So, how old are you? Yes, Skladany said, a potential employer can ask an interviewee their age. "It's legal to ask, it's illegal to use the information," he said. In fact, according to Skladany, an interviewee should be comforted when someone asks the age question directly "because they have the information on record if you challenge their decisions on the basis of age discrimination." That said, Skladany indicated that certain industries are going to skew their hiring toward younger workers, regardless of the credentials and experience an older applicant shows on their resume. "Entertainment and advertising are two of the most visible," he said. "And higher technology, they thrive on the perception of 'fit' based on physical attributes and cultural attributes." "Fit," Skladany said, is sometimes a subtle form of age discrimination. "Fit is considered to be an accumulation of real and perceived attitudes, work history, style, how you dress, how you problem solve, how you work in a team," he said. "Very often, their perception of an older worker is incompatible with high tech [industries]." So, what is an older jobseeker to do? Look for work in the right places, Skladany said. "Nursing and customer service are extremely receptive to older workers," he said. "So are insurance, higher education, health care, retail, and the federal government." The other thing that an older job applicant can do is read up on and know your rights under the federal and state Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA)laws. It's also important to know what types of skills you have and what kind of jobs you are looking for . and get that information concisely on your resume. And of course, be at your best when you do land that interview. That may mean splurging on an new outfit or hitting the gym; it definitely means researching the company you're interviewing with and practicing your interview ahead of time with a trusted friend or mentor. Most importantly, keep you skills fresh take a course on that new computer program , learn to use the Internet (many libraries offer introductory courses for free) and get a cell phone if you don't have one. "And stop permitting your anxiety about age bias to influence your behavior!" Skladany said.