Why Can Employers Ask About My Age?

We’ve been hearing from quite a few Snagajob members lately, who are concerned that job applications ask for your birth date or Social Security number.

As long as you fulfill certain requirements – see them outlined below – employers legally cannot make hiring decisions based on your age. The reason why Snagajob asks for your birth date when you register is so we can make sure you are old enough to join the site (you cannot register for Snagajob if you are under the age of 14). This information is not shared with employers.

You may see questions in the application including:

“Are you 16 or older?” or “Are you over the age of 18?”

These questions are simply to verify that you meet the minimum age that the position requires.

“Are you 21 or older?”

You will most likely only see this question when you are applying for bartending jobs. Many states require that you’re 21 years old to be bartender.

“Are you over the age of 40?”

While it may seem like they are asking you this question to discriminate older workers, rest assured that is not the case. You will sometimes see this question when you reach an optional part of the application that inquires about your tax eligibility. Companies ask this question along with questions like, “Are you a veteran?”, which all tell the employer that you are eligible for a tax credit, which should not play a part in the hiring decision. The employer will not see your answer, they will only see if you meet any of the tax requirements. So, even if you do check that you are over the age of 40, they won’t know which of the tax questions you answered yes to.

If the tax questions make you uncomfortable, look to the bottom of the page where you have the option to skip the step. However, if you are hired, you will be asked to answer those questions while you fill out your new hire paperwork.