Legal/Ilegal Age Question

[Always Curious]

I just finished speaking to a employer who viewed a resume I sent them. It was for a receptionist/administrative assistant position stating little experience or education.

What college did you attend?
Although, I found the question strange because the position didn't state education I answered anyway. I have some college and graduated from business school.
Did you receive an associates?
"No, sorry. I do have over ten years experience".

And now for the legal question:
When did you graduate high school?
I hesitated, not because I didn't graduate for indeed I did. I just considered it another way to reveal my age. Yes, I understand companies are not allowed to ask your age, but let's face it, they have their own methods.
Anyway I responded with "I did graduate, not sure why you're asking for the year". He insisted that he had to know. I gave him a time range.

His response was, "You know you're over qualified for this position". My thought was I knew that from the beginning but why did I let the conversation go so far. Not sure if my graduation year had anything to do with his quick decision. And honestly, wouldn't want to work for a company that worked in this manner.

So what's everyone's input on questions that might sound fishy to determine the age of a potential employee? I'm sure I'm not the first to encounter this and I won't be the last.

[justlukin]

you may want to refer to any job application that asks you the same question. job apps are the legal document refering to your employment.....there is nothing wrong or illegal asking you when you finished high school.

[cbg]

Nothing in the law prohibits asking when you graduated high school or college. For that matter, nothing in the law specifically prohibits asking how old you are. (It is possible some states may have such a prohibition.) What is prohibited, is using a person's age to make employment decisions. An employer who is thinking straight will not ask for age or when the applicant graduated high school because, if they don't have that information, they can't be accused of using it in the employment decision. But it is not, inherently, illegal.

I don't have a problem with asking about college because not everyone goes to college right out of high school, nor does everyone finish in the same length of time. They might to into the armed forces, or work for a while first, or go part time. When you graduate from college has no connction to your age. A good friend of mine just got her graduate degree a couple of years ago; a month before her 60th birthday

[Always Curious]

Actually, Justlukin, they just pre-screened me by phone. I didn't sign a job application. And in the past, when I've applied for positions, questions regarding education were stated in the following manner: high school, college, etc? address of school? number of years attended? did you graduate? degree/diploma? I still haven't seen an application requesting year of graduation. But hey, I'm sure I'll run into one soon enough.

CBG I like the way you stated: An employer who is thinking straight will not ask for age or when the applicant graduated high school because, if they don't have that information, they can't be accused of using it in the employment decision.

Unfortunately, I'm sure they didn't care if they were thinking straight.

Thanks for your input.