Do people use age as a yardstick?

**MarillionFan** · 24 October 2006, 22:21

I use a stick. Its about a yard or nearly a yard long.

hth.

**AtW** · 24 October 2006, 22:29

Well, what kind of work experience can one have at 23? Threaded excluded obviously.

**hattra** · 24 October 2006, 22:31

Originally posted by Sockpuppet

How many contracts have you been to where people are judging you by your age rather than your work?

This happened at my last place as really arsed me off. I used to get the "i dont expect you to understand" or "your only a lad so".

Now I'm only 23 and when people find out you are a contractor they are either a) happy for you or b) annoyed that they didnt think of it.

Lately I'm finding more b than a. Anyone here faced people thinking they were rubbish becuase of thier age.

Let's see. Three years without a contract, and several hundred repetitions of the following conversation

Agent: " Well Mr. Hattra, from your CV you are a perfect fit for this contract - can I put you forward for it?"

Me: "Yes, of course - I'm really interested"

Agent: "OK, then. Oh, by the way, one last question - when were you born?"

Me: "1955"

Click! brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

What do you think?</bitter mode>

**AtW** · 24 October 2006, 22:35

A lawsuit is really in order.

**hattra** · 24 October 2006, 22:39

Already got one of those, ATW (a neighbour from hell problem) - I wouldn't recommend it as a way of passing the time.

Unfortunately, age descrimination only became illegal a few weeks ago. Now they ask things like "When did your career in IT start?"

**mcquiggd** · 24 October 2006, 22:40

I noticed more aganecies on Jobserve want to know what they call the 'date of your career start'... rather than age. Says it all really.

More meaningless, expensive legislation with no beneficial effect whatsoever.

**hattra** · 24 October 2006, 22:43

Who deals with age discrimination problems - I feel the urge to start reporting a few of these agencies

**AtW** · 24 October 2006, 22:46

Originally posted by mcquiggd

I noticed more aganecies on Jobserve want to know what they call the 'date of your career start'... rather than age. Says it all really.

I am pretty sure that courts will consider that exactly the same as asking for DOB - people should start reporting them for investigation.

**mcquiggd** · 24 October 2006, 22:49

Well it's exactly the same field as 'Date of Birth' - they have simply changed the name to 'Career Start Date'.

Hoaxley are one of the agencies.

Do people use age as a yardstick?