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> How do you individually address an issue where the hiring manager is making a generic decision based on age unrelated to your individual performance (especial

> How do you individually address an issue where the hiring manager is making a generic decision based on age unrelated to your individual performance (especially in hiring where they have no idea how many hours you personally work)? There isn't evidence of this, but even if you believed that were the case, you combat it the same way you would any other weak point of your value proposition. You address it head on in a tactful way that resolves those concerns without having to be asked explicitly. That could include interest and experience in an emerging tool or architecture (combats stereotype that skillset is outdated), casual commentary on the latest Game of Thrones or Silicon Valley season (combats stereotype of bad cultural fit), or a true passion in solving the problems the company sets out to solve (combats stereotype of clock-in clock-out worker). It could also include adjusting your salary expectations more in-line with what your competition is expecting (if necessary). The possibility that ageism is not the only cause cannot be simply ignored.

kurthr 9y ago
But the "legitimate" reason given for ageism was that older people might not be willing to work longer hours. I don't see how you're going to get around that by talking about "Titties and Blood" or the SiVa 4-way masturbation scene. The best way past that sort of hire is to fake the graduation date on your resume', which isn't ethical. Alternately, make the hiring process more ethical. You don't individually address "-isms" by being cool and interested... because the hiring manager isn't cool or interested. The successful ones are using marginally accurate stereotypes to hire people they think will work harder for lower pay. I think they're philosophically related to the ones that outsourced everything because they thought that would help their promotion (and it did in the early 2000s) even if it drove the company into the ground.
brooklyn_ashey 9y ago
True. What we need is a"not hotdog" style app for tech interviews. Simply photograph the face of the candidate and wait for the app to tell you if they are too old for the job. It needs a hip name. Suggestions? (this was a bit of light humor about a serious and important issue)

kurthr 9y ago

But the "legitimate" reason given for ageism was that older people might not be willing to work longer hours. I don't see how you're going to get around that by talking about "Titties and Blood" or the SiVa 4-way masturbation scene. The best way past that sort of hire is to fake the graduation date on your resume', which isn't ethical. Alternately, make the hiring process more ethical. You don't individually address "-isms" by being cool and interested... because the hiring manager isn't cool or interested. The successful ones are using marginally accurate stereotypes to hire people they think will work harder for lower pay. I think they're philosophically related to the ones that outsourced everything because they thought that would help their promotion (and it did in the early 2000s) even if it drove the company into the ground.

brooklyn_ashey 9y ago

True. What we need is a"not hotdog" style app for tech interviews. Simply photograph the face of the candidate and wait for the app to tell you if they are too old for the job. It needs a hip name. Suggestions? (this was a bit of light humor about a serious and important issue)