Know Your Rights In Age Discrimination Employment Circumstances
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) reports that in it received nearly 25
,000 age-discrimination complaints, 29 percent more than those the year before. Discrimination based on a job seeker's age seems to be on the rise in the current economic climate.
Exactly what constitutes age discrimination, and how can you prove you're a target? A recent ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court placed the burden of proof on the plaintiff to prove that he suffered a wrongful termination or denial of employment based on his age. That's rarely an easy task, and the best method for dealing with age discrimination in employment is to prevent it from arising in the first place.
There are a few ways job seekers can make themselves less obvious targets for age discrimination. First, avoid revealing your age either directly or indirectly on your resume by including dates for education or experience older than about 15 years. Second, some interview questions can reveal a candidate's age despite laws making it inappropriate to ask for this information. Know how to answer those questions tactfully without giving ground.
Resume Advice for Avoiding Discrimination
Even when resumes do not include a candidate's age, plenty of information can offer clues. If you know where resume screeners look for those hints, you can neutralize them.
Placing a graduation date on a degree in your education section may advertise your age. Listing degrees and schools without the graduation date is the safe bet, and it won't raise any flags with resume screeners.
There are a few different ways to handle age-related data on resumes. One recommendation is only to list the most recent, relevant work experience rather than an entire career. The rule of thumb: List 15 years' worth of experience for a managerial position, 10 years for a technical opening and five years for high-tech or emerging industries.
Another option: Instead of employing a chronological resume, try using a functional resume. The difference is that instead of listing every position held in reverse-chronological order, experience is categorized into skills learned and tasks accomplished. This eliminates dating completely while still providing the chance to put forth all of a candidate's strengths.
During the Interview
Even one your resume passes muster with a prospective employer, there may still be age-related pitfalls lurking during a job interview.
Now, that is not to say that every employer is trying to pry information out of candidates. In some cases, interviewers are not aware of which questions are off limits or that a particular question could be construed as an attempt to glean information outside the realm of employment laws.
Whatever the circumstances, handling such questions with grace is paramount to securing the position. For example, when asked for a graduation date, instead offer an account of skills developed through extracurricular or campus activities and classes. You'll remain gracious while selling yourself, and you'll signal awareness of age issues to the interviewer. Most importantly, be aware of questions that could lead you to reveal your age, and don't offer more than the interviewer requests.
Following the best interview and resume advice won't stop age discrimination, but it can redirect the conversation and neutralize the issue.
by: Matthew Rothenberg
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