Is Age Discrimination a Reality or Just an Unfounded Fear?
By: J.C. Freund, JobResourceCenter.com
If you are looking for work or considering changing careers but afraid your age will affect your chances of being hired, you are not alone. Most people over 40 share your concerns. So is age discrimination alive and well or just a figment of our imaginations?
Does Age Based Discrimination Exist in Today's Workplace?
If you speak to many of the older unemployed or under employed workers today, you will find that the majority truly believe that their age is a factor in not getting a job in these tough economic times. Is this reality and is age discrimination common in the workplace? We will attempt to answer this question and more importantly, give you some guidance if you feel you are being targeted.
How to Deal With Age Discrimination
• Unfortunately discrimination is reality – People have all types of bias, some subtle and some not. If you have not noticed, there are certain employees favored in the workplace for reasons other than their performance. We all tend to make snap judgments, sometimes based on biased information. We also tend to categorize situations and people so we can deal with them easier. All of these traits are a form of discrimination whether we want to admit it or not. So if discrimination is reality how can you overcome it?
• Knowledge is power so use it to your advantage: Let's face it, very few people get things handed to them. We all must learn to deal with our daily challenges and overcome them. Although age discrimination seems very unfair, it just is not important. If you feel you are a victim, it is up to you to overcome it. If you are not achieving your goals, what can you change to be successful? You obviously cannot change your age so the message is, you should not use age discrimination as an excuse for not getting a job or not achieving your goals.
• Stand up, fight, and win: The key is to determine how you can achieve your goals regardless of age discrimination, perceived or not. If you remain being a victim you will never get past it and never even try to win. Therefore, the best approach is to start performing at the top of your game. This is one of your best defenses. If you start solving tough issues and are perceived as a leader, your age will no longer be a factor.
• Focus on things you can control: You can do nothing about your age so stop focusing on it. Instead, focus on the things you can control like your attitude and your skills.
• Focus on your strengths: Have you ever noticed that some people seem to focus on their weaknesses. If you are one of them you need to do an about face and stop worrying about how old you are and start developing your strengths. Is there something that you can really do well? Focus on it and start developing it. When you do, you will be in charge and will start getting what you deserve!
When you implement these changes in your life, you will be better able to stress your achievements and skills instead of your years of experience in job interviews. When perspective employers question whether you are over qualified for a position, you should be enthusiastic and not seem as if you applied out of desperation.
Hiring managers are responsible to hire the best qualified and will hire those they believe will be long-term employees. If they feel you will only stay until something better comes along, they simply will not feel you are a viable candidate. When pressed for a reason they may simply say you are over qualified. You may feel you are a victim of age discrimination when in reality you have not proven to them that you would be an asset to their company.
Therefore, the bottom line is, forget about your age, focus on your strengths, and focus on things you can control!
Copyright 2010, JobResourceCenter.com
Tags: Apply for Jobs, career development, career tips, job interview tips, job search tips, salary negotiation
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