Can interviewers ask your age

However, it might just be a case of an inexperienced or untrained interviewer and not indicative of a potentially toxic work culture. Mentioning your facility with the latest technology tools in your field can help. Sharing youth-oriented activities like hiking, skiing, running, and weight lifting can demonstrate your energy level and physical stamina.

If you have worked extensive hours in your recent jobs and are willing to do so in your target job, you can reference your work ethic. Presenting information about a perfect attendance record can allay any concerns about health issues. You can also emphasize the skills and abilities you have that make you a strong candidate for the job. Review your documents carefully and incorporate reference to professional development and technical skills whenever feasible.

Stay in touch with trends in your field and incorporate resume and cover letter statements that reflect accomplishments related to those trends. Employers may not see the need to ask about your age if they are assured that you are current in your field.

It's also a good idea to prepare to respond to questions about your age , just in case they come up. Age is not the only subject that is illegal for an interviewer to address. Other topics include race, sex, disability, religion, and national origin, among others. If you are asked a question about one of these topics in an interview, there are multiple ways you can respond:.

Learning how to answer illegal or inappropriate interview questions can help you maintain your composure during a conversation with a less-than-skilled interviewer. If an interviewer seems preoccupied with your age and you believe that discrimination may have limited your access to a job, you may want to contact U.

There Are Legitimate Reasons to Ask for Date of Birth on an Application: These include verifying that a worker is old enough for a certain job and to provide information for a background check. It Pays to Prepare to Handle Uncomfortable or Inappropriate Interview Questions: Even if you later decide not to pursue the position, being prepared will help you make the choice on your terms. Inquiries about religious beliefs are a sensitive issue. An interviewer might be curious to know, for scheduling reasons, whether an employee might need any religious holidays off, or if the candidate will be unavailable to work on weekends because of religious obligations.

It is illegal to intentionally discriminate against an employee or harass them based on their religious beliefs. Employers are required to accommodate an employee's religious beliefs or practices with regard to dress and grooming or flexible scheduling.

There is no situation in which questions about an employee's race or skin color should be used to determine their eligibility for a job. This protection is granted under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of , which prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Employers are permitted to ask an employee to reveal their race voluntarily for affirmative action purposes.

Questions about family status tend to affect women the most, but they can also pertain to men in certain situations. Employers might have concerns about an employee taking time off work for pregnancy leave or not having child care arrangements during work hours. The Pregnancy Discrimination Act of PDA states that an employer cannot refuse to hire a pregnant woman because of her pregnancy, because of a pregnancy-related condition, or because of the prejudices of co-workers, clients, or customers.

It is, however, lawful for employers to allay any concerns they might have about an employee's availability or commitment to a position by asking about long-term career goals or the ability of an employee to work overtime and travel. It is important to know your rights as an employee. Unlawful questions are not acceptable on applications, during interviews, or in the workplace. Although improper questions by employers might be simple mistakes, they could also be intentional cases of discrimination that should be reported.

It can be tricky when they come up in an interview. Try neutrally pointing out that you're not required to answer or ask how the question is directly related to the job. Then redirect the conversation. If the interviewer persists, you may ultimately decide you're better off pursuing a job at a different company. Equal Opportunity Commission. What can't I ask when hiring? Equal Employement Opportunity Commission. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. S Department of Labor. The U. Are You Over 18 Years of Age?

United States Congress. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Yale University Office of Career Strategy.

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Stay up to date with what you want to know. Loading Something is loading. Email address. You may choose to not always pursue or enforce these rights, but you should know what is, and is not permissible.

Be Clear on Your Objectives Examine your personal and work life, and inventory your knowledge, skills, capabilities and achievements. Get some career advice and select the occupation or profession in which you are most apt to prosper. Consider what you most enjoy doing. Identify specific employers and know just the type job you want.

Get it all down in a clear and concise resume. Your clarity and confidence of purpose will come through to employers. Be At Your Best This may sound a little silly, but look and be at your best. Splurge on a new interview outfit even if that year old suit still fits ; be well groomed; maintain your personal fitness to the highest possible level; make sure health and medical conditions are under control; be well rested; research the employer and display your knowledge; be confident and poised; practice for interviews with a friend or professional; and finally, put all concerns about your age and the threat of age bias out of your mind.

Incidentally, don't let up if you're already employed - do your job as well as you can. Be a Continuous Learner Whether you are a candidate or employee, always be growing and learning. This is particularly important for your computer skills and knowledge.

Ability to use a computer, use email, perform internet research, and handle basic applications such as word processing are not optional anymore. Inability to make even basic use of a computer is a cause for rejection in all but a handful of jobs - many of which you wouldn't want.

Buy a computer, set up an internet account, and take lessons. While you're at it, arrange for a mobile phone. PC skills and a cell phone are powerful ways to show you are "tech savvy" and not a dinosaur. Look and Work in the Right Places Many industries and employers are aware of the value of older workers.

Search them out and apply for work.