CAREERS NOW 05-31-09

Fighting Today's Age Bias Surge

DEAR JOYCE: My problem is bigger than both of us, but thanks for letting me vent. At 57, although I don't feel old, I've had to wrestle my way through endless submissions of resumes and interminable hours of networking. Some interviews finally materialized. So far, so good.

But wait: The minute interviewers see my gray hair and realize I'm older than they'd anticipated, they paste frozen smiles on their faces and rush through pro forma interviews. Big surprise - I'm not given the time to work my interview magic and I never hear from them again.

I've been job hunting in the professional market since November and am well qualified for the positions I seek. The problem is what I see as the growing preference for younger candidates. Despite laws against it, age discrimination is alive and well in the workplace. To deny it is ... well, denial. (Twenty years ago, I was on the other side of the hiring desk and making some of the age-based selections - I know how many employers think.)

At any rate, I do believe the age bias I've encountered in the last eight months is worse than I can remember. If other over-55 readers are telling you of their similar experiences, would you agree the surge of bias in the job market is due to the shortage of jobs in this banged-up economy? - R.B.

ECONOMIC TROUBLES AND THE SURGE. You nailed it! Although I have not lately been swamped with stories of prejudice from other readers, as jobs melt away, a record number of birthday-related complaints are pouring into the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: Age bias charges jumped 29 percent in 2008 from 2007.

To back up a bit, in case you're a little rusty on the details of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, passed in 1967 and since revised, it's intended to protect American workers age 40 and over from age-based discrimination in hiring and in every other aspect of employment. The ADEA forbids employers that have at least 20 employees from shutting out older workers. (Browse: AARP Age Discrimination Fact Sheet.) In addition, every state has a law prohibiting age discrimination in employment. Most state laws apply to employers with fewer than 20 employees.

HEADED HIGHER? Analysts speculate that complaints filed by laid-off boomers are likely to soar even higher this year. Here's the rationale: As laid-off workers over 55 find themselves searching longer and longer than their younger counterparts to find new employment, they understandably fear financial disaster. With savings emaciated by the stock market decline and the loss of home equity, more boomers are turning to legal action as a way to protect themselves. (Browse: AARP Age Discrimination Claims by Workers Reach Record High.)

No, you're not imagining things when you confront a rush of age bias in your job hunt. So what are the mechanics of leveling the playing field? You know that sometimes, no matter what, you just can't overcome the prejudice of ageophobics, but consider these upgrades to your search:

PRESENT A CONTEMPORARY IMAGE. You say interviewers are turned off by your gray hair. Must interviewers see your gray hair? With the array of grooming products available today, not really. And what about other aspects of your appearance - your dress, your conversation and how energetically you walk and carry yourself? If you belong to a job club, arrange a program allowing members to be evaluated for fitting in with the times. If not, check out contemporary business-related TV programs to glimpse more youthful reflections.

LEARN TO USE YOUNGER TOOLS. Do you know how to create an online resume, tell the differences between personal and professional networking and why it matters, pick the best new Web sites to use for job searching, research companies, position yourself to get found by companies that use social media to source candidates, do video interviews, and otherwise gain an edge in this demanding job market?

Thought not. Here's immediate help: The second edition of "Internet Your Way to a New Job," by Alison Doyle, (Happy About, 2009) has just been published and it includes the latest information on using Twitter, LinkedIn, VisualCV and all the other online resources out there for today's job seeker. Your younger competitors already know how to use these tools.

REVERSE DISCRIMINATION. In case you're wondering about the other end of the spectrum, some states (examples: Minnesota and New Jersey) forbid discrimination against any age demographic, including young workers. But that's a future column.

Email Joyce
Sorry, the volume of mail makes personal replies impossible.