[Microbial]

I'm currently updating my CV to send out with a speculative job application. In the light of the new age discrimination laws, where it is now illegal for employers to ask an applicant's age, I am wondering if I should put down my date of birth.

Discuss.

[Lorna1000]

No need for you to.

[stud u like]

You should not put date of birth on curriculum vitaes or forms due to the new regulations.

[clarribo]

It's never been necessary to put your date of birth on a CV, since in most cases people put their secondary education on so the employer can work it out roughly how old they are.

[PamelaL]

I don't do it.

[Microbial]

Originally Posted by stud u like

You should not put date of birth on curriculum vitaes or forms due to the new regulations.

Surely that doesn't mean it's illegal for me to put it down?

[organiclive]

I once applied for the same job twice one with my age on the other without.

the cv with the age on they wouldnt even consider me, the one without i got an interview and pointed out what they did.

I didnt really want the job that i had applied for anyway.

[stud u like]

Originally Posted by Microbial

Surely that doesn't mean it's illegal for me to put it down?

It is not illegal but it could be discriminatory.

The growing trend among companies usually state that forms and curriculum vitaes will be binned if you include your date of birth.

ASDA has not included DOB on their forms since 2006.

I would not risk it.

[tomvoxx]

Originally Posted by stud u like

It is not illegal but it could be discriminatory.

The growing trend among companies usually state that forms and curriculum vitaes will be binned if you include your date of birth.

ASDA has not included DOB on their forms since 2006.

I would not risk it.

My CV does not include a date of birth - but as it does include previous employers with dates and educational details again with dates - it doesn't take rocket science to do some basic arithmetic.

I'm not convinced that the age discrimination laws have really been thought through especially with regards to CV's. It might yet take a test case to clarify things.

[10past3]

Whatever the legalities, you're best to omit your DoB from your CV.

[grotbags1975]

You are obviously concerned that age may work against you, so don't put it down

Originally Posted by stud u like

It is not illegal but it could be discriminatory.

The growing trend among companies usually state that forms and curriculum vitaes will be binned if you include your date of birth.
ASDA has not included DOB on their forms since 2006.

I would not risk it.

We don't. But it is inconvienient for HR as they have to obliterate the info before we get the CVs

[whoever,hey]

Originally Posted by tomvoxx

My CV does not include a date of birth - but as it does include previous employers with dates and educational details again with dates - it doesn't take rocket science to do some basic arithmetic.

I'm not convinced that the age discrimination laws have really been thought through especially with regards to CV's. It might yet take a test case to clarify things.

Application forms i've seen lately dont ask for you school and previous employers dates. So it cant be worked out from that.

Though its obvious if i say i have 10 years of employment history. So yeah still not rocket science. Also depending on what you did in your jobs its obvious too, say technical having only workied on Java, then you clearly have only been working at most 10 years (iirc).

[Magic Cottage]

I have never put my DOB on a CV. You have to let the prospective employer see your attributes first. Put your DOB on and the CV goes straight in the bin because of your age before its even read. And that is the case now even with the discrimination laws.

[jen0607]

*deletes DoB from CV* I wouldn't mind, but it was the University of Cambridge's advice that told me to put it on in the first place!

[Microbial]

Consensus of opinion seems to be don't do it, so I won't.

Originally Posted by grotbags1975

You are obviously concerned that age may work against you, so don't put it down

My age is completely irrelevant to this application, but I suppose it's irrelevant to most positions.

As several people have pointed out it's not difficult to deduce someone's age from an application form or CV, or indeed from personal appearance.

[grotbags1975]

Originally Posted by jen0607

*deletes DoB from CV* I wouldn't mind, but it was the University of Cambridge's advice that told me to put it on in the first place!

What do they know about 'applying' for jobs

[jen0607]

Originally Posted by grotbags1975

What do they know about 'applying' for jobs

well you would have thought the careers service would know something! Anyway, I've applied for a job there......

[Zack]

My school gave us all CV Templates/Personal achievements etc and its got my date of birth on it. If I didn't include it they will just work out that I finished school in 2007 and guess that I must be 16 or 17

[organiclive]

hope all goes well with the job app

[Chilli Dragon]

Don't do it.

[Dissonance]

I'd keep it on - if a spectulative employer doesn't need to know age or DOB then they don't have to look at it, if they do need to know age and DOB then they will look at it. I've filled in many application forms which ask for age and DOB.

[Magic Cottage]

Originally Posted by Microbial

Consensus of opinion seems to be don't do it, so I won't.



My age is completely irrelevant to this application, but I suppose it's irrelevant to most positions.

As several people have pointed out it's not difficult to deduce someone's age from an application form or CV, or indeed from personal appearance.

Yes, but the point is they have read the CV first and seen the bits about experience etc. whereas if your DOB is on it, especially at the start the CV might not even be read

[marling]

Originally Posted by Chilli Dragon

Don't do it.

Particularly if you're over 40

[Magic Cottage]

And if you are over 50 you have little or no chance even with the new law.