To think this is discrimination and want to do something?

[Cowardlycustard2]

So angry about this. I recently spent a long time on a job application, to be informed that I hadn’t been selected for interview. Can’t give too much detail as will out myself, but work in a very specialist professional area and locally there are very few of us so tend to know on grapevine what’s happening etc. I am very experienced and highly qualified in my role and matched all job spec criteria well. Have found out that a couple of people being interviewed are new graduates so don’t have experience etc. It is not a role where it would cost them any more to hire an older or experienced person it’s a fixed starting salary by the way. The application process states that age and ethnic background need to be given but “will not be used as part of selection process”. However I think my age has been used to rule me out of an interview particularly as the hiring manager knows me due to being part of a local small professional community. I am so angry but also feel that I must challenge this somehow but haven’t got a clue how to do this. I know anti age discrimination legislation exists but have never heard of anyone successfully challenging an employer on this basis in a situation like this. Grateful for any advice. Thanks.

If it's public sector can you make a Freedom of Information enquiry?

There is no evidence that you have been discriminated against because of your age other than your gut feeling.

I’m sorry this isn’t what you want to hear but you wouldn’t win an appeal with this evidence anyway.

If it was discrimination, would you really want to work there?

The only way you could get evidence, I think, would be if you sent in another application with a younger age under a different name, and you are selected, but I'm guessing the deadline has passed? There was a case where someone proved race discrimination using this method.

So basically there isn’t any way that they could be challenged on age discrimination? What’s the point of having the legislation then?

They could be challenged if you had evidence. A letter from them saying you are too old, for example. The legislation is there to prevent illegal discrimination, not to guarantee that older people get an interview at the expense of younger people. That would be ageism!

Have you asked about the quality of your application, rather than the quality of the other candidates?

Love, the part asking for age and ethnic background was part of main form but stated would not be used in process.

Or maybe the fact that you think the only possible reason you didn't get this job could be your age might suggest you came across as a little... hard to manage? Unlike a new graduate with less experience?

Sometimes it just comes down to how a team fits together.

I definitely would never want to work there now but would like to do something to rattle their cage. Raise a complaint and piss them off! They have form for this by the way and almost never hire people over 40.

Afaik they can only ask for age on an application form if the job requires you to be a certain age to legally perform it. Otherwise it has to be on a separate form and not given to the hiring manager/whoever shortlists and should only be used for diversity monitoring/reporting.

Cowardlycustard2 If it's public sector, then I believe that's just a standard form used to gather stats on whose applying, ironically to check whether there is any bias in applicants based on age, ethnicity etc!

In some cases we've specifically gone with people from outside the company because we want a new view & outlook on how we're doing things.

Sometimes you don't know what you don't know until you get someone in from outside.

You didn't get the job so you want to rattle their cages.

Good luck OP because I can guarantee they will just roll their eyes at you because it takes a lot to rattle employers cages.

You have zero evidence it was age based. If it was they would have given you an interview to appease you. They take account of everything and if they know who you are then more than likely they didn't think you would be a good fit for the team. Perhaps they wanted someone fresh out of grad so there are no bad habits.

They have form for this by the way and almost never hire people over 40.

Bit of a drip feed there.

Raise a complaint and piss them off!

If it’s anything like my public sector job, pissing people off just comes back to bite you. Managers, supervisors, etc... talk to each other.

Perhaps you have a professional reputation as being 'difficult' ? I'm just throwing it out there, not making an accusation.

O/T I'm currently organising interviews for a role; the same woman keeps applying, she ticks all the boxes but she is a known within the profession to be difficult and divisive. Corroborated by an interview, where she was indeed aggressive, not at all personable and frankly has a difficult personality. She will eventually play the 'protected characteristic' card, despite all other interviewees/appointees being of the same protected characteristic.

They are a public sector institution by the way.

Ah well that explains it. From my experience public sector like the following candidates

Those with no experience or qualifications relevant to the job
Those who are related to anyone in management
Those who are incompetent and lazy
Those who are about to get fired or disciplined in another role- these ones they like to promote

Hey Cowardlycustard2, sorry to hear you were not shortlisted for interview - it's so frustrating when you feel there was no reason you shouldn't have been. If you know you meet all the criteria can you not just drop them a line to ask why? Be nice about it and say you appreciate they probably only usually give feedback to interviewees but you are keen to know why you didn't make it to the next stage.

Is it the type of role someone could be doing as a temp already?
DH only told me last week that in his team the panel fudged the scores so they could hire someone who had being doing the job as a temp as they know him already and know he can do it/they like him. He didn't do well in the interview at all (nerves) compared to others, but it seems like they were set on hiring him permanently whatever his interview performance.

I got a job years ago when I was a recent graduate - there were 2 available and both slots were filled with me (age 21) and another graduate (age 22). I couldn't believe it as I remember coming out of my interview and seeing the next candidate waiting to go in - mid-30s, so well dressed with a portfolio under her arm with all her training certs in it. I ended up being really good friends with my boss and she said she always hires graduates where possible as finds them 'easier to mould' - she said she had issues in the past (she was only 30 herself at the time but in a v.senior position) when hiring more experienced candidates that they had an air of 'knowing better' / 'doing things their own way' and not being overly keen on being line managed but someone younger. I guess that is ageist to an extent, but if the candidate can demonstrate what's necessary for a job then they get it.

I actually think age discrimination is rampant, but it's very difficult to prove. Sorry, OP.

yantan

Wrong thread.

oops wrong thread! how did that happen?

@BeingATwatItsABingThing yeah sorry. I swear it somehow swapped threads while I was typing?

yantan

Mine sometimes posts before I’m done even though my finger is no where near the post button. Or types completely different words to what I wanted to type. My phone just hates me sometimes.

You are upset. You didn't get a job you wanted. Someone else did. You want to blame someone. Unless you have evidence that you have been discriminated against because of your age, this is all conjecture. Move on.

Thanks for the replies. It’s good to get some different perspectives on it all. As I said it’s a small niche area that I am qualified in so we do know one another to an extent. As far as having a “reputation” I do have one and as far as I was aware it was a very good reputation. I have frequently mentored colleagues, been approached for advice and won awards for my work. I am very easy going and not at all difficult. I have worked so hard in my field and believe passionately in what I do. This whole thing has made me really doubt myself and us very upsetting. Maybe it’s best to just let it go?

If you know you meet all the criteria can you not just drop them a line to ask why? Be nice about it and say you appreciate they probably only usually give feedback to interviewees but you are keen to know why you didn't make it to the next stage.

The OP has done this, but appears a bit dismissive of the feedback received.

I asked for feedback and was given some vague waffle about them having to prioritise “stronger candidates” basically meaningless