Defy Age Stereotyping: Be Aware of The Pitfalls and Keep Yourself Viable

By Deborah Prussel of AdvancingWomen.com

Age bias exists, and it can be so subtle that you will never no why the job for which you knew you were qualified was never offered. A mature woman with two degrees and impeccable references decided to change careers. Almost every interviewer has questioned her ability to do the job because she "lacks experience". Is this age discrimination?

This is a good news, bad news story but one that will be changing dramatically over the next several years. The bad news is that age discrimination and bias in hiring is a reality. Ida Castro, chair of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission which enforces U.S. civil rights in the workplace, says that anecdotal evidence suggests that age discrimination for women begins at age 34. Meg Ryan is over the hill.

The good news is that this year there will be 76 million Baby Boomers over the age of 50. This is the most self-focused generation yet for which, as the Meryl Streep character says in Postcards from the Edge, "Instant gratification takes too long." According to Betty Levin of AARP, the baby boomers will change everything; age will be beautiful. This belief is echoed by Eunice Azzani, Managing Director and Partner of Korn/Ferry International in San Francisco. "The baby boomers will reinvent ageism." As more women such as Carly Fiorina, Janet Reno and Madeliene Albright assume key leadership positions, the path will be smoother for those who follow.

Knowing that age bias exists, there are some very practical things that can be done to combat it during the job search. For starters, make certain that on everything where your name, address, phone and fax are listed from stationary to business cards, there is an e-mail address.

Your resume must create the impression that you are computer savvy, even if you are not a techie; list your e-mail address, website, computer classes or training and anything else remotely connected. Do not put down the dates you received your degree. Unless it is relevant to the job for which you are applying, drop the first ten years of employment. Ten years of teaching before twenty years of sales if only relevant if you are going back to teaching. Many career counselors advise listing only the last ten to fifteen years of employment, emphasizing the accomplishments.

Azzani advises downplaying the use of resumes and feels they sometimes do not work for women. "Resumes tell what we have done, not who we are." Azzani and other women over 40 interviewed for this article who have gone through the job search advise creating a good one to two page biography to tell the story of who you are and what you can do. Stress experience, skills, reliability and a willingness to learn. Some job seekers will only send the biography and even at the interview will not give the interviewer a formal resume until they leave. The "direct mail campaign" as Azzani calls the response to job ads, is not the most productive means to find a job. The real opportunities are in the organizations where the job seeker knows someone. Networking, again, counts.

Update the hairstyle and make-up. Big hair, unless it is naturally curly went out years ago; spiked, purple hair, however, is a bit too extreme. Take a cold, hard look in the mirror. Talk to a friend you trust or your daughter. Find a good hairdresser and if necessary, eliminate the gray. Gray hair for men is distinguishing. Unfortunately for women it is considered aging. Try some free make-overs at the department stores, taking notes if necessary.

Have a ruthless friend look at your wardrobe. Good basics never go out of style, but check the hem lengths. Look at accessories, especially shoes. Styles change more often. If in doubt, go shopping. Consider this research to see if what is in the closet remotely resembles what is in the stores. If most of the wardrobe would sell like gangbusters in a vintage clothing store, it is time to buy one good suit with shoes and purse to match for all those interviews. No one but you will know you are wearing the same outfit to each one.

If you are not in good shape, start a program to get there. Walking every day is simple and inexpensive. As mother always said, "Stand up straight, chest out, stomach in" or was that the PE teacher. It is good advice. Women who work out on a regular basis exude more energy and tend to look younger, even if there are some excess pounds you would like to shed.

Research companies to find which ones have good reputations for women and people of color. They will also tend to value experience as well. Charles Schwab, Deloitte and Touche and Hewlett Packard have excellent reputations. If you know women over 40 at various companies, talk to them and get the real picture of how their company handles employees over the age of 40.

Age bias exists, and it can be so subtle that you will never no why the job for which you knew you were qualified was never offered. A woman interviewed for the article decided to change careers from real estate sales to non-profit fundraising which she had done on a volunteer basis for almost ten years. She has two degrees and impeccable references; she is also fifty-four but looks ten years younger. Almost every interviewer has questioned her ability to do the job because she "lacks experience". Is this age discrimination?

Congress enacted the Age Discrimination in Employment Act in 1967 and many states have passed their own with even more stringent standards. The act forbids age discrimination by companies with twenty or more employees. Age discrimination is prevalent and reflective of the bias and attitudes in this country about anyone over 40, some of which is an unconscious prejudice and in reality are not true. Azzani is optimistic that this will soon change as the baby boomers, with their vast numbers, continue to age.

If you believe you have experienced age discrimination or would like to know more about it, contact the nearest office of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or log-on at www.eeoc.gov.

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