by Sondra Deuber

Created on: February 07, 2008

Job discrimination has the potential to hurt employers in ways they seem not to consider. They rarely appear to be concerned about the hurt they cause potential employees.

Before laws prevented it, employers routinely dismissed candidates on sight, without considering what talents they might bring to the workplace. There are laws now, but clever hiring managers easily find ways around them.

Appearance may occasionally justify an instant judgment. There may be good reasons for rejecting candidates that come to an interview wearing inappropriate clothing, or those with multiple body piercings, tattoos, or lime green hair. If the open position is one of high visibility in a high-end business, employees must look professional, knowledgeable, and trustworthy. You really do get only one chance to make a good impression.

Traditionally, race, ethnicity, gender, obvious signs of the wrong religion, and physical or other handicaps have been sufficient reason for not hiring. Gray hair is disqualifying in our modern "forever young" culture. I'm allergic to hair dye. My hair is gray.

I'm no longer even seriously considered by most employers. Often, first impressions are the only thing that seem to matter. Showing any signs of maturity (and presumably, the kind of experience that comes with it): not good in today's economy and way of doing business. Employers find other reasons to explain rejecting qualified people, but prejudging and prejudice continues to be the basis too often.

Tall, thin people do better than very short and/or overweight people. If you show up for your interview in a wheelchair or a walker, your chances go down. If you're obviously visually impaired, forget it. We like pretty, youthful, able bodied people in our workplaces. I'm fortunate: my only visible disabilities are my gray hair and my gender.

I was once told by someone that he wouldn't hire me because I looked competent, capable, and intelligent. And, since I'm a female, that means trouble. He didn't like smart, competent women, and he's not the only one I've encountered with that mindset. Fortunately, I already had a great job, and the man that hired me didn't have the same prejudice.

What might employers be missing out on by prejudging based solely on their own prejudices? Look up Steven Hawking on wikipedia.org. He's almost totally physically disabled by ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). He gets around nicely in a motorized wheelchair, communicates effectively thanks to today's technology, and is

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