10 age-related interview questions
And how to answer them without sounding...old
In a job interview, you have to be prepared to answer anything.
A popular job hunting newsletter sometimes discusses weird questions asked in job interviews, like: “You are given an elephant. You can’t sell it or give it away. What do you do?”
I hate those sorts of questions - the “what sort of tree would you be?” nonsense.
But the reality is that as an older job seeker, you will probably be asked a fair amount of questions that either slyly or directly refer to your age.
These, you should think about and prepare for:
Why are you looking for a new job at this stage in your career?
What are your concerns about working with younger colleagues?
How do you stay motivated and engaged in your work?
How do you stay up-to-date on the latest trends and technologies in your field?
How do you think your experience can benefit a younger workforce?
What are your career goals for the next five years?
What are your salary expectations?
What are your thoughts on diversity and inclusion in the workplace?
How do you handle change?
These are the sly ones. Just like with my “20 Interview Questions to Answer (Before the Interview)” document, I would recommend coming up with your own answers for these questions beforehand, so you aren’t caught off guard.
Here are some things to think about while you are formulating your answers:
Stay positive. This is important in all aspects of job interviews, but especially here. You can turn what they might think is a negative (your age) into an advantage, if you frame it correctly.
Look ahead. Talk about the present and the future, not the past. Even when you are talking about your experience, frame it in terms of how it helps their present and future, not how it celebrates your past.
Be direct. If you think they have some reservations about your age, deal with those openly and clearly. Don’t hedge.
You might also be asked more pointed questions about your age. Employers are not allowed to ask job applicants any questions that are based on their age, unless the question is directly related to the job requirements. Questions like:
When did you first start working?
Do you have any plans to retire in the next five years?
Are you concerned about your health at your age?
If an employer asks you one of these age-related questions, you should politely refuse to answer. You have the right to refuse to answer any question that you don’t feel comfortable answering. They are not in charge.
The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) prohibits discrimination against workers who are 40 years of age or older. So there are legal protections if things get out of hand. Discrimination is rarely this overt, though.
That doesn’t mean navigating all this is easy. It’s not. But if you remain positive and focus on the future, you can stay ahead of the game.
Onward and upward. See you next week!
An applicant should preface their answer to some of these age-related interview questions with a polite but firm, "Same as anyone else would," followed by a sincere and confident response. The interviewer would get the message that their not-so-subtle ageism was not so subtle — and that the applicant is savvy enough to recognize a perceived shortcoming and turn it to their advantage.
Great tips on questions people might expect! It's always good to be prepared.
I just happened to see something on Twitter about how people interviewing for jobs should be given the questions in advance, which would more accurately reflect what they'd have to do on the job (for most jobs). Interesting idea, but I doubt many people will take that up!