Age Discrimination Trap

The word "overqualified" may be interpreted as age discrimination. Example: A 49 year-old accountant applied for an entry-level job in an office that hired 26 other applicants that year who ranged in age from 20 to 37. Interviewers said the older man was overqualified, would be bored, and wouldn't fit in. A judge said the word "overqualified" could be viewed as a code word for "too old." Self-defense: Ask applicants if they would be willing to do entry-level work at entry-level pay. Set a clear policy that older applicants can be turned down only if extra experience would have a demonstrably negative effect on job performance.


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