Rejected for every job I've applied to lately. What equal opportunities !?!

[Mr Allen]

Above.

And I didn't declare my AS and other problems either! Also, I can't help that nearly all my retail experience is in Charity shops, it's literally been the only work I've ever been able to get.

Am I unemployable? I feel I've wasted the last 20 odd years doing voluntary to get a 3 page CV of experience because I can't even get a poxy part time position selling Cookies.

Seriously WTH!

 

[Bolletje]

I feel bad for you, I really do. But if charity shops are the only jobs you’ve been able to get for the last 20 years, don’t you think that might mean that other jobs are simply not suitable for you?
I honestly wish you the best, but wanting something really bad doesn’t mean it’s attainable or possible at all. And you do seem to have a history of setting your sights on jobs that are unsuitable for you from the get-go.

 

[SunnyDay16]

Getting a job is difficult for many people even without Asperger's, so you're not alone there.

I'll say to just keep trying Brush up on your interview skills and try to sell yourself as much as you can. These are entry level positions I'm guessing?

 

[Mary Anne]

Above.

And I didn't declare my AS and other problems eothe! Also, I can't help that nearly all my retail experience is in Charity shops, it's litereally been the only work I've ever been able to get.

Am I unemployable? I feel I've wasted the last 20 odd years doing voluntary to get a 3 page CV of experience because I can't even get a poxy part time position selling Cookies.

Seriously WTH!

We have discussed this repeatedly about how you have not “wasted” the past 20 years volunteering...in fact multiple times. Yet you keep repeating the same sentences, and actions over and over. You are not listening. Now you seem to be on a pity train of hopeless negativity. Sorry, but your frustrations make me feel frustrated too.

“Setting your sights on jobs that are unsuitable for you from the get-go” is true. Also, some of the very best job I have ever worked were indeed “volunteer” ones. I will never forget those enjoyable years. I only wish paid positions were as accommodating, stress free, casual, and awesome. So please stop putting down volunteerism! It’s one of THE most notable and respectful endeavors a human being can do.

 

[Southern Discomfort]

Are there any groups in your area that specialise with getting people with disabilities and mental health problems back into work? The first one that springs to mind is Genius Within. They were featured in the BBC programme, Employable Me.

I've recently got in contact with UCAN which is for people here in Dorset. For the first time I'm actually excited about the prospect of being in paid work.

 

[Mr Allen]

Are there any groups in your area that specialise with getting people with disabilities and mental health problems back into work? The first one that springs to mind is Genius Within. They were featured in the BBC programme, Employable Me.

I've recently got in contact with UCAN which is for people here in Dorset. For the first time I'm actually excited about the prospect of being in paid work.

I'm with Autism Plus, and about a month ago they sent me on an employability course down at The Source near Meadowhall, complete waste of mine and their time IMO, as a month later I'm still unemployable.

And they still haven't sent the certificate that says I completed the 3 week course! So much for that idea.

I have an appointment with Autism Plus on Wednesday morning next week, but I know for a factual fact I won't get a job out of going there every other week, they're good but even they can get past prejudice and discrimination against 40 odd year old disabled guys with AS.

I know people will now flame me for crying discrimination every time I get rejected, but why else am I getting the knock back every time when I have LOTS of experience?!

 

[SunnyDay16]

I'm with Autism Plus, and about a month ago they sent me on an employability course down at The Source near Meadowhall, complete waste of mine and their time IMO, as a month later I'm still unemployable.

And they still haven't sent the certificate that says I completed the 3 week course! So much for that idea.

I have an appointment with Autism Plus on Wednesday morning next week, but I know for a factual fact I won't get a job out of going there every other weerk, they're good but even they can get past prejudice and discrimination against 40 odd year old disabled guys with AS.

I know people will now flame me for crying discrimination every time I get rejected, but why else am I getting the knock back every time when I have LOTS of experience?!

Because it's the nature of looking for jobs. It's extremely competitive. Employers are probably getting tons of applications each day from seekers, so they are able to be as picky as they want.

 

[Judge]

I suspect you just have to keep trying, until you come across a potential employer who doesn't maintain the bias of dismissing a CV entirely composed of voluntary labor. Probably your biggest hurdle, apart from being able to remain socially cordial and willing in a job interview. A tough requirement many Aspies, myself included.

