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I am a woman in my 50's who will be graduating with a second Masters in December. My degrees are :BS in Applied Sociology/Minor in Forensic Psychology, MA in Sociology/Minor in Criminal Justice, and a Masters Certification in Forensic Psychology.
My goal is to be a jury consultant and/or investigator, or a job that utilizes my life experiences combined with my education, however I have received rejection letter after rejection letter, and I'm getting discouraged. In my past life, I worked in blue-collar male-dominated occupations, the most recent I was a Locomotive Engineer for a large railroad.
Can anyone tell me how I can break through the age barrier and land a job? And can someone explain why state applications ask if the applicant is over 40? TIA for any advice.
Location: RI, MA, VT, WI, IL, CA, IN (that one sucked), KY
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Arabianhorsebreeder
Can anyone tell me how I can break through the age barrier and land a job? And can someone explain why state applications ask if the applicant is over 40? TIA for any advice.
People over 40 are protected by ADEA.
Anybody can ask for the age or birthdate. Legally they can't discriminate on it.
But they obviously DO discriminate on age. You can write anything and make it law. Those that want to avoid it find ways to do it. Try proving they're discriminating. They know nobody will.
How can you challenge it? I don't know. Leave off college graduation dates on resume and only list 10 yrs of work experience, that's what all the "experts" advise. But on the application itself and on the interviews? I don't know what the answer is.
But they obviously DO discriminate on age. You can write anything and make it law. Those that want to avoid it find ways to do it. Try proving they're discriminating. They know nobody will.
How can you challenge it? I don't know. Leave off college graduation dates on resume and only list 10 yrs of work experience, that's what all the "experts" advise. But on the application itself and on the interviews? I don't know what the answer is.
I feel the same about age discrimination. It's so obvious but how do I fight it? I have no interest in retiring, have no children, and my husband supports my wish to work as long as I want. Additionally, I am a realist and understand that I will not receive top pay when I don't have hands on experience in my new career choice. I just want an opportunity to get my foot in the door.
I would try gov't type jobs like city, country, state, fed. They have quotas they have to follow so maybe the age thing would not bother them. Private employers, I don't know, they seem to be getting away with anything and everything under the sun. Social work I think you have to be licensed in your state to practice. Jury consultants are probably independent contractors I would think. Try court system where you live, that's a gov't job. You can try applying to certain law firms - if you can tolerate working for lawyers.(lol) But like I said, don't put 15-20 years worth of job experience. That's how they figure out your age. Just put 10 yrs.
But they obviously DO discriminate on age. You can write anything and make it law. Those that want to avoid it find ways to do it. Try proving they're discriminating. They know nobody will.
How can you challenge it? I don't know. Leave off college graduation dates on resume and only list 10 yrs of work experience, that's what all the "experts" advise. But on the application itself and on the interviews? I don't know what the answer is.
Yea, employment is so strange these days. There is a line of thinking, including many posters on here who do hiring, who say that young people expect too much, can't work, and have no skills. And then these same people who trash the young don't want to hire anyone in their own age bracket because they're too qualified and thus they have to pay them too much money.
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