Re: Can't get hired!!!

Bill

Posted on 11/24/10

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On 10/21/09, Mary wrote:
> Is this job discrimination?
> I can't get a teaching job, either! I'm 50 years old, and earned my
> credential 6 years ago. So far, I have only landed sub, part time, and one
> year of full time employment. All of my evaluations are excellent! I was
> laid off due to budget cuts and downsizing... or so HR tells me. After I
> was laid off, I learned from my teacher friends that several new 20-
> something teachers had been hired throughout the district. So, I taught in
> a private religious school for one year. I missed the public school
> environment and re-applied to my old school district the next year.
> Since then, I have been offered jobs by my old principal, only to have HR
> come up with some excuse as to why they can't hire me. On the first job I
> was offered, I was told that a tenured teacher had put in a transfer on the
> Friday before school started and that it had been accepted by HR, so I was
> bumpted!
> I was not even considered for the position she vacated because HR then
> stated that my fingerprints hadn't cleared, so I wouldn't have been able to
> start on the first day of school anyway. I was informed of this at 4:30 pm
> on Friday, the day before school started. I called the fingerprint clearing
> house on the next Monday and was told that in fact, my fingerprints had
> cleared and that HR had been informed by email of such on the previous
> Wednesday - 3 days before the start of school. I informed the district of
> this and was still denied the opportunity to apply for any open positions.
> Well, actually, my request was just ignored.
> Then, a part time teaching position opened up at my old school and I
> quickly accepted it before being informed it paid a low hourly rate without
> any benefits. After a few months, a teacher left the school and I applied
> for the full time position. After interviewing, I was told by the principal
> that I was the top candidate for the job. But once again, HR foiled this
> job opportunity and stated that they had made a mistake and gave a contract
> to a 20-something teacher, who was hired to cover another teacher's sick
> leave. When the sick-leave teacher came back, the 20-something teacher they
> hired was automatically placed in the full time job I had interviewed for.
> I am totally frustrated. Teaching has always been a dream of mine, but
> financially, I wasn't able to make it a reality until I had already worked
> more than 20 years in the medical field. I then spent several more years
> and lots of money to make sure I had a top-notch education and a
> substantial amount of experence to be the best teacher I could be right
> from the start. Now, I see 20-somethings who have very little or no
> experience getting contracts.
> Should I have the EEOC look into this, or am I just a bitter old, new
> teacher?
>
>
> On 9/21/09, JT wrote:
>> It may have nothing to do with age and I'm thinking it has more to do
>> with the salary you earn. It's great that you get pay increases based
>> on years of service but getting back into the field puts you as too
>> costly for a district looking to save money. I think that has more to
>> do with them hiring younger inexperienced teachers. They are looking at
>> starting salary compared to your higher earnings.
>>
>> On 7/29/09, Barbara Hunken wrote:
>>> On 9/13/08, OTD wrote:
>>>> On 9/09/08, Annette wrote:
>>>>> I have worked in education for about 20 years. I had to take
>>>>> the past 5 years off because my oldest daughter broke her neck.
>>>>> While she was recovering I've almost completed my Masters of
>>>>> Special Education (finishing my thesis). In the mean time I've
>>>>> have applied for every position that has opened within a 50
>>>>> mile radius of our home town here in Wyoming. Don't feel bad
>>>>> its not just your area! I have not been able to return to work
>>>>> yet either. Now my daughter is married and I am able to return
>>>>> to work full time and am still unable to find a job. Everyone
>>>>> is hiring first year teachers around these parts or the child
>>>>> of someone that works in the building. I'm getting as
>>>>> frustrated as you are!
>>>>> The OTD reference (older than dirt) seems to justify not getting
>>>> hired in elementary positions for a person over 40 (the age on
>>>> which discrimination suits are based). I am trying to get back into
>>>> the teaching field after substituting for the past 10 years or so.
>>>> I am over 50 and still going strong! I love little children and
>>>> know I am a great teacher! I find that the only "hires" seem to be
>>>> teachers under 30 (many are just out of college). I find it
>>>> extremely frustrating that those of us with sound educational
>>>> theories as well as years of crucial "life skills" are being tossed
>>>> away. Young children today need teachers who "know" what is going
>>>> on in education as well as "on the streets". I strongly believe in
>>>> hiring young educators (we were all there once!), but there needs
>>>> to be a balance in our schools of older experienced teachers as
>>>> well as those just starting out. I also believe that districts want
>>>> to keep us older experienced teachers as subs because we know what
>>>> we're doing and are very reliable. Thanks for letting me get this
>>>> out............it is very discouraging not to be in a classroom
>>>> when I have so....much to give to children!
>>>>> Im not able to move due to financial issues so if you can move
>>>>> go for it. And Good Luck! God Bless!
>>>>>
>>>>> On 8/22/08, Unemployed SPED Teacher wrote:
>>>>>> Susan, you're not alone. I've sent out 25 applications since
>>>>>> April throughout California, using the statewide teacher job
>>>>>> board. Of those, I was invited to 5 interviews and so far
>>>>>> have had no job offer. Most schools here start next week.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> As a fully credential Special Ed teacher with 8 years of
