How do you get round disclosing your age when you have Olevels?

[BlueBar]

I'm 52 so was practically the last year to do Olevels.

I'm currently looking to change my job and feel my age is probably against me. I'm fit and reasonably well presented, I don't think I come across as "old" when you meet me and a lot of applications don't require DOB, but obviously the Olevels give it away.

I know people will say they're irrelevant now, but I find the "essential" criteria often includes maths and English GCSE or equivalent.

I haven't included pre-degree qualifications on any job application ever. Have you got any kind of HE qualifications? Usually it's understood that you met the earlier requirements in order to achieve that one...

Just put "9 gcse equivalent, including maths and English"

I do have a degree, but I was asked to provide my maths and English certificates when I got this job.

But jobs invariably ask for maths and English GCSE. Some of my exams were trial versions of the GCSEs, but my actual certificates are O'levels.
I'm not sure how to get round it either.

I did think about this but wonder if some people assume "equivalent" means you couldn't pass GCSE?

I wouldn’t put it on CV if you’re worried. They won’t think to ask about it until you get the offer and you can provide certificates then.

I'd barely mention it.

Right at the bottom, I'd put - but only if school-age results are specifically mentioned:
A levels - grades AABC
GCSE/equivalent - 7xA, 4xB including maths and English

or: 4x A levels, 9x GCSE/equivalent including maths and English

Absence of * grades is also a bit of an age giveaway, and it can look as if you achievements were less than they were (grade inflation really does show up if you sat exams in days of bell curve grade boundaries), so probably better to skip the exact grades (you can tell them at interview if they actually care!)

But if it's one of the essential criteria I won't get that tick at shortlisting uf i dont put them down?

I usually put 3 Alevels and 8 Olevels, including Maths and English at grade A ....because my Alevel grades are shocking 😆

I would think 'equivalent ' meant you had studied abroad. I would definitely ask at interview, but it wouldnt put me off your application.
(I am v lucky, I was the 1st year of gcse, so don't have to worry about o levels)

I usually put 3 Alevels and 8 Olevels, including Maths and English at grade A ....because my Alevel grades are shocking 😆

Mine are also shocking, I put the same in the hope I won't be asked to produce certificates and surprisingly I've only ever been asked to produce my HND and maths/English O'levels.

I just call them GCSEs.

If people query this, you can either say, they've been called GCSEs for so long that it didn't occur to you to use the term O levels, or you can say, as agism exists, I have followed career advice to avoid the term O levels as it creates a bias.

GCSEs and O levels are the same thinsg by different names. It;s hardly cheating to use the most recognised terminology for them.

If anyone needs to see the certificates, send them without comment. Let them raise the issue of you daring to be too old to have sat GCSEs.

Yes, I've never been asked to prove the Alevels, but they've never been listed as criteria

If the form asks about A levels and doesn't also offer the option to talk about O levels then I would assume this is the form generator's short sightedness put my O levels down under the A levels heading.

I’m not O level age but I’m pre numbers at GCSE. So I put Degree BA(Hons); A Levels in X, Y and English; AS Mathematics (because I have AS/A levels in English and Maths I specify) and 11 GCSES.

Don't you have to put dates on for when you started/finished previous jobs? I've just filled in an application form for public service role and everything was dates, dates and more dates! And considering I'm late 50s, I had to make half of them up as I certainly couldn't remember what month I started or left a job in the 1990s! I had to put the dates I took my exams as well .

I've yet to come across an application form for any job (CVs are rarely accepted these days) that doesn't ask for school attended and dates attended. If you left school in 1980 it's pretty obvious how old you are! They also always ask for dates of employment (from - to). Very frustrating if you're trying to avoid ageism in the recruitment process. I gave up applying for jobs online and now I'm employed where I used to volunteer, so they knew me and didn't judge me by my date of birth.

I agree with @BuryingAcorns, say you have GCSEs, when they want proof show them O level certs. They will know they're the same thing!

FGS the OP is 52 not 72. And she didn't leave school in 1980, but more like 1990. But they'll notice she's not 'young' if she has an interview. I'd probably just list them as GCSEs on the application form.

But if they do offer the OP a position, are they really going to ask to see school certificates of someone who can produce graduate/post graduate/professional certifications and references covering three decades?

Anyway OP, not all hope is lost, we've just taken someone on our graduate training programme who is around your age. I don't know exactly how old he is but I'd say late 40s or early 50s going by what he looks like - I'm 49 and I'd confidently say he's around my age.

You could put GCE - I'm sure they were called GCE's at the time - they may not notice the "S" missing - but then again they might !!

They are going to be able to work it out from your dates of employment anyway. My degree gives it away too as I was at a Polytechnic so obviously pre-92.

I presume that was a pop at me, as I mentioned 1980.I was talking about myself not the OP. Also, as others have mentioned, application forms always ask for dates of exams and dates of previous employment, so it's not possible to avoid giving one's age away. It's really unfair as ageism is rife in recruitment.

I leave them off my CV and just have my degrees, with no dates, and have only the last 20 years of employment (I'm 53).

I don't come across forms much, but I rarely work in public sector.