We can all applaud you for your altruism in working on a voluntary basis. It speaks positively for you on a personal level. However it doesn't negate the concerns of prospective employers who must assess voluntary labor through non-profit organizations.

Someone else pointed out this distinction in another thread. Non-profit organizations are likely to operate at a loss, dependent on charitable donations and tax write-offs. Businesses that don't operate for profit, and fundamentally don't have to stress any urgency of optimal performance on the part of anyone contributing to such an effort.

That while you may do no better or worse behind a counter assisting customers as would a paid employee, the very nature of volunteer work skews any perception of how well you may actually be doing at that job. That without the motivation of receiving a paycheck and the oversight of a for-profit business, there is no real way to properly assess whatever efforts you have made in those kind of jobs.

It's not fair and it sucks. However it remains a basic and logical business consideration when approaching a for-profit business for employment. Leaving any serious considerations of autism and disabilities likely to be a moot point.

 

[Mr Allen]

We have discussed this repeatedly about how you have not “wasted” the past 20 years volunteering...in fact multiple times. Yet you keep repeating the same sentences, and actions over and over. You are not listening. Now you seem to be on a pity train of hopeless negativity. Sorry, but your frustrations make me feel frustrated too.

“Setting your sights on jobs that are unsuitable for you from the get-go” is true. Also, some of the very best job I have ever worked were indeed “volunteer” ones. I will never forget those enjoyable years. I only wish paid positions were as accommodating, stress free, casual, and awesome. So please stop putting down volunteerism! It’s one of THE most notable and respectful endeavors a human being can do.

How are these jobs unsuitable? They're customer facing, customer serving retail jobs, which is what I've trained to do and have qualifications in.

Just because YOU wouldn't do that, you don't even want an Alexa cos you'd have to talk to it, doesn't mean I'm the same and share your lack of social skills.

 

[Mary Anne]

How are these jobs unsuitable? They're customer facing, customer serving retail jobs, which is what I've trained to do and have qualifications in.

Just because YOU wouldn't do that, you don't even want an Alexa cos you'd have to talk to it, doesn't mean I'm the same and share your lack of social skills.

My lack of social skills? I have always have extremely public social jobs (though I wish I didn’t). I have worked in management, retail sales, teaching, communications, advertising, and in clinical mental health settings too. I worked at getting felons and disabled people jobs.

Not to mention I worked in the adult entertainment industry. Yes, I have learned to be “social,” not spread negativity, nor use my own disabilities as a pity party or crutch. I might not enjoy being social, but I am very good at it due to unwavering practice.

What does Alexa have to do with volunteering or paid work? I do not need a machine to talk to me! I work / talk with too many people all day long! Alexa would do absolutely nothing for me. Waste of money. I can turn on music when I want with my hands. A wristwatch, or cell phone, or radio can give me the time.

There is nothing “wasted by volunteering.” You keep carrying this negativity around like a weighted chain.

 

[the_tortoise]

I know people will now flame me for crying discrimination every time I get rejected, but why else am I getting the knock back every time when I have LOTS of experience?!

It could at least partly be your lack of paid work experience, like Judge said.....

Do you include cover letters with your CV? A cover letter would provide you with the opportunity to talk up your volunteer positions -- to talk in detail about what was expected of you and to convince them that either you were held to high standards or that you have always held yourself to high standards and to point out the ways you've worked to continuously improve your skills. It's also a way to talk about how your skills are so well-suited to the job you're applying for.

It could also be subtle things in how you present yourself -- body language, facial expression, tone of voice, word choice when answering interview questions. Do you have anybody who could do mock interviews with you, help you to identify and improve any issues with your nonverbal presentation or how you answer questions?

It could be like SunnyDay16 said, too, that you're just not the most qualified applicant/best fit for these jobs you're applying for even if you are qualified enough to do them.

Many, many applicants who are rejected will be well qualified, just like you -- and most of them probably don't have a disabillity. To be chosen for a job you can't just be qualified, you have to be the best qualified out of all the qualified applicants, and also make the best impression.

It's only discrimination if you're rejected on the basis of disability despite being the most impressive and best qualified applicant.

