Worried you're "too old" or "too young" for the job? Fight back with these tips, and more for job seekers

Hello, job seekers! Welcome to my newsletter focused on helping you land your next job. Whether your background is in communications or aviation, here are tips and insights that can make every job search more successful. Be sure to join the conversation with the hashtag #GetHired.

Whether you’re young or old, here’s how to combat age bias:

Hundreds of #GetHired readers have told me that age has affected their job prospects — and data support those suspicions. Young people just entering the workforce tend to have some of the highest unemployment rates, while it often takes older workers months to find work.

Fortunately, there are ways for job seekers across the age spectrum to overcome bias during their search.

People worried about age discrimination should be mindful about the way they present information to prospective employers, says Kerry Hannon, a career expert and author of “Great Jobs for Everyone 50+.”

Job seekers should present their skills before experience, she told me. “That’s what they’re looking for.”

Those worried about dating themselves or who lack experience may want to keep years off their resumes, Hannon said, and consider the words and terms they use during their job hunt. For example, older workers may want to avoid talking about events from years in the past or talking down to younger workers.

Face-to-face meetings:

It’s important for job seekers concerned about age bias to communicate with their body language and actions that they are energetic and professional. “It comes down to the energy you bring to it and the comfort you have,” Hannon told me. “If you’re sitting there doing a video interview and you’re comfortable and dressed properly for it, that helps you.”

When you're asked your age:

Honesty is the best policy, Hannon said. “They’re going to find out anyway. Also, if it matters, you probably don’t want to be working for that company.”

It’s not illegal to ask the age question. That said, it is illegal under federal law to use that information to discriminate against someone 40 years old or older. Some states and localities also protect young workers from age bias.

Hannon said you can simply tell the interviewer you don’t think your age is relevant. “Bridge and talk about something you want to discuss.” A job seeker can pivot the conversation back to their skills, for example.

Most importantly, she said job seekers should not assume age will be a factor lest it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

“If you go in thinking it might happen to you, you’re setting yourself up for failure.”

Has age been a factor in your job search? Share your story here.

The follow-up:

In the last edition of #GetHired, we discussed tips and tricks to help get your profile and resume past applicant tracking systems — the robots companies use to narrow its applicant pool. Hundreds of you shared stories about how these systems are affecting your search for work. Read those conversations and join the discussion here.

Other news to help you #gethired:

Discrimination against non-white job seekers is a universal problem, according to new research from Northwestern University in Chicago. Researchers analyzed data from nine North American and European countries to determine how much difficulty job seekers of color have finding work compared to white applicants. The data show significant discrimination against non-white job seekers in all countries, but the actual severity varied by country. France and Sweden had the highest rates of discrimination, with white applicants nearly twice as likely to get a call back than people of color. In the U.S., white applicants had a 33% greater odds of getting a call back than their non-white counterparts. Here’s what people are saying about the findings.

Pot-using job seekers are getting some employment protection. A Nevada bill signed into law this month by Gov. Steve Sisolak prohibits employers from turning down job applicants based on positive marijuana drug tests. While the law has some exceptions, Nevada is the first state in the nation to offer such protection to job seekers. New York City passed a similar law in April, and Maine prohibits discrimination based on marijuana use. Nevada legalized recreational marijuana in 2016. The law takes effect in 2020. Here’s what people are saying about the new protection.

Don’t expect your current boss to meet your salary demands to keep you from moving on. Nearly 60% of employees in a new survey said they’d need at least a 10% raise to keep them from moving to a new company. Only a third of employers said they’d be willing to match that demand, however. Here’s what people are saying about the survey.

Up next:

There are many make-or-break moments during a job search. The post-interview thank-you note is often thought to be one of those moments. In the next edition of #GetHired, we’ll talk about crafting the perfect thank-you note to increase your odds of getting a call back from a potential employer. What’s your thank-you note strategy?

Thanks for reading! Don’t forget to add your own thoughts, tips, ideas and questions in the comments below. Also, be sure to keep the conversation going on LinkedIn with the hashtag #GetHired!