Five Ways to Avoid Disclosing Your Age in an Interview

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  1

  Bouchart

  10/30/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Five Ways to Avoid Disclosing Your Age in an Interview

  Now all you have to do is hide your wrinkles. Also, if you are going bald or have gray hair, wear a hat suitable for business or something.

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  2

  almcfarland

  10/31/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Five Ways to Avoid Disclosing Your Age in an Interview

  You'll get better interviewing mileage by determining areas in which you can provide value. If you begin to get warning bells about age discrimination, heed the signs and walk away. You don't want to work there anyway.
  
  http://pivotpointsolutions.net/

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  3

  mphcoach

  11/01/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Five Ways to Avoid Disclosing Your Age in an Interview

  I think it's much more important to sway them that you are the right person.
  
  After all, would you really want to work for an organization that made so much of this issue?
  
  Martin Haworth
  Super Successful Manager!

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  4

  Mmrothenberg

  11/01/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Five Ways to Avoid Disclosing Your Age in an Interview

  Martin: I agree ... But one of the most interesting phenomena we've observed about the age issue is how many of our readers feel they run into trouble not with the hiring manager (who's likely to be around their age) but with front-line HR screeners (who may be much younger).
  
  It's an intriguing dynamic -- and a potentially tricky situation when you're doing an initial interview with someone young enough to be your ... Younger sibling!

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  5

  kpierz

  11/02/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Five Ways to Avoid Disclosing Your Age in an Interview

  Do you think one could deflect this? Would this work or back fire? "...I think what you are really getting at is how many years of experience I have in "x" and "y". I've held senior management positions in "x" for 8 years...."

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  6

  Mmrothenberg

  11/02/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Five Ways to Avoid Disclosing Your Age in an Interview

  kpierz: Yes, that's EXACTLY the sort of interview jiu jitsu we've had recommended. Perfect!

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  7

  M782427

  11/02/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Five Ways to Avoid Disclosing Your Age in an Interview

  Dear Readers:
  
  Be proud of your age! (Very Tongue & Cheek as follows)
  
  1. If you are being interviewed by someone who looks and behaves like your teenage grandchild, you need to leave 'promptly'; however, if you decide to stay this is what you need to do:
  2. When asked about your most memorable event in college, disclose your dread to see the Berlin Wall being erected, when the interviewer's parents were still in diapers.
  3. When asked about your military experience, explain that your position in the military required you to have top secret clearance, since you dealt with tactical nuclear weapons. (Note: By this time, the very youthful interviewer is stunned.)
  4. When asked about your networking ability, bring out your published articles, texts, and books that was in the 8th edition when the interviewer went to college. Also mention that their college instructors were your students.
  5. When asked about your IT ability, bring out your patents and copyrights that gave birth to the computer age.
  6. When asked about your education, bring out your baccalaureate, masters, doctorate, Juris doctorate, and your multiple industrial and professional certifications.
  7. When asked for references, bring out and display your 'Presidential Medal of Freedom' with many, many references from industrial leaders from the USA, Europe, etc., as well as from the US Senate and House of Representatives. Pictures with personal letters from the White House are always good too. But don't forget to mention all the Presidents you were acquaint with since Richard Nixon.
  8. When asked about your hobbies, bring out your picture with Arnold Palmer before Tiger Woods was born.
  9. Finally, when the youthful interviewer has had enough and is absolutely desperate to end the interview, hand him/her a 'lolly pop' and thank them for their time and assure them that they will do much better when they gain more worldly experience.
  
  Moral of the Story: Be proud of your long term experiences, education, abilities, and love of life.
  

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  8

  mphcoach

  11/03/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Five Ways to Avoid Disclosing Your Age in an Interview

  'Mmrothenberg'
  
  You're right, of course, so then we experienced folk need to get wily ;))
  
  Martin Haworth
  Super Successful Manager!

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  ExecSolutionsTr

  11/06/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Five Ways to Avoid Disclosing Your Age in an Interview

  Useful pointers, but does not take away from the fact that the experience you bring on the other side of 40 may not be welcomed even by interviewers in your age group. I recall once receiving feedback from an interviw -where I did not get the job- that I was a 'mature' candidate and may prefer -their view not mine- doing the research rather than contracting others to do the research. If the interviewers are looking for staff on the south of 40, they will choose those and evading the age issue does not make it any more likely you will get the job. My suggestion, be comfortable with who you are, value your experience and avoid accepting a role where you have to pretend you are younger than you are -even if you look half your age.
  

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  ExecSolutionsTr

  11/06/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Five Ways to Avoid Disclosing Your Age in an Interview

  Useful pointers, but does not take away from the fact that the experience you bring on the other side of 40 may not be welcomed even by interviewers in your age group.
  
  I recall once receiving feedback from an interviw -where I did not get the job- that I was a 'mature' candidate and may prefer -their view not mine- doing the research rather than contracting others to do the research.
  
  If the interviewers are looking for staff on the south of 40, they will choose those and evading the age issue does not make it any more likely you will get the job.
  
  My suggestion: Be comfortable with who you are! Value your experience and avoid accepting roles where you have to pretend you are younger than you are -even if you look half your age.