Was this a proper decision by the EEOC?

A major cosmetics company posted a position on a local jobs board looking for a sales representative. The posting stated “Established fortune 500 company has an immediate opening for sales representative in the New York area. Candidates should have 3 or more years of experience in the cosmetics industry and a proven track record of success in this field.”

Sara and Jim both applied for the position in New York City. Sara is 24 and has 3 years of experience with a rival cosmetics company in their marketing department. Jim has 18 years of experience as a cosmetics representative who has just recently been laid off and is 49 years old. The company decided to hire Sara; and during the interview process, Jim was told that the company thought women were better suited for the cosmetics industry. It was also alluded to during Jim’s interview that the company wanted younger people to promote their product line.

Jim filed a lawsuit with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and after a year and a half of litigation, Jim was awarded the job. During this time, Sara had been a very successful employee; however, with only one position available, the company had to fire Sara.

• Was this a proper decision by the EEOC?
• If you worked for the EEOC, how would you have decided on this case? Explain your reasoning.