Already a member?
Welcome to Brazen Careerist!
Emily Ma is using Brazen Careerist to share ideas. Join now to become a member and start networking with Emily Ma and other professionals just like you. Learn more.
Brazen careerist
Where ambitious young professionals connect and grow
Email
Print
This topic can be quite a minefield and a conversation that may need to be looked at from many different angles. In the UK age discrimination has been unlawful in employment, training and education since October 2006. In the recruitment world in the UK there are strict rules in relation to posting job adverts, collecting resumes and obtaining information from candidates that contain data reflecting their age.
Are their similar rules or laws in the USA and other countries? How far has your government gone or governing body to stop ageism in the workplace?
Now what I am looking for here is comments and responses relating to you being honest, this is a blog post for honesty and not just the 'Politically Correct' answers. Here some questions to put some meat on the bone:
Do you really agree with ruling out Ageism in the work place?
What obstacles have you come across in recruitment which relate to an individuals age?
Have you ever been accused of being ageist and what was the outcome?
Have you been in a situation when ageism was against someone because they were too young?
Do you honestly think older people are more wiser and better groomed for the working world?
If a client asks you how old a candidate is, what do you reply, how do you deal with this?
Removing dates of education on a resume is a step too far don't you think? But the dates do give away the persons age!
I am going to sit on the fence on this one, the jury's out for me and I am really undecided. With more candidates and less jobs currently it would be a tough call to choose between a 30 year old Oxford educated individual and a 58 year old person with 35 years worth of commercial experience. Is it fair to discriminate when it comes to age. If you are, lets say over 50, how would you feel up against a 27 year old for the same position?
What are the right answers here?? This is a tough one.... Let's debate.
For more timely, relevant, and engaging articles,
subscribe to Brazen Careerist.
- A New Kind of Business Mover and Shaker
- The Anti-Stalker’s Guide for Converting Online Contact into Real World Collaboration
- How To Find a Writing Partner Who Can Help You Achieve Your Goals and Make More Money
- Why You Might Be Better Off Without a Job After College
- Continuing Education: Extending Learning Beyond Your Campus Years
Comments
07.30.10
-Very interesting topic. I support laws that protect people from being discriminated against because of their age. The truth is that if an employer wants to discriminate, there is little that can prevent them. A good resume can give you an idea of a person's age. A Ph.D. with 30 years of experience will hardly be perceived as a 20 year old. The experience level will always give this away.
That being said, any organization hurts itself when it does not seek the best person for a position. To assume that a particular age group "means" something is just plain stupid. Young does not always mean creative or forward thinking and age seldom means outdated or wisdom. Many people don't have 30 years of experience, they have one year repeated 29 times. On the other hand there are young people who do not even have that.
As an example, I have read articles of late that suggest that with avenues such as social media, companies want young people who will catch on fast and believe that older workers will not keep up. Having a Facebook or MySpace account does not mean that you understand the value and usefulness of social media or how to apply it to a workplace setting. I am 50, have been a university professor and own my own business and believe that my skill set in relation to social media rivals any person half my age. An organization that would ignore this simply because I am not 25 looses, I don't. One of the great advantages of being 50 is that you know stuff and one of the things I know is that not everything is worth my time. Any organization who does not seek the best employees regardless of age is not worth my time.
Got Something To Say?
Got Something To Say?
Not a Member? Brazen Careerist is a career management tool for next-generation professionals. Set up a free account today to comment on this post and start sharing your ideas. Learn more.
Login to view your networks!
 |
|
 |
|
|
