AGE DISCRIMINATION - How does it affect you?
By recycledgoth
@recycledgoth (9894)
January 25, 2007 7:14am CST
I am a 55 year old female in the UK. Most of my working life I have been employed, usually in secretarial roles and professional offices. I left work when I became a mum, and picked up again five years ago, going back to work in an office as an audio typist/administrator. I worked until 2005, when a family crisis forced me to leave my job.
For the past 18 months I have been applying for jobs, only to be refused as I am deemed to be too old. I know employers are no longer allowed to discriminate against people because of age, however, there are so many ways to circumvent this. To date one of the best "Thanks but no thanks" letters I received contained this paragraph.
"While your qualifications and experience are very desireable, it is felt that in this instance your qualities would not be compatable with the dynamics of our workplace"
My first though on receiving this was "What a load of !""£$%$%, but more and more often I am finding that my age is held against me when applying for jobs. Employers these days want university graduates for even the most menial office jobs, I don't stand a chance.
Just this morning I have spent a couple of hours applying for office jobs that even a monkey could perform but I feel that there is little point in wasting the cost of a postage stamp to send these applications as I have no hope of competing with younger people anymore.
So I am asking everyone, how does age discrimination affect you?
4 people like this
10 responses
@COLLIS2 (479)
• United States
5 Feb 07
I've found that the only appropriate ages for employers are somewhere between 25-35 apparently. Age discrimination happened to me a lot prior to age 25 since I had relevant experience and a master's degree but looked very young. I've found that employers also discriminate on the basis of appearance very much. I have been told that I don't have the appearance appropriate for the job though I have worn conservative business clothing. Apparently, according to my friends this is due to my being somewhat attractive and what they are looking to hire is a male with strong features. In business, there is a stereotype that an attractive female will be bullied around. Due to my personality, there is no likelihood of that but it is hard to convince an employer to go against their own stereotypes.
@recycledgoth (9894)
•
5 Feb 07
In general I have found that all the vacancies I apply for are asking for good secretarial qualifications, yet it is very obvious that employers are looking for the 21-35 age group. I find it increasingly more frustrating to apply for jobs these days, knowing that my age and looks are held against me even before I actually get through the door for an interview
@xParanoiax (6987)
• United States
3 Feb 07
I have a hard time getting job's because I'm 'too young' as they say. Though I desperately need a job since college is coming up real soon for me..and anyone whose going to college at my age should be over-qualified for every job I apply for -- at least that's my thoughts. But for some reason hardly anyone wants to hire me. Yeah..they're polite about it. They have to be..they don't want me or anyone I know to sue them.
I don't know. Maybe my reputation preceeds me? Or maybe they're just a bunch of agist jerks I don't know.
It happens in conversations too. Alot of adults won't even talk to me because I'm a teenager, simply because -- and I quote, "She's too young, she can't possibly have anything important to say." It happens n my own family too!
@recycledgoth (9894)
•
4 Feb 07
In this day and age, there should be no age discrimination be in older or younger, however I can't see it ever changing. There are too many loopholes to be exploited unfortunately. Like me, all I can say, is keep pushing hun
1 person likes this
@margieanneart (26423)
• United States
2 Mar 07
It's really bad. My hubby is 70, and must work full time. They do not want experience, as they will not pay for it. They want very young people at lower wages.
1 person likes this
@recycledgoth (9894)
•
3 Mar 07
I guess we will never be free of age discrimination really, as the employers will only go for the younger people at a lower wage, while the older ones with all the experience get left to struggle. While I appreciate that the young ones need work too, I just wonder why it is that the experience of age is so devalued.
@draconess (650)
• Canada
24 Feb 07
I have been discriminated against because I was thought to be too young to handle the job. I have a university degree and quite a variety of relevant experience, yet someone 10 years older and less qualified gets the job. Just because I'm young doesn't mean I should be overworked and underpaid compared to my colleagues! It gets very frustrating trying to get started in a new career path.
1 person likes this
@recycledgoth (9894)
•
24 Feb 07
It doesn't make sense does it. I still don't believe that age should make any difference to whether you can or can't do a job.
@anonymili (3138)
•
14 Aug 07
Although you started this discussion 7 months ago, I am not sure what situation you are in now pal but I thought I'd drop in and leave some practical suggestions here, namely agencies that specifically cater for the more mature amongst us :)
http://www.dinosaursunlimited.co.uk/ (not sure I like that name but I doubt they mean to be offensive LOL)
http://www.40plusrecruitment.co.uk/
http://www.fiftyon.co.uk/
http://www.wiseowls.co.uk/
I am 39 and to date haven't experienced age discrimination - I have been involved in recruitment of staff for the last 5 years or more and have always maintained that companies who do not consider mature candidates are doing themselves a disservice because they're losing out on all that experience that mature people bring to the role.
My age actually worked for me in gaining my current job as they were seeking a mature person to work in the team. I work in an office of just men and I guess they thought a young woman in the office might be too distracting for all the guys! As it is, my boss likes the fact that I'm quite assertive and the guys are all slightly scared of me LOL! xx
1 person likes this
@recycledgoth (9894)
•
14 Aug 07
Fantastic, thank you hun. I will get on to them asap. I get so fed up with the "thanks but no thanks" responses from job applications these days
@browneyedgirl (1264)
• United States
3 Mar 07
Age discrimination is, unfortunately, all too common. But age shouldn't matter if you can do the job.
1 person likes this
@recycledgoth (9894)
•
3 Mar 07
No age shouldn't matter if you are capable of doing the job, you are right but unfortunately it is unlikely to change any time soon
@Zebrochka (333)
• Brazil
5 Feb 07
Oh my God!
This makes me feel very unsecure.
Even though I am only 30 y.o., but one day I will turn 55, and then what? I hope, there will be somebody to support me by that time.
Sorry to hear that you are facing such difficulties.
@recycledgoth (9894)
•
5 Feb 07
If it wasn't for my partner, I would be destitute by now. I get no help from the agencies either, they are only concerned with getting names on their books, not actually get me jobs. I hope you never find yourself in this postion, it's awful.
@recycledgoth (9894)
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26 Jan 07
Yes it is unjust, that's my point. This morning I sent off 4 more job applications, what's the betting I won't even get the courtesy of a response to the letters.
@merkava (1225)
• Philippines
6 Feb 07
I'm an employer and I don't have any reason to terminate an employee just because of age limitations. In fact I hire older people from their 50's upwards because of their long line of experience and extensive knowledge in their given field.
What I don't understand in some companies is that the CEO's or any of the people who has the highest position are the ones who are a lot older. In my country I've met CEO's who are in their 60's. What irritates me is that those said CEO's terminate people who are almost the same age if not younger than they are. Why don't they just terminate themselves!? After all, it's company policy, right!?
@recycledgoth (9894)
•
6 Feb 07
It's something I just don't understand. I have many years of experience, am reliable and willing to work. You are right, though, a lot of the CEO's are positively geriatric particularly in their ideas about older employees.
@williamjisir (22819)
• China
14 Aug 07
I haven't yet had such an experience. But in China there are also some age limitation. I hate that because it gives you a feeling that you are getting too old to do the job offered, which in fact is not at all. I am sorry for the case you have experienced. I hope that now you have found your new and favorite job. May good luck follow you all the way, friend.
