Five Ways to Dodge and Deflect Job interview and Application Questions about Your Age

Five Ways to Dodge and Deflect Job interview and Application Questions about Your AgeFive Ways to Dodge and Deflect Job interview and Application Questions about Your AgeHow to answer age-related questions on a job application or in a job interview.Our experts agree Dont answer a question if you believe the reason its asked is to reveal your age. Thats easier said than done. Here are five ways to get around the questions without directly confronting the offending recruiter or philanthropisch resources representative.Restate the question. Kathryn Troutman advises that if an HR person asks for your high-school or college graduation dates, say, I went to the University of X, and it was a very successful time for me, she said. I was a member of student government and worked at the campus radio station. You dont have to answer that question with dates, and that shouldnt keep you from being hired.For online applications, give vague dates. While some online applications cannot be submitte d unless all fields are completed, you might be able to get away with a range of dates, or just list a decade, such as 1980s. Matthew Arrigale suggested that if the application still cannot be submitted, its worth contacting someone in the companys HR department to let them know you are having trouble submitting an electronic application and explain the issue. Its possible they dont know they shouldnt be asking that question.Express concern with identity theft if photo ID or Social Security numbers are requested. These are not items that need to be provided until you are hired, said Ellen B. Vance, senior consultant and advisory services practice leader at ti Group, an HR consultancy in Richmond, Va. But if youd rather not directly confront them with that fact, saying youd rather not hand over that information is perfectly acceptable.Provide work history going back 20 years at most. Any more, and it can date you, said Troutman. The most relevant work history will be your most recen t, and there is no reason to go back any further.Be aware of questions that could lead you to reveal your age. Asking innovative, legally defensible questions is one way human resources people can get age-related information, Arrigale said. These questions could be as innocent as, Are you over the age of 18? and, What are your long-term career goals? He advises candidates to stay on their guard and be aware of what the interviewer is really asking. An interviewer might leave a bit of silence after you answer it doesnt mean you need to fill that silence with more detail. Dont volunteer anything.