FIGHTING FOR CLIENTS RIGHTS THROUGHOUT SOUTH TEXAS FOR OVER 35 YEARS

How hiring managers can commit age discrimination before meeting you

On Behalf of | May 16, 2023 | Employment Law |

Job seekers of a certain age in southern Texas often struggle to get fair consideration from employers. So many people aged 50 and above have stories about job interviews that seem to get cut short when the hiring manager notices the applicant’s gray hair or asks questions obviously related to the applicant’s age.

Age discrimination is a huge problem. And it can start before the job recruiter can even get an idea of how old you are. Fortunately, there are things you do to minimize this insidious prejudice against yourself, at least on your resume. Some ideas include:

  • Pick a new email domain. You might still be using your old email from AOL or Yahoo that you created 20 or 25 years ago. When recruiters see an email from one of these domains on a resume or job application, they often assume the applicant is “too old” to hire.
  • Use a professional address. When setting up your new email for job applications, pick a conservative, professional name. Your name is best (like [email protected]), if available. More jokey or pop culture-related addresses might suggest your age.
  • Focus on the last 10-15 years. The hiring manager probably won’t care about your work history from before that time frame. They are looking for what modern skills and knowledge you have. Discussing your 25-plus years of experience could give a bigoted recruiter an excuse to dismiss your application due to your apparent age.

Things like this can help, but won’t guarantee that you won’t experience age discrimination in the hiring process. If you believe you were denied a job or promotion because of your age, you could be entitled to substantial compensation under Texas and federal law. Proving illegal workplace discrimination is not always simple. An experienced employment attorney can make all the difference.