The ad starts, “We are looking for a recent college graduate to start their career with…” Despite late bloomers, “recent college graduate” generally pegs the person as a twentysomething. There is nothing about the job that would make it more difficult to perform by an older person.
Is this blatant age discrimination?
You can graduate from college at any age.
It’s also shorthand for “doesn’t have a lot of experience and will therefore work for cheap.”
I think it’s more “experience discrimination” rather than age, but by the same token I bet they are expecting almost all applicants to be in their early 20s.
Yup, that’s my experience too. Recent grads just want work and don’t mind starting at the bottom.
In this economy old grads just want work and don’t mind re-starting at the bottom.
Yes. But is it unlawful age discrimination as defined under the Age Discrimination Act? Not likely, since as others pointed out anyone can be a “recent college graduate.” However, if after a time it can be shown that the employer only hires recent college graduates in their 20s despite equally qualified recent college graduates age 40 or older who are not being considered, then there may be a case.
Make that SUBTLE age discrimination.
Can they ask when you graduated college? How about high school, which I suspect is a more reliable age indicator?
Age discrimination? I suppose so.
Blatant age discrimination? No way.
Next question?
Wouldn’t the dates you attended be on your transcripts?
I have never had HR ask for transcripts, they ask for whether or not you have attended and which field of study … they contact the educational facility directly and ask their questions of them.
I think it’s subtle but not blatant, per the others.
Couldn’t they also want someone who’s educated on recent developments in the field? A lot might have changed since someone graduated, if that was decades ago.
Our standard job application has a spot to put in your date of graduation from college, but it’s blacked out for the high school line. And yes, it’s to avoid accusations of age discrimInation.