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.

They felt other candidates were stronger than you. Take it on the chin. I'm sorry to be blunt but you seem to have assumed you were far better than everyone else without knowing who they were.

We ask for ethnicity, sexuality and religion (and possibly other things - it's been a long time since I saw the form as an applicant) which are dealt with by HR and not seen by the panel. This is for our internal monitoring of who is applying, and represents our efforts to ensure that we are reaching/attracting a diverse range of candidates. This is common in the public sector. It's not part of the application itself.

The thing is was it on the application? We dont even get names on the applications let alone that data. HR holds it only. Its for their reference only to check the job role is reaching a diverse range of people and if not, why not.

Ask for more constructive feedback if you want op but they dont have to give it to you. If it was competency based maybe scruitinise it again to see if you do actually cite experience and tie it to the competencies. Or if you have a friend who works with the framework ask them to look.

I've been unemployed and actively searching for work since I graduated last summer so I have NO postgrad experience. My field is also relatively niche and in the public sector and just waiting for someone to pick me over a candidate with more experience - it's all I can hope for.

I can't help but wonder if it's a personality issue that has put them off considering you

This is a public-sector job paid for by taxpayers's money. Each application must be assessed according to a rigid marking scheme based on what was in the job advertisement as they are duty bound to select the best candidates for interviews. Petty personality issues cannot even come into the selection of candidates for interview.

taxpayers'

Given it seems you thought the job was yours and are now spitting your dummy out that they dared choose somebody else, it sounds like that attitude is known hence their choice to not invite you to interview.

Maybe they’re heading in a new direction with the role, those that have been doing it for a long time never like change. Maybe the new graduates will be doing it a more inavoative way, and you’re stuck in your ways?

Sounds like the place dodged a bullet imo. You sound like you're blowing your own trumpet a bit too loud, you know nothing about who or how the the other applicants applied, you know nothing about the way that workplace wants to go with their new hires, and so have jumped straight onto an unfoudned and tenuous (at best) discrimination angle, instead of accepting it like an adult who hasn't got their own way.

abilockhart definitely so. Plus whats the point in doing the very stressful and busy task of sifting through loads of competency forms if you go on gut instinct?