More than 40 years after the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 made age discrimination in employment illegal, age discrimination in job postings is still an unfortunate reality.
“Everyone is looking to some degree for that idealized, young, energetic person who will take the company to the next level, whatever that means,” says Toby Haberkorn, author and Senior Recruiter at Ayecer Group. “Maybe we can go beyond that stereotype or that idealized candidate. For older workers, it’s hard.”
How Job Postings Can Discriminate
Employment ads are often the first introduction a job seeker will have to a potential employer. Companies that engage in age discrimination in job postings risk excluding workers. Ageist phrases like “digital native” are among those that are very common.