Managing age discrimination: an examination of the techniques used when seeking employment

This article examines the age-related management techniques used by older workers in their search for employment.

Data are drawn from interviews with individuals aged 45-65 years (N = 30).

Findings indicate that participants develop "counteractions" and "concealments" to manage perceived age discrimination. Individuals counteract employers' ageist stereotypes by maintaining their skills and changing their work-related expectations and conceal age by altering their résumés, physical appearance, and language used.

This research suggests that there is a need to reexamine the hiring practices of employers and to improve legislation in relation to their accountability.