to get job interviews despite having great professional experience and being amazing at what they do. They are brilliant Economists, PR professionals, Marketeers, Biologists … After years of trying, they have realised that putting their date of birth on their CV closes doors for them. In summary: being transparent about your age when you are over 40 and looking to advance in your career is not a good idea.
The outrageous age trap
This situation outrages me. While I must confess that I haven’t had much trouble changing jobs, I know many excellent professionals who fail to win interviews because of their age. Or, if they get a job interview, they are asked their age. If they refuse to answer, they won’t get the job. And if they answer, there is a strong possibility that they won’t get the job either. It is a terribly unfair situation.
Teresa Bau.
Aging. Women’s Empowerment.
