Comments on: Age Discrimination as a Job Seeker – What Has Been Your Experience?

By: aj

aj — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 00:23:41 +0000

It is not just the more mature people that are discriminated against due to age. I am 29 and recently got told I am too old for a trainee hair stylist position. I sent a letter of complaint to them advising that I intend to take it to tribunal and now, lo and behold, I have got to meet with the manager tomorrow morning to discuss “things”. It was another stylist that answered the phone the other day and told me that at 29 I was too old and that they were looking for someone 16-20.

My worry now is that the manageress has panicked and offered me an interview under the guise of a discussion about things and that they are going to tell me that I am “not right for the company image”, completely blowing any chance of a tribunal hearing.

Time will tell I guess!

By: Kelly Magowan

Kelly Magowan — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:21:42 +0000

Dion you raise a very relevant issue that I did neglect to mention which is that discrimation occurs when you are both considered ‘too old’ or ‘too young’for the job. In terms of your challenge, is this happening when you send applications, or after interviews with employers or recruitment agencies? Please contact me directly should you wish to discuss further on 1300 780 177

By: Dion Fountain

Dion Fountain — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:32:58 +0000

Hi, I want people to realize that this is bigger than what you think. I am 21, I have an impressive resume. Worked only three jobs one of them i worked for three years and rose from associate to assistant manager.

But because I am 21 employers have specifically told me that they are looking for someone older. Because since I’m so young i only want to party, get drunk and show up to work with a hangover.

I have been unable to get another job since Feb 09. This recession isn’t making it any easier on me either. and quite frankly, i’m at a loss for what to do

By: Kelly Magowan

Kelly Magowan — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 03:43:23 +0000

Maria, you raise a most relevant point that I had overlooked – the fact that there is legislation to protect current and prospective employees from discriminatory employers.
In Victoria there is the Victorian Equal Opportunty and Human Rights Commission http://www.humanrightscommission.vic.gov.au/home.asp with each state having something similar.

By: maria stafford

maria stafford — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 03:03:45 +0000

Jean – your treatment sounds dreadful and I admire your dignity in handling it. Did you consider taking any further action,seeking legal advice, or making a compliant? It sure sounds as if it would be worth trying to get some redress.

Maria

By: maria stafford

maria stafford — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 20:58:39 +0000

I am a (mature age!) research assistant working on a new piece of research on behalf of National Seniors Association and the Human Rights commission. We are keen to interview anyone who feels they have experienced age discrimination in employment.If anyone out there is willing to participate, it would be great if you would email me mariastf@googlemail.com

By: Kelly

Kelly — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 02:51:32 +0000

In discussions this week with a ‘mature age worker’ who also experienced age discrimination, and like many ended up successfully and happily self employed it was highlighted to me that age discrimination also leads to job seekers taking the expat route. Those talented 40+ year olds who struggle to secure a decent job in Australia contribute to the brain drain and make up the million or so expats whose maturity and expertise is being so sought after and appreciated by overseas businesses.

By: Jean Harding

Jean Harding — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 10:25:54 +0000

my age discrimination experience was whilst I was employed. I am a 57 year young female, I held a senior management role in a superannuation administration company. I have been in the industry since 1974, have a wealth of knowledge and consideer myself to be a pretty good people manager who runs a fair but tight ship. I was retrenched from my job at the end of April 09.

A year earlier a new manager joined the business, I was one of his direct reports and had been in the role for over 2 years a that point, he is a 35 year old who made it quite evident that I was “too old” he even asked me if I felt old when we were discussing family, we talked about the ages of my children to which he retorted “she is older than me, do you feel old” too which I said “No, experienced”.

My BU was successful, meeting service levels, bonuses and budget. I had improved productivity and was able to attrition roles in my BU as productivity increased.

He recruited his own younger staff, who lacked experience and had an agressive / arrogant manner like him. My whole business unit (about 60 staff) was handed over to one of his recruits who had a very small business unit. I was retrenced on my first day back from a few weeks of sick leave. No opportunities were offered to me despite the business restructure and new management roles being created shortly after I had gone. I had been told he had felt threatened by me, I never wanted his job, I was very passionate about the role I had. I knew much more than him about the business and his ego did not allow for this situation. I never corrected him in or out of public view. I treated him with respect befitting his position. Perhaps this was my downfall!

The whole retrenchment process was handled very poorly by this person, he had no engaging people management style and made me feel more like a criminal! Had it been done more humanely it would have been easier to take.

Throughout my working life I have never experienced such degrading treatment. This was age discrimunation at its worst!

I remain outraged at the narrow minded ignorance of people who lack experience, abuse their position (he is status obsessed), consider experienced people as a threat instead of an opportunity to learn more. This mindset is detrimental to the success of any business.

By: Steve Cramp

Steve Cramp — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 10:08:32 +0000

I am 58 yo and have been actively seeking employment for the last six(6) months. Prior to my unemployment I have held senior positions such as Regional Director for Asia-Pacific for a medical device company, Director of Business Development for Asia-Pacific, Product Management & Sales roles in Australia & New Zealand (this first position mentioned was my last which I held for 10 years).

I have had a couple of instances where age descrimination were the obvious reasons for not getting the job but, as mentioned earlier, companies have excellent and varied reasons (excuses) to cover the fact. The most commonly used reason is “you’re over-qualified for the role”, “although your qualifications exceeded our requirements, more suitable applicants have presented” – what’s that mean….?
The worst proponents are the recruiters who decide, even before you get to the employer, that they don’t think you will fit the criteria and don’t even submit your CV for consideration.
Starting your own business (which I did) is not always the best viable or financial option.

By: Susan Rushworth

Susan Rushworth — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 02:09:22 +0000

Speaking as someone over 40 (and not far off over 50), this article made my blood boil. Not once did it challenge any of the perceived disadvantages of older employees, or present any potential advantages they may have.
For every older employee who thinks their experience means they know it all, I bet there’s an arrogant Gen Y whose lack of experience means they don’t have a clue how much they DON’T know.
The message of this article was if you have family commitments and put them first, if you seek stability (i.e. won’t move cities / countries to get or keep your job), then you’re a liability and you shouldn’t expect employers to take you on.
I accept that there are lots of benefits to energetic, hungry, flexible committed employees (but hey, those qualities don’t automatically come with youth), but there are also lots of benefits to life experience, stability and a softening of ego and those qualities are more likely (though again not automatically) to come with age.
To me, the article was a brilliant argument for the over 40s to start their own business and never be at the mercy of smug employers and recruiters who can’t be bothered to think beyond the rigid box within which they’ve defined their “ideal” candidate.
I’m holding that thought… Watch this space.