Would you tell a recruiter the year of your graduation? I only put 15 years on my resume and LinkedIn to avoid being blocked by age. I just had a screening call with a recruiter who said she needed the date of graduation, but now I’m rethinking that.

Do not answer unless they have made a job offer and are doing a background check. Otherwise that is an illegal question.

I was a recruiter once, there is absolutely no reason to know this and during my years of implementing recruiting systems I tell teams that graduation dates should not be in their systems as it leaves them open to ageism lawsuits.

Generally it is not important to recruiters unless they are entering into some archaic system that requires it. I have seen some systems lately that actually require you to enter the full month and year for degrees, while others leave it as an optional fields. I usually just leave 10 years of relevant data on my resume but that is just me, but I never put dates on my degrees. They can request that info for validation once they get close to making me an offer.

No way; that is odd and I feel like it’s asking for a lawsuit. I would ask what she is doing with that information, and why she needs it. A year shouldn’t be relevant for the position. It does make sense to require the year after you’ve accepted the offer and are completing a background check so they can verify—but super odd to ask during the recruiting process.

I might, but only because I dropped out and then went back and finished my bachelors at the age of 30. If they want to assume my age based on the grad date (which is the only reason to ask that), then they’ll assume I’m almost 10 years younger than I really am.

Now if that weren’t the case I probably wouldn’t.

Also I’m almost old enough now where I still would avoid saying it, because they’ll still think Im old.

Answer the question honestly and stop overthinking it.

I would ask how is that relevant? If you didn't give it on your resume, they were likely fishing for age. Which is a nono, and they know it.

Glad to provide all specific dates, etc. when needed, right now I'm interested in discussing the specifics of the job. Can you give me some details on xxxxx

I don’t know that I would,. I don’t know what the purpose of that question would be other than age discrimination. All they need to know is that you graduated, and that you worked at the places you said you worked and that you worked there when you said you worked there.

If the recruiter is any good, they would know that there are certain advantages to age. Particularly in this market and era. I think you’re overthinking it she perhaps just wants to verify you are who you say you are and if you pass a background check.

PwC, it's obvious that they're seeking to back out ~22-23 years from one's college graduation year (with B.A. or equivalent) to estimate birth year.

No, they don’t need to know. I don’t tell them.

I probably would, but I would try to delay it until they need it for a background check after some actual interviews.

It’s like for identity/ record verification. Best to be honest here. (And most of the time)

Either fess up now or wait for the wheels to fall off in the background check…

If they are going to discriminate against you based on age then they’re not the right recruiter for you

This information is needed once an offer is made and they/you need to do a background check. Do not lie then. As someone has mentioned, it is illegal to discrement against the age. Asking for your graduation date is a sneaky way of figuring out your age. I will stop the process right there; ask them to take a hike.

Almost every application form I have completed for consulting firms has graduation date as a required field.

Yes.