>>>>>> experience I've been totally shocked. I too have wondered,
>>>>>> as you said: "Am I too old?" I'm 57 and was hoping to get at
>>>>>> least 5 more years of teaching into the state retirement
>>>>>> system here, especially since I won't be able to dip into my
>>>>>> Social Security because of the teachers retirement fund
>>>>>> regulations. So, subbing is not a good idea for me, as then
>>>>>> NOTHING will be going into my state teacher retirement fund.
>>>>>> Not to mention NO BENEFITS. Since July 1st I have been
>>>>>> continuing my medical and dental insurance through COBRA. Do
>>>>>> you have that option?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Similar to you, I've also had fellow teachers - a couple who
>>>>>> run departments and often are on a panel to interview - look
>>>>>> at my application packets, resume, cover letter, and
>>>>>> reference letters, and been assured I'm impeccably qualified.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> A colleage suggested to me that I file a complaint with the
>>>>>> state of California Fair Employment for age discrimination,
>>>>>> but I'm afraid to do that since I know a lot of prospective
>>>>>> employers can pull up as much background information on you
>>>>>> as they want and that often includes checks not only into
>>>>>> whether or not you have a My Space or Facebook web page but
>>>>>> also legal complaints you may have filed, including Workers
>>>>>> Compensation cases.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> After all the hard work (4 years of school while teaching
>>>>>> full-time) to get my credential and over $25,000 in tuition
>>>>>> loan debts, it's hard for me to think about leaving the
>>>>>> profession, but if I don't find something soon I will have to
>>>>>> search for anything else I might be able to find, maybe even
>>>>>> just a simple Secretary or Administrative Assistant. At this
>>>>>> point in spite of the obvious pay cut this actually sounds
>>>>>> refreshing since at least then I'd be able to come home after
>>>>>> work every day and not have to continue working on student
>>>>>> papers and reports, lesson plans, evaluation goals and
>>>>>> objectives or chaperoning a dance!
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Obviously, the economy has a lot to do with our mutual
>>>>>> situation, and as I'm sure you've heard, California currently
>>>>>> has NO budget because the Republicans and Democrats in the
>>>>>> state senate can't agree on what cuts and/or taxes to
>>>>>> implement. (Like the children we teach, they need to be
>>>>>> given a DEADLINE by which they complete their assignment or
>>>>>> risk penalties to THEIR wages for each day they are pst the
>>>>>> deadline!!! They just don't seem to get it that the
>>>>>> children - our future citizens and taxpayers - are the ones
>>>>>> who are being most impacted by having to learn in overcrowded
>>>>>> or understafed environments!!!)
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Thanks for letting me rant and good luck. If it's any
>>>>>> consolation, my cousin's wife in Georgia is having similar
>>>>>> problems finding a teaching spot.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On 8/15/08, Susan wrote:
>>>>>>> Frustration has set in!!! Since January of this year I
>>>>>>> have sent out over 175 applications for various K - 6
>>>>>>> teaching jobs in the state of MN. Definately it is who you
>>>>>>> know!! I previously taught preschool for 4 years at a
>>>>>>> private school and have had public school officials tell
>>>>>>> me that I can't count that as teaching because I did not
>>>>>>> have to be licensed due to it being a private school (even
>>>>>>> though I had a degree in early childhood ed) Any how, I am
>>>>>>> tierd of substitute teaching in 3 different districts and
>>>>>>> 2 private schools. I have even had the secretaries at
>>>>>>> schools where I have subbed repeatedly state that they did
>>>>>>> not want to see my name on the list for full time because
>>>>>>> I am such a good and reliable substitute.
>>>>>>> FRUSTRATION!!!!!!! I need medical insurance and can't get
>>>>>>> it only being a sub. I have had several people look at my
>>>>>>> resume and said it was perfect but why then am I not
>>>>>>> getting hired? Am I too old? 43 or what?
Bill says: American culture is laden with rapacious greed. Let's face it.
There is contempt for people over 50 and possibly younger even. We have to be
realistic and outsource ourselves to other realms. Colleges are eager to
engage students in expensive programs (undergrad/grad), as this keeps their
systems growing and food on their own tables. I did a search engine "ageism
in academia" and read many sophisticated blogs from people in higher
education: phd's, etc. who have face discrimination. It's hard to prove
legally, and schools know it. Someone here in this blog said "it's who you
know." I believe that. Academia has become corporate enterprise. It is
dirty business. We seniors feel we have life experience as well as education
to offer young minds/young college students, but the naked truth is that no
one in a hiring capacity cares. They have the same prejudices as the Jim Crow
South! Shallow people. Dirty politics and lies. Seek and construct a new
pardigm. Become philosophical about life and your destiny. Look outside the
box, and accept some painful realities about our country's economy and
politics. Someone great said "the people get the government they deserve."
This can be due to apathy/greed/self-interest, etc., but everyone is affected
by the vote/or lack thereof. Last of all, my heart goes out to all of you who
have faced this problem! I have known this bitterness. You cannot let it
kill you. There is life after rejection. . . just be creative, patient and
resigned to feeling powerless. The good news is that one never knows in life
what lies around the corner. There are still surprises. Bless you.

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