Age Discrimination Still a Big Problem in America

Age discrimination is alive and well in America. Although ageism in employment is illegal, it’s seen over and over among people over the age of 50 or even 40.

According to the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA), it’s illegal to discriminate against people age 40 and over.

But …

That hasn’t stopped employers from discriminating against employees and potential employees over the age of 50.

Age discrimination is a huge problem for older workers looking for employment. Getting an interview is almost non-existent and promises from recruiters never pan out.

Are you Protected from Age Discrimination?

Although age discrimination is illegal, proving it is another story altogether. It affects a huge population of older workers with college degrees and years of impressive experience in their field.

Here you have a population of workers who can’t get a job, are passed over for promotions or are forced out of a job all due to ageism.

According to AARP, age discrimination in the workplace is more common than you think:

Job applicants over the age of 50 have been turned down for a job because of their age.
Workers are passed up for promotions or unable to advance their careers.
2 out of 3 have seen age discrimination in action in the workplace.

In recent years, we have seen a pattern of hiring younger workers and creating a corporate culture that excludes an older generation.

According to Business Insider, the median age for tech employees is about 30 years old. You can see this chart of various tech companies and their median ages.

The problem with all this is you can’t really prove age discrimination. Last year, the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission (EEOC) received 20,857 charges of age discrimination.

Things People Do to Overcome Age Discrimination in Job Hunting

The worst cases of workplace ageism are found in the job search. Let’s face it, if you are over age 50 or 60 and a 28 year old manager interviews you, do you think you’ll be hired?

I’ll let you stew on that for awhile.

I’ve talked to many people over age 50 who are ready and willing to work, have college degrees and impressive experience, but no one would hire them. These people use all types of tactics as they apply for jobs to no avail.

They meet with recruiters who eventually ghost them because employers are looking for people with “less” experience.
They omit work history or years of services.
They omit college graduation year.

The list goes on.

Getting an interview is the impossible dream. You know this to be true if you already sent out hundreds of resumes in hopes that someone would recognize your vast experience and at least set up an interview.

I have friends who were let go due to age but couldn’t prove it.
I know people who applied for up to 500 jobs without a result.
I know people who rework their resume over and over and over and over.

None of that will work because there is NO solution to ageism in the workplace. It’s nearly impossible to prove unless someone tells you to your face that you are too old!

Should you Age Proof your Resume?

There are plenty of articles on how to age proof your resume and LinkIn profile. You’ll see the typical advice like removing college graduation dates, replacing “old-style” fonts or hiding the fact that you have 30 years experience in your field.

It’s up to you if you want to age proof your resume and pretend that you really are not over 50. If you do get that elusive interview, surely the interviewer will see that you aren’t 30.

My thoughts on the matter are:

This is me.
I have a college degree.
I have many years of experience.
I would be a great asset to any team.
I won’t pretend that I am part of the younger generation.
If employers don’t hire me due to being over 50, it’s their loss.

So … what about you?

With today’s employers wanting everyone to fit in with the younger corporate culture, what are older workers to do?

Start your own business!

Why Start your Own Business?

Most people in their 50’s and 60’s still need to make a living. Yes, they need to make money, but how?

Take matters into your own hands. Forget employers who will never give you a fair chance. Starting your own business can be the solution you are looking for.

I started a business several years ago and am so glad I did!

What if you could start a business for an incredibly low cost, get tons of training and education and start making money?

Let me introduce you to HempWorx. Here’s one reason why this is the perfect time to jump into a CBD Oil business.

According to Forbes, “… a Cannabis Market that Could Grow 700% By 2020.”

You can:

Build your business from home.
Make your own hours.
Start with a low cost.
Be part of a team that supports and encourages you every step of the way (no matter how old you are!)

All I know is that age discrimination in the workplace is hard to prove, especially if you can’t even get an interview!

Age discrimination is a persistent problem that is NOT going away anytime soon. In fact, it’s getting worse. The only solution is to keep searching for that elusive job or start a business.

Hey, if employers don’t want your impressive skills, use them to your own advantage!

Take matters into your own hands and experience a world where there is NO age discrimination!

Check out what HempWorx has to offer. Imagine how your life can change in the next year by partnering with one of the top CBD Oil companies in the country!