HR job search revealed age bias - Brief Article

HR Magazine, Nov, 2003 by Patrick Foley

Congratulations to Karl Gustafson ("Are You Ignoring Older Workers?" August). I also am in my mid-50s and wanted to remain in the South when my plant closed. I have 20 years of experience in HR and an MBA, so it's not a shabby resume. I spent six months on my job search, which included the Internet, recruiters and talking to HR folks up to, and including, vice presidents. People were impressed with my experience when I talked to them but, once they received my resume, I had very few phone screens and no interviews.

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This is the advice I received on several occasions: "Drop your early non-HR experience," "Don't put the dates on your resume," "Drop the fact that you are a Vietnam veteran." All of this advice was given to conceal my age so I could get an interview. As for those who are saying there are just no jobs, my 35-year-old assistant received eight job offers! Unfortunately our profession doesn't have to look any further than a mirror to see age discrimination.

Patrick Foley

Corning, N.Y.