Discrimination due to age is one of the great tragedies of modern life. The desire to work and be useful is what makes life worth living, and to be told your efforts are not needed because you are the wrong age is a crime.
- Johnny Ball
I’ve been reluctant to write about my employment situation, mostly because I haven’t had anything interesting to say about it. I’ve also wanted to be careful in case a potential employer were to stumble upon my dark, musty, lightly-traveled corner of da Interwebs. While I normally don’t overly concern myself with the opinions of others (this is my sandbox, after all), I haven’t wanted to do anything that might complicate my chance of securing gainful employment. Seeing as how making a living trafficking in heart-breaking literary brilliance is looking increasingly less likely, I’ve had to turn to more conventional (i.e.- less interesting and exciting) ways of keeping Fred (our cat) in kibble.
Long story short, it’s been a tough road. It seems as if things are picking up in the Portland market, but the competition is still ferocious and I’m not the sort of personality that generally attracts and/or demands attention. As a writer, I’m used to rejection, but this is a different animal altogether, and it’s been tough.
The odds really are stacked against me, which would be challenge enough by itself. Now I find myself having to address what I’ve suspected- no, known- to be true for quite some time. I never thought I’d have to deal with age discrimination, mostly because I’ve never really thought of myself as being in a demographic where that would become a reality. I’m 53 years old, and by no means are my best years behind me. I’ve done a lot, seen a lot, and gathered some valuable insight and perspective over the 30+ years of my working career. That’s a wordy way to describe what most would call “experience,” and until the Great Recession, experience was something that was valued. Now I’m in a place where I know (though can’t prove) that I’ve been discriminated against because of my age. The last straw for me was an interview I had with an Internet company [whom I’d like to name but won’t because I don’t feel like paying an attorney to defend me if I’m sued] planning to open an office in Portland.
The process was geared towards people much younger than myself, and I was by far the oldest person (include the company hiring managers) at the three-hour “meetup” where a group of 20-25 people were tested, interviewed, and run through other aspects of their dog-and-pony show. I certainly had the sort of experience (17+ years) they were looking for, which I highlighted and discussed at length during my one-on-one interview. I left knowing that I could do the job and do it well, because it was similar to things I’ve done previously. I also left with the nagging feeling that my age was going to be a handicap. Turns out I may have nailed it, because I received this email a scant 24 hours later:
I wanted to touch base with you and give you an update on the status of your candidacy.
We really enjoyed meeting you at our hiring meetup yesterday and we appreciate you going through all the steps to get this far. We know it has been a time consuming process and we appreciate the efforts you have made.
Unfortunately, after carefully considering your background, qualifications and all of your conversations, the hiring team doesn’t feel that you are a fit for this role. They all had great things to say about you and they all enjoyed their conversations very much. But in the end there were other candidates who had more of the experience necessary for this particular position. (Ed. note: emphasis mine)
Part of the reason I’m writing this is that I’m upset, and writing is how I sort things out. I allowed myself 24 hours to cool off so this wouldn’t come off as some sort of angry, bitter diatribe. That’s not what I want the takeaway from this to be. I’m going to do my best to leave as much of the emotion out of this as possible. Understand, though, that this instance is not the first time I’ve run across what feels like age discrimination, merely the one that made me snap.
Of course, I’ve allowed for the possibility that the hiring managers may have legitimately felt that I wasn’t right for the position- insufficiently qualified, over-qualified, perhaps they just didn’t like my smile or thought I’d steal their girlfriend. Who knows? I can’t ignore that possibility, but in the past when I’ve received “Thanks, but no thanks” rejections, they’ve been terse, one or two paragraphs followed by wishing me the best of luck in my future endeavors. It’s not unlike the rejection letters I’ve received from magazines and publishers; there’s a form, a common theme that runs through them, because they pro forma “courtesies” that no one wants to write (or receive). It’s always easier to reject someone when you don’t have to do it face to face; those of you who’ve experienced (or committed) a breakup via email or text will understand this concept.
What cemented it for me was the “there were other candidates who had more of the experience necessary” brush-off. The truth is that most of the people there were in their mid- to late-20s. I can’t see how they could have possibly had anywhere near the experience I brought to the table. Perhaps I’m reading too much into this, but that phrase sounds very much like code for “Sorry, but we’re looking for someone younger.”
Can I prove this was age discrimination? Of course not; that’s what’s so insidious about it. The HR person who wrote the email is smart enough to know that age discrimination is illegal, and that being up front about it would invite a lawsuit.. No, as has happened before, the language was carefully constructed to eliminate any suggestion that my age was or may have been a factor. That’s illegal, and no HR professional with even half a brain is going to expose their employer to the possibility of a discrimination suit.
I used to think that my experience would make me more valuable to employers. That said, if you’re trying to create a young, hip vibe, a “work hard, play hard” environment, having a 53-year-old man on staff isn’t exactly going to help create an atmosphere of youthful vitality and enthusiasm, is it? You certainly don’t want someone that someone may call “Grandpa.”
I understand that this world isn’t designed for people my age. Watch the advertising on television, and it’s pretty clear that the target demographic isn’t males in their mid-50s. Now I’m beginning to realize that in many respects, I’m viewed as a relic, defined less by the experience I bring with me than my graying, thinning hair and my complete lack of familiarity with or interest in youth-oriented culture.
(WTF is Daft Punk, anyway?? And if I wanted a pit bull, I’d go to the Humane Society instead of downloading him off iTunes.)
Can I prove that my experience was a clear-cut case of age discrimination? Of course not; that’s something that would be next to impossible to prove. Still, if it walks like a duck, and talks like a duck…there’s a pretty good chance that we’re dealing with a duck, knowhutimean??
I recognize there’s a chance that I may be off-base here, and that’s what protects employers from being sued for age discrimination. Unless you catch someone unawares (or unless they’re brain-dead), there’s no way they’d admit to making hiring decisions based wholly or even in part on age. If that were that case, I’d have lawyers lined up on my front porch praying for a piece of that action. Unfortunately, all I have is some pretty good circumstantial evidence and a suspicion. Successful lawsuits aren’t built on that sort of soft sand.
At one time, experience meant that you could provide value to a potential employer. Now, grey hair and middle age means that you’re obsolete and of no use to anyone in a ferociously youth-oriented culture.
I have no idea how to fight back against those misperceptions.
