Which discriminatory employment practice violates laws regarding equal opportunity?

Rejecting a candidate based on age is a discriminatory employment practice that violates equal opportunity laws, such as the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA). This law is specifically aimed at protecting individuals who are 40 years of age or older from discrimination in hiring, promotion, discharge, and other employment-related actions based on age. Age discrimination undermines the principles of merit-based hiring and equitable treatment in the workplace, where individuals should be assessed on their skills, experience, and ability to perform the job, rather than their age.

In contrast, considering education credentials, employing based on skills, and promoting based on performance are practices that typically support fair and equitable hiring and advancement processes. These approaches focus on the qualifications and capabilities of the candidates rather than personal characteristics that have no bearing on job performance, which is why they are not considered discriminatory.