TheLadders' editorial team spends a lot of time writing, of course, but we also spend hours each week reading: We review every e-mail inquiry that comes into the company's customer-service mailbox to learn about what matters most to the senior job seekers we're here to serve.

A recent story on questions recruiters can and cannot ask candidates struck a chord with you; we received a wave of responses from readers who had their own stories to tell and questions to ask about how to handle sticky situations.

Most of those e-mails focused on the issue of age discrimination: How far can companies push for information that will reveal your age, and how can you frame a response that turns the situation to your advantage?

For this package, Patty Orsini spoke with your peers about their experiences, then turned to the experts to get real, specific answers. We're proud to share these real-world lessons, and we're here to track down answers that will help your job search. Read these stories, and don't hesitate to share your own with us.