Angusmacg

Territory Account Mgr.

Valued Contributor

Opinionated

Executive

Interview question...question

How would/have you handled being asked:

"How old are you?"

I am not ashamed of my age and know that I shouldn't answer the question but I don't give a rat's ass. If I am asked that question then that tells me the company isn't for me.

What are your thoughts?

🗣 Interviewing

🕧 age-related

20 comments

Sort by:

Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

Sales Rep

That's actually illegal to ask that question in an interview.

"

Questions you can't ask in an interview are those that pry into an applicant's protected status or privacy rights. For example,workers over the age of 40 are protected by age discrimination law. So you can't ask an applicant's age, even if their appearance or the graduation date on their resume gives it away"

antiASKHOLE

Tycoon

Bravado's Resident Asshole

They CANNOT ask that. There is an entire list of questions they can't ask.

Sunbunny31

Politicker

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

As others have said, that should not have been asked.

The answer you give will depend on how much you want the job at that point, and the level of snark you want to provide:

"Are you sure you wanted to ask that? You know that's an illegal question, right?"

"I can't believe you'd ask me that!" (clutches pearls)

"Why? How old do you think I am?"

"What does THAT matter?"

"Ask my mother."

"I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that. Is there anything else more relevant to the position or my background that we should discuss?"

Angusmacg

Valued Contributor

Territory Account Mgr.

The last one is good if you really want the job. I do like the "clutches pearls"...or maybe the gasp and back of the hand to your forehead like you are going to faint

Sunbunny31

Politicker

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

Depends on if you want to go full Drama Queen or not.

Fenderbaum

Politicker

Retired Choirboy🪕

Sunbunny31

Politicker

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

EXACTLY.

butwhy

Politicker

Solutions Engineer

"Old enough to know that you suck at your job. Bye, Felicia."

Angusmacg

Valued Contributor

Territory Account Mgr.

Definitely should've used that one....😅

Pachacuti

Politicker

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

There are more clever ways to ask someone their age rather than just straight out which is VERY illegal. Like “where were you when 9/11 happened?”

TennisandSales

Politicker

Head Of Sales

I would know what state the interviewer is in and understand if that is even a legal question for them to ask you.

if they did ask you that.....I would look visibly shocked on purpose, and ask why that matters. Then after they give some stupid response say

"well i think there are much more important things to talk about besides my age, like...." then ask a questions to them to keep the conversation going.

LordOfWar

Tycoon

Blow it up

"Old enough to know I don't have to answer"

No shit though, I've actually lost job offers because they wanted someone older. It goes both ways and is 100% bullshit.

Angusmacg

Valued Contributor

Territory Account Mgr.

This actually happened to me last week. I was shocked but answered the question.

Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

Sales Rep

I would probably do the same thing, I know its wrong to ask but its an interview so you dont want to be difficult

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

You can't ask that in an interview dude.

Mobi85

Politicker

Regional Sales Manager

As everyone else has already said, they legally can not ask you that question.

If you were to answer that question for them and then you were not hired for that position, you could entertain the thought that ageism is the reasoning behind why you were not hired and some lawyers would agree with you.

DevSomeBiz

Valued Contributor

Senior B2B Sales Guy.

Depending on where the employer is located, this might actually be legal. My current employer asked age, marital status, number of children, all kinds of stuff.

My take on it: if you won't hire me because of my age, I don't want to work for you. I'll work for your competitor and take your business.

Fenderbaum

Politicker

Retired Choirboy🪕

I'm old enough to know you shouldn't need to worry about my age.

jefe

Arsonist

🍁

This is illegal most places...

PineappleYa

Opinionated

Being illegal to ask- the real question is what is the legal repercussion? How do you peruse it? This shitty behavior has got to stop.

Bravado is a community of trusted sales professionals endorsed by their customers.

Products

The War Room Jobs Salary Guide Tech Sales U

Company

About Us How It Works Blog Bug Bounty

Contact

Press Careers

If you are hired as a contract sales rep by a Bravado customer, we may ask you to prove access to the employee email account provided to you by that customer. This data will be shared with customers to track your sales productivity; customers can use this data to confirm you meet the minimum activity requirements to pay out your ramp stipend and commission.

Angusmacg

Interview question...question

20 comments

Related posts

What is the strangest question you have been asked in an interview?

Intriguing Interview Question

Interview Question