How to Spot Age Discrimination: 7 Signs of Bias in Hiring

The dreaded “A” word: age! For job seekers over 50, it's important to be cognizant of age discrimination, which can subtly impact the hiring process. Whether you're looking to switch careers or are reentering the workforce after retirement, recognizing potential age biases and knowing how to address them is essential.

How to Spot Age Discrimination: The Warning Signs

What are the signs of age discrimination? Here are a handful of things to watch out for:

1. Biased Language in Job Ads

When assessing job advertisements for potential hiring bias, particularly age discrimination, look out for phrases like “new grad,” “fresh,” “vibrant,” “high-energy,” “tech-savvy,” “digital native,” “work hard, play hard” or “dynamic.” These terms can subtly suggest a preference for younger applicants.

2. Age-Related Questions in Interviews 

If you’re an older candidate, prepare to be asked questions like: "Are you comfortable using new technology?" and "Why are you looking for a new job at this point in your career?" These questions might seem innocent enough, and aren’t technically illegal, but can be used to weed out older candidates.

3. Overemphasis on Your Age

If the interviewer repeatedly comments about your age, that’s a red flag. For example, they may mention that most of their employees are younger than you, ask how you would feel about reporting to someone that isn’t your age, or make assumptions about your availability since you likely don’t have young children at home.

4. Disqualified for Being Overqualified

Labels such as "overqualified" can indirectly comment on a person’s age. This is a common reason why older workers are overlooked for jobs. Employers may not want to hire someone who quickly becomes bored and leaves the company, or they assume an experienced applicant will ask for a high salary (more on that later) or be unwilling to learn new things. A general rule of thumb: If you feel your experience is being dismissed, it probably is.

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5. Overemphasis on “Cultural Fit”

You can often detect if the notion of “cultural fit” is used as a disguise for age bias by observing specific patterns during the interview process. Pay attention if interviewers heavily emphasize workplace culture while showing little interest in your experience and skills. Another clue could be an excessive focus on certain aspects of the company's social environment, such as after-hours activities, which subtly implies a preference for younger employees.

6. Lack of Diversity in the Workplace

When doing your research, take a close look at the organization’s “Meet the Team” pages, social media accounts, and recent news articles. If the company predominantly consists of individuals from a certain age group, it may indicate the presence of age bias in hiring practices.

7. Assumptions About Salary Expectations

Potential employers may unfairly assume that you have high salary expectations based solely on your age – not on your actual financial needs or career objectives. Watch out for this type of age bias during interviews and salary discussions/negotiations.

Remember, age is much less about the number of candles on your cake and more about the experiences you've been shaped by. Employers recognizing this will see the value an experienced hire brings to their organization. If you know the warning signs of age discrimination to look out for, you’ll increase your chances of finding the right fit and avoiding a toxic workplace.

Get even more expert advice with our self-paced iHire Masterclass: Overcoming Ageism in Your Job Search. You’ll learn how to fight age bias at every stage of your search and get more offers.