| Topic Name: |
Short, Fat and Balding |
| Message Name: |
Don't get offended |
| Date Posted: |
01/01/2003 |
| In Reply To: |
I recently had a second-round interview with one of the top 3 management/strategy consulting firms. I was asked about my age (I'm slightly older than the average applicant), and some of the employees there made comments about my height, weight and hairline (I'm short, fat and balding).
What should I do about this? I know the age thing is definitely illegal, but I'm not sure about the other stuff.
I thought about demanding an offer or I would talk to a lawyer and the EEOC, but this seems like blackmail.
Any ideas anyone?
And don't tell me this kind of discrimination is a fact of life at consulting firms.....I intend to do something about this, I just don't know what yet.
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| Message: |
Age: People are obviously curious about who they have in front of them. In interviewing people, I never asked about their age, but always did the math in my head looking at their resume (assuming getting a Bachelor's at 22). Oh, by the way, in Europe people customarily put their age on their resume. Jobs are even advertised for certain age categories (under 30, over 25, etc.). So, what's so wrong about asking about your age?
Fat/bald comment: that's very annoying and I am sorry about that. But I would suggest not to take any legal action for such a small thing. We live in a culture where suing is becoming the norm. My wife is a high school teacher and she is afraid of inviting kids over for dinner or giving them a ride (although she does anyway) because parents may sue if something goes wrong. I find this habit of suing people anooying and stifling. Especially in small matters, I tend to accept that people (myself included and I have probably made a lot of inappropriate comments without realizing it and I would hate to be sued because of them) do have faults and those people who insulted you are jerks. I would not take an offer from them, but, hey, you are free to apply somewhere else.
I wish you all the best, sincerely.
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