Changing at any age · 6 min read
How do I handle age discrimination in hiring?
How age discrimination shows up in hiring, your rights in the UK and US, practical ways to reduce bias in your applications, and what to do if it happens.
The short answer
Age discrimination in hiring is illegal in the UK under the Equality Act, which protects people of any age, and in the US under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, which protects people aged 40 and over. It still happens, through job ads asking for 'digital natives', assumptions about energy or salary, or 'overqualified' rejections. You can reduce its effect: focus your CV on the last 10 to 15 years, remove graduation dates if you want, show recent learning and comfort with current tools, and get in through referrals. If you think you've been discriminated against, keep records and get advice quickly, because time limits for claims are short.
Key takeaways
- Age discrimination is illegal in the UK and, for people 40 and over, in the US.
- It shows up in ads, assumptions and 'overqualified' rejections.
- Focus your CV on recent experience and show current skills.
- Keep records and get advice quickly if it happens.
On this pageHow age bias shows up
How age bias shows up
- Job ads asking for 'digital natives', 'recent graduates' or 'young, dynamic teams'.
- Assumptions that older candidates are slower with technology.
- Worries that you'll want too much pay or won't stay.
- 'Overqualified' rejections without explanation.
- Interview questions about retirement plans.
Your rights
| UK | US | |
|---|---|---|
| Law | Equality Act 2010 | Age Discrimination in Employment Act |
| Who's protected | People of any age | People aged 40 and over |
| Covers hiring | Yes | Yes, for employers with 20 or more staff |
| Where to get help | Acas, Citizens Advice | EEOC, state agencies |
| Time limit | Usually three months less a day | 180 days, often 300 |
Reduce bias in your applications
- Focus your CV on the last 10 to 15 years.
- Remove graduation dates if you prefer.
- List current tools and recent courses.
- Use a modern, simple CV layout.
- Get referrals, so a person reads your application.
In interviews
Show energy and curiosity about the role. Mention recent learning and how you work with current tools. If you sense concern about pay, say the salary range works for you. If asked about retirement, you can say you're focused on the next several years and this role. Ask about the team, which shows you're thinking about fitting in.
If it happens
Write down what was said, when and by whom. Keep the job ad and emails. Ask for feedback in writing. Get advice early: in the UK from Acas, Citizens Advice or a union; in the US from the EEOC or an employment lawyer. Many claims are settled without going to court.
Illustrative example
Linda, 58, applies to 30 marketing roles and gets one interview. She cuts her CV to 15 years, removes her degree date, adds her recent analytics course and asks three former colleagues for referrals. Over the next two months she has six interviews, all through referrals or direct messages to hiring managers.
Employers worth targeting
Some employers actively recruit older workers, sign age-friendly pledges or run returner programmes. Public services, healthcare, education, charities and some large retailers and banks are often more open. Ask in interviews about the age mix of the team and about flexible working, which can tell you a lot.
What happens to the gaps
Most posts ask for something your CV doesn't show yet. OffLadder CV names those gaps, and Laddie, our AI coach, turns each one into three steps:
- Learn the skill: a short lesson on what the post asks for, starting from the basics.
- Try the work: a 15-minute task taken from the job itself, so you have a real example to talk about.
- Practise the interview: a five-question mock interview for that role, weighted to the parts you're least sure of.
The conversation stays in your OffLadder account. Once you've done the work, add it to your CV in your own words, and the next post you tailor for can point to it.
Questions people ask
- Can an employer ask my age?
- They can ask in some cases, such as for monitoring, but shouldn't use it to decide. In the US, asking isn't illegal in itself but can be evidence of discrimination. In the UK, questions about age should be avoided unless justified.
- Should I remove dates from my CV?
- You can remove graduation dates and very old roles. Keep dates for recent jobs, because missing dates raise questions.
- Is 'overqualified' code for too old?
- Sometimes. It can also mean they worry about pay or boredom. Address it directly: explain why this role, and that the salary works for you.
- Are job ads asking for 'recent graduates' legal?
- They may be discriminatory unless justified. In the US, the EEOC has said such phrases can deter older applicants. In the UK, they risk breaching the Equality Act.
- What can I do if I think I was rejected because of age?
- Write down what happened, keep emails and ads, and get advice. In the UK, contact Acas within three months less a day for early conciliation. In the US, you generally have 180 days to file with the EEOC, extended to 300 in many states.
- Do employers really value older workers?
- Many do, for reliability, judgement and experience. Some sectors, such as healthcare, public services and education, actively recruit older workers.
- Does age discrimination affect younger people too?
- Yes. In the UK, younger workers are protected too. Assumptions about lack of experience or commitment can be discriminatory.
Exercises are practice, not evidence of career fit or a qualification. How to read our guides and report a correction.
Sources
- Age discrimination · US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
- Discrimination: your rights · GOV.UK
How this page is written
Sources support the factual background, not a guarantee that an exercise predicts career fit. Fictional practice material is labelled. Dates record content updates; no independent expert review is implied. More about OffLadder.