Age Discrimination - Is it Real Or is it Simply an Easy Excuse? Part 1
Because of Social Networking I have had the opportunity to communicate with some of my former classmates, who are now in their late 50s and I have to tell you it is getting old very quick.
Their rationalizing unemployment and their lack of job offers on their age is simply a lazy excuse.
Has your lack of skills and education finally caught up with you? One of the individuals had the audacity to say she was not receiving job offers because of her age; she then proceeds to acknowledge that she has not furthered her education since high school and that she is being overlooked because she does not possess the necessary skills.
I ask you is that age discrimination? My answer is a resounding no! She is not losing based upon age, granted it may not work in her favor, but the reality is that she failed to improve the skills she has to offer and if you are not moving ahead; you are falling behind.
The under 25 crowd claims age discrimination The truth is we hear age discrimination charges from many perspectives.
The young person, just out of high school, does not get a job and claims that it is because of age.
While that may be part of the problem; I am guessing that the lack of the necessary skills is a bigger problem.
Sometimes employers have the time and ability to provide the necessary training, but even then there is a base skill set that must be met.
I see resumes and communications from young people all the time that look like they are texting rather than completing an application or resume.
The spelling, grammar, and word usage is atrocious and they think that is perfectly okay.
Maybe when you are instant messaging or texting a friend, but it has no place in a document that is supposed to be your professional self presentation.
From age 40 on there are claims of age discrimination The older job seeker can fall back on this excuse as a reason why they do not need to look any further for reasons they are not being hired.
Everyone understands when you say that you were not hired because of your grey hair or that they determined you were over 40, 50, 60, or even 70; it is an excuse that gets the job seeker sympathy and a free pass! Based upon these examples can we draw the conclusion that the only employable ages are 25 to 39? Anything else is too old or too young; if we listen to these people that is a logical conclusion; is it not? Claiming age discrimination or bias is an accepted excuse for not getting a job, but it should not be.
Are there cases of age discrimination? I would be fooling everyone to deny that age discrimination does not exist at all; I just do not believe it is as prevalent as people want us to believe.
Look for my next article where I interview a hiring manager about his experiences with older job seekers.
You will not want to miss his answers.
Their rationalizing unemployment and their lack of job offers on their age is simply a lazy excuse.
Has your lack of skills and education finally caught up with you? One of the individuals had the audacity to say she was not receiving job offers because of her age; she then proceeds to acknowledge that she has not furthered her education since high school and that she is being overlooked because she does not possess the necessary skills.
I ask you is that age discrimination? My answer is a resounding no! She is not losing based upon age, granted it may not work in her favor, but the reality is that she failed to improve the skills she has to offer and if you are not moving ahead; you are falling behind.
The under 25 crowd claims age discrimination The truth is we hear age discrimination charges from many perspectives.
The young person, just out of high school, does not get a job and claims that it is because of age.
While that may be part of the problem; I am guessing that the lack of the necessary skills is a bigger problem.
Sometimes employers have the time and ability to provide the necessary training, but even then there is a base skill set that must be met.
I see resumes and communications from young people all the time that look like they are texting rather than completing an application or resume.
The spelling, grammar, and word usage is atrocious and they think that is perfectly okay.
Maybe when you are instant messaging or texting a friend, but it has no place in a document that is supposed to be your professional self presentation.
From age 40 on there are claims of age discrimination The older job seeker can fall back on this excuse as a reason why they do not need to look any further for reasons they are not being hired.
Everyone understands when you say that you were not hired because of your grey hair or that they determined you were over 40, 50, 60, or even 70; it is an excuse that gets the job seeker sympathy and a free pass! Based upon these examples can we draw the conclusion that the only employable ages are 25 to 39? Anything else is too old or too young; if we listen to these people that is a logical conclusion; is it not? Claiming age discrimination or bias is an accepted excuse for not getting a job, but it should not be.
Are there cases of age discrimination? I would be fooling everyone to deny that age discrimination does not exist at all; I just do not believe it is as prevalent as people want us to believe.
Look for my next article where I interview a hiring manager about his experiences with older job seekers.
You will not want to miss his answers.
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