Many people face discrimination in the workplace. Some people do not even get a job due to discrimination in the recruitment process.
Here are some examples of what that can look like.
Subtle language in the posting designed to stop you from applying
Most people who are looking for work skim over a whole host of job postings before settling on one they do apply for. This makes sense to some degree, as there is generally no point in applying for jobs for which you are totally unqualified or lack appropriate experience. Yet some postings are designed to put off people because of one or more of their personal characteristics such as age, sex, gender, race or a disability.
An example might be a tech company looking for people who it believes will fit right in with the young crowd it currently has. Those writing the posting are aware they will get in trouble if they write “under 30s only,” so they word their ad carefully to make it unattractive to anyone older. Even something such as saying they’re looking for people who are “tech savvy” or “high energy” could help them achieve this.
A recruitment event they know you are unlikely to attend
Perhaps that same firm schedules their initial recruitment event at midnight in a VIP section of the local nightclub. Someone in their 60s could still attend, but the hope is that most would be put off by the late hour or the music or be turned away from the venue itself by the bouncers.
If you suspect an employer’s hiring practice is discriminatory, you may want to seek experienced legal guidance to understand more. You deserve a fair chance at applying for any job you are suitably qualified for, and your protected characteristics should not come into the equation.