# Is this blatant age discrimination? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 27, 2012, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-blatant-age-discrimination/620090 "2012-04-27T01:04:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-blatant-age-discrimination/620090/1 "2012-04-27T01:04:58Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-blatant-age-discrimination/620090/2 "2012-04-27T01:37:16Z")
You can graduate from college at any age. ---
**Author:** ![cwthree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de0a6/32.png) [@cwthree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cwthree)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-blatant-age-discrimination/620090/3 "2012-04-27T01:45:11Z")
It’s also shorthand for “doesn’t have a lot of experience and will therefore work for cheap.” ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Mondegreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/91b2a8/32.png) [@Lord\_Mondegreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Mondegreen)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-blatant-age-discrimination/620090/4 "2012-04-27T02:12:03Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-blatant-age-discrimination/620090/5 "2012-04-27T02:23:39Z")
> [@cwthree](#): > > It’s also shorthand for “doesn’t have a lot of experience and will therefore work for cheap.” Yup, that’s my experience too. Recent grads just want work and don’t mind starting at the bottom. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-blatant-age-discrimination/620090/6 "2012-04-27T02:38:40Z")
In this economy old grads just want work and don’t mind re-starting at the bottom. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-blatant-age-discrimination/620090/7 "2012-04-27T02:44:18Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > Is this blatant age discrimination? 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. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-blatant-age-discrimination/620090/8 "2012-04-27T03:34:49Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > You can graduate from college at any age. 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? ---
**Author:** ![Keeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-blatant-age-discrimination/620090/9 "2012-04-27T03:47:06Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > Is this blatant age discrimination? Age discrimination? I suppose so. _Blatant_ age discrimination? No way. Next question? ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-blatant-age-discrimination/620090/10 "2012-04-27T04:34:36Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > 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? Wouldn’t the dates you attended be on your transcripts? ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-blatant-age-discrimination/620090/11 "2012-04-27T16:04:47Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > 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. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2012, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-blatant-age-discrimination/620090/12 "2012-04-28T13:06:15Z")
I think it’s subtle but not blatant, per the others. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2012, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-blatant-age-discrimination/620090/13 "2012-04-28T23:04:35Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![JSexton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@JSexton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JSexton)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2012, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-blatant-age-discrimination/620090/14 "2012-04-28T23:23:12Z")
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.