Being over 30 is now a dealbreaker for some employers

The reason? Employers do not choose her simply because she is over 30, and has not had children yet.

An employer interviews a candidate. Illustration photo by Pexels

Her situation is not unique. A startup expert recently admitted to rejecting all job seekers over 30, sparking outrage among millennials. He recounted dismissing a 1990-born candidate with a stellar résumé and years of experience, arguing that people at that age are "too slow, struggling to adapt, and unable to work long hours."

These hiring managers seem overly critical. Not long ago, they looked down on Gen Z candidates for job-hopping and poor work ethic. Now, they label millennials as too old and slow to work efficiently.

They claim millennials with young children cannot keep up with demanding jobs. They also argue that millennials lack experience with AI, social media, and online communication, making them less desirable hires. But these assumptions do not hold up.

The backlash was immediate. Millennials born between 1990 and 1995 are only in their early 30s—hardly "old" or "slow." They have kept pace with rapid tech changes, from Yahoo Messenger to Facebook, keypad phones to smartphones, and office jobs to remote work. Their ability to adapt is just as strong as anyone else's.

Job requirements change, and hiring standards should too. Being young does not mean lacking experience, and being over 30 does not mean being slow. Employers should judge candidates on skills, attitude, and work ethic, not their birth year.

Many hiring managers, however, find work ethic too abstract to measure, so they rely on numbers. And age happens to be the easiest one to use.