5 Ways to Dodge and Deflect Job Interview and Application Questions about Your
Age
How to answer age-related questions on a job application or in a job interview.
October 26, 2009
By Patty Orsini
Our experts agree: Don't answer a question if you believe the reason it's asked
is to reveal your age. That's easier said than done. Here are five ways to get
around the questions without directly confronting the offending recruiter or
human-resources representative.
·
Re-state the question.
Kathryn Troutman advises that if an HR person asks for your high-school or
college graduation dates, "say, ‘I went to the University of X, and it was a
very successful time for me,' " she said. "‘I was a member of student government
and worked at the campus radio station.' " You don't have to answer that
question with dates, and that shouldn't keep you from being hired."
·
For online applications, give vague dates.
While some online applications cannot be submitted unless all fields are
completed, you might be able to get away with a range of dates, or just list a
decade, such as "1980s." Matthew Arrigale suggested that if the application
still cannot be submitted, it's worth contacting someone in the company's HR
department to let them know you are having trouble submitting an electronic
application and explain the issue. "It's possible they don't know they shouldn't
be asking that question."
·
Express concern with identity theft
if photo ID or social-security numbers are requested. These are not items that
need to be provided until you are hired, said Ellen B. Vance, senior consultant
and advisory services practice leader at Titan Group, an HR consultancy in
Richmond, Va. But if you'd rather not directly confront them with that fact,
saying you'd rather not hand over that information is perfectly acceptable.
·
Provide
work history going back 20 years at most.
Any more, and it can date you, said Troutman. The most relevant work history
will be your most recent, and there is no reason to go back any further.
·
Be aware of questions that could lead you to reveal your age.
"Asking innovative, legally defensible questions is one way human-resources
people can get age-related information," Arrigale said. These questions could be
as innocent as, "Are you over the age of 18?" and, "What are your long-term
career goals?" He advises candidates to stay on their guard and be aware of what
the interviewer is really asking. An interviewer might leave a bit of silence
after you answer; it doesn't mean you need to fill that silence with more
detail. "Don't volunteer anything."
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