Jobs for the young

It was very alarming watching a documentary last-night about age discrimination amongst employers. To be precise it was not employers but recruitment agencies which were in the spot-light. It seems they have an aversion to employing older staff. Being an older worker myself an uncomfortable feeling came over me. The programme did not go into great detail about why this discrimination existed ( if in fact it does ) and what can be done about it.

I have seen a trend however amongst recruitment agencies of advertising for their own ranks from graduates. These post are not for a minor administration role ie learning the ropes, and work your way up, but for people to start new accounts and the money to be earnt can be astronomical. They almost contort the English language to try and ask for kids straight out of university and stop just short of getting in to trouble by discriminating themselves. You can tell the style; its all ridiculous rhetoric. Now its sad fact of life that age groups, socio-economic groups tend to cling together and perhaps unconsciously discriminate. Is this what we are seeing today. Are these go-getter types coming between you and that plum job. One elderly gentleman featured on the programme kept getting told by the agencies, and I repeat agencies "we have lost your CV" yes they kept tossing it in the bin and didn't have the guts to admit it.

How many employers I wonder have any idea this is going on?

My favourite which I read last week in a job description was; I quote, 'the ideal candidate will be qualified but have no previous experience'. Tough luck grandad!

I sent an email here; agepositive@dwp.gsi.gov.uk and if you see this nonsense click here yourself and let them know.