The 411 on Ageism & How To End It Faster I Janine Vanderburg

For the life of me, given the choice between a strong, more profitable business and letting go of the back-assward stigma around age, the logic is clear. But is it?

Like me, Janine Vanderburg isn’t shy about why the math isn’t mathing the business reasons why it’s about impact not age..

Here’s what you’ll find out:

What employers don’t want you to know You think it's your resume that needs tweaking or your interview techniques but What if the real obstacle was something entirely different?

What if the system itself was rigged against you in ways you've never considered—not because you're not qualified, but because of your date of birth.

Who’s impacted by ageism, or who isn’t?

When there's a problem like ageism in hiring, it "goes in both directions." As Janine Vanderburg reveals, we're not just talking about discrimination against those 40-plus. "Youngerism" is equally "alive and kicking."

If you've been ghosted after interviews, if you've watched less qualified candidates get positions you were perfect for, it might not be you—it might be your birth year.

Let’s talk about the numbers they’re not talking about Last year alone, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission received 16,000 complaints of age discrimination. When surveyed, over 80% of respondents believed they had experienced workplace age discrimination.

Even more shocking: Resume Builder's surveys found hiring managers systematically screen out both applicants over 60 AND those under 27.

And if you work with AI? 90% of hiring managers don't want to hire anybody over 35 for roles involving artificial intelligence—despite experienced professionals often being the best AI power users.

Three Places Ageism Is Sabotaging Your Career (And What to Do About It)

1. Inside your own mind: When you think "I'm too young/old for this position" before even applying
2. In hiring practices: When recruiters make assumptions about your abilities based solely on graduation dates
3. Embedded in systems: When AI screening tools filter you out before a human ever sees your application

The Demographic Shift That Will Change Everything

By 2030—just five years away—there will be more people over 65 than under 18. Companies unprepared for this reality will be scrambling for talent while others thrive.

Will you be positioned to capitalize on this inevitable shift?

What Smart Job Seekers Do Differently

As Janine advises, "You can be willing to fight to end ageism, and you can also try to preserve your financial security." Both can be true at once.

The wisest approach? Learn the unwritten rules, navigate the system strategically, and position yourself where your true value is recognized.

Listen now to discover how to turn what looks like an obstacle into your greatest competitive advantage.

Janine Vanderburg (https://www.linkedin.com/in/janinevanderburg/) is a Keynote Speaker, and Founder/Director of Changing the Narrative is the leading effort in the U.S. to change the way people think, talk and act about aging and ageism through evidence-based strategies and innovative public campaigns. Her end game? To end ageism."

Chapters:

00:00-01:32 - Introduction & The Firestarter

01:32-05:58 - Understanding the Landscape of Ageism

05:58-09:23 - Janine's Awakening to Ageism

09:23-10:41 - Cliff Notes from the Training

10:41-13:34 - Employer Messaging Shift

13:34-16:05 - The Math Isn't Mathing

16:05-18:14 - Progress & Reality Check

18:14-29:09 - Staying in the Fight Without Burning Out

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