How To Overcome Age Discrimination During The Hiring Process

At this stage of life, you’d think your experience in the workplace would work for you, not against you. Unfortunately, ageism in the workplace is real.

If you’re one of the nearly 80% of older workers who say they’ve seen or experienced age discrimination in employment, you’ll be happy to know a few simple strategies can make a difference.

AARP Foundation has helped more than 500,000 workers over 50 make a game plan for regaining employment, and we can help you, too. Here’s what you need to know.

What is ageism?

Simply put, ageism is how we think, how we feel, and how we act towards others — or even ourselves — based on age. In the workplace, older people may be viewed as out of touch, less productive, or stuck in their ways.

It’s not fair but it happens. Our society’s negative views about aging can affect our ability to land or hold down a job. Examples of ageism in the workplace range from refusing to hire people over a certain age to asking for someone’s age at a job interview when it’s not relevant to the work.

The good news is you can change how people “see” you when job hunting with a few simple strategies.

Develop the right mindset

If you suspect you’re having trouble landing a job because of your age, the first thing you need to do is take a step back. The stereotypes about getting older are such a part of our culture that it’s only natural to believe they may apply to you. For example, if you think older people don’t know how to use technology as well as younger people, that’s ageism.

No matter what kind of job you have, you’ll be using some sort of technology these days, and anyone can learn the digital skills required to do so. Not to mention, everyone — not just Gen X and Boomers — has to stay up to speed on the ever-changing technology used for work.

When you make a point of focusing on how you are continuing to learn, you’ll have what’s called a growth mindset — something employers value. This also protects you from falling into the “I’m too old for this” way of thinking that could come across during job interviews. Remember, you’ve got this.

Put yourself in the interviewer’s shoes

Because age discrimination is so common, AARP Foundation experts recommend you prepare to face it head on.

For starters, make sure your resume uses an up-to-date format and tone. Many of the rules you learned when you first put together a resume, like listing a career objective, using a font with serifs like Times New Roman, and putting your resume in chronological order, no longer apply. In fact, an antiquated resume is a red flag to employers. (Don’t worry. Here’s how to update your resume to avoid ageism).

Practicing what to say during a job interview is also critical. Be direct about what kinds of software you know how to use. (And list them as skills on your resume.)

It’s against the law for employers or hiring managers to ask how old you are. But most will still ask questions designed to learn how your age may affect your abilities on the job.

Here’s how you can handle these kinds of questions:

We rely on state-of-the-art tech. Will you be able to keep up?

Tell them how you’ve worked to keep your skills fresh and ask them a follow-up question. Say something like: “I’m very comfortable using new technology. What specific platforms are you asking about?”

Will this position be challenging enough for you?

This is another way of asking if you’re overqualified. Emphasize your commitment to the role itself. Say something like: “I enjoy doing something well, whatever the job, and I see many challenges in this role. I’m also at the stage where mentoring and learning from others is really important to me, which I can see myself doing here.”

A lot of our employees are fresh out of school. Is that a concern for you?

Share how you’re looking forward to being part of a diverse team. Say something like: “Not at all. I know teams with people of different ages, cultures, and genders perform better, and I enjoy being part of a high-performing team.”

As a general rule during interviews, you’ll want to focus on your recent accomplishments and current skills while selling yourself for the role.

AARP Foundation is here to help older workers looking for a new job build skills for today’s job market. Get more helpful tips for landing a job after 50.