Looking for a job in Idaho can be tough for anyone. When you are in a demographic that tends to be discriminated against by employers, periods of unemployment can be even more stressful.
Age discrimination is a hidden problem
We hear a lot about discrimination that is based on race, gender and sexual orientation. However, people tend to talk a lot less about age discrimination. People over a certain age are often discriminated against before they even get a chance to talk to a prospective employer about their qualifications.
Isn’t experience a positive?
Many older job candidates have incredibly impressive resumes. After all, they’ve been around longer and had more time to add experience to their work history. Although you would think a long resume from an experienced worker would impress an employer, it could be the thing that prevents a callback.
Some older workers who have dealt with age discrimination in the workplace have actually gotten used to shortening their resumes. A long resume that is filled with dates gives an employer clues about a person’s age. Although federal employment law does not allow employers to ask about age, certain dates in a resume can give a good indication of age.
Why don’t employers want to hire older workers?
Job candidates in the Boomer generation typically have a lot of work experience, but they get discriminated against for a variety of reasons. For one, younger people who are responsible for hiring could have an intrinsic bias against older generations. Some employers assume that older workers aren’t up-to-speed on new technology, and others fear that older workers will demand higher pay.
Discrimination based on age is illegal
Employers are not allowed to discriminate against a worker because of age at any point in the employment process. If you have been fired and replaced by a younger worker with less experience, you may be able to file a discrimination complaint against your former employer.