 

[Mary Anne]

Statistics show that people over the age of 35 start finding difficulties in getting hired in non managerial jobs - despite qualifications. It gets worse the older one gets. One is either not qualified, or too qualified. Younger people are desired more for various reasons: they can be hired for much less, they have more stamina, and they can be trained to the company culture w/o all the “baggage” that older workers bring. Plus, companies just like having young people around. They often bring fresh ideas, new technologies, and creativity.

Statistically, after age, race, and sex are other huge factors. Again, the law prohibits, but race (non white) decidedly shows up as a factor in getting hired less. Being female automatically, statistically means you get paid less money! Wearing a hijab, or being of another culture, along with race can be a factor in not getting hired. Attractiveness also plays a factor in getting hired. It is unlawful, but attractive people get those more lucrative retail, sales, and public facing jobs. Overweight people also have less chance of being hired.
Every country have statistics on all this so go look it up.
Vocal accent, dialect, bad teeth, hygiene, poor additudes, poor persona are scrutinized in job interviews. They never tell you what they are looking for, but it’s not all about the skills, experience, or knowledge one brings.

Add on any disability and it is much much harder to be hired in many fields (especially interacting with the public type jobs) despite laws enacted to prevent this. It just is. Laws are in place, but companies get around it all the time. Seeing them is usually pointless if you do not have a clearly identifiable case with clear evidence.

It’s all wrong, it all sucks, but Rich can choose to be angry and negative, or just keep pulling himself up and keep trying again and again. Or, find something he is passionate about and create a business income out of that. Many do. Or, stop attaching “income” as a success measure, and just do what makes him happy regardless of monetizing it. He already has income which supplies all his needs via the governmental programs.

 

[Mr Allen]

It could at least partly be your lack of paid work experience, like Judge said.....

Do you include cover letters with your CV? A cover letter would provide you with the opportunity to talk up your volunteer positions -- to talk in detail about what was expected of you and to convince them that either you were held to high standards or that you have always held yourself to high standards and to point out the ways you've worked to continuously improve your skills. It's also a way to talk about how your skills are so well-suited to the job you're applying for.

It could also be subtle things in how you present yourself -- body language, facial expression, tone of voice, word choice when answering interview questions. Do you have anybody who could do mock interviews with you, help you to identify and improve any issues with your nonverbal presentation or how you answer questions?

It could be like SunnyDay16 said, too, that you're just not the most qualified applicant/best fit for these jobs you're applying for even if you are qualified enough to do them.

Many, many applicants who are rejected will be well qualified, just like you -- and most of them probably don't have a disabillity. To be chosen for a job you can't just be qualified, you have to be the best qualified out of all the qualified applicants, and also make the best impression.

It's only discrimination if you're rejected on the basis of disability despite being the most impressive and best qualified applicant.

I include a cover letter every time yes.

And I'm still looking for work, in fact the Oxfam Bookshop I used to work in are advertising for volunteers at the moment, and I'd willingly go back if not for the 2 main reasons I left in the first place, security of the shop itself, just before I left they got burgled in the day time, and not long after that, I got attacked outside the shop while waiting at the Bus stop for my carer, so there's a personal safety issue as well.

 

[Tom]

Don't they have job programs for people with disabilities in UK?

From what I've seen, you just apply randomly for jobs and do not take or try to use the advise people have given you in your many previous posts on the subject.

 

[Pats]

I'm sorry you are having such a difficult time finding employment. I wish I had some answers for you.

 

[Mr Allen]

Don't they have job programs for people with disabilities in UK?

From what I've seen, you just apply randomly for jobs and do not take or try to use the advise people have given you in your many previous posts on the subject.

They do in fact read above

I am currently with Autism Plus

 

[Misery]

It could also be subtle things in how you present yourself -- body language, facial expression, tone of voice, word choice when answering interview questions. Do you have anybody who could do mock interviews with you, help you to identify and improve any issues with your nonverbal presentation or how you answer questions?

This is definitely something to look into.

I dont work anymore, but back when I did, I was *terrible* at most jobs... yet I'd still get more of them as I'd learned just how important the interview itself is, and how to effectively "win" in it. Which might sound like a strange term to use, but that's one possible way to look at it... you're effectively competing with all the other applicants, so you need to do something that puts you ahead of them. And a cover letter or application is *not* enough. Those things just get you in the door. It's what you do once you're inside that's going to be the real deciding factor. Or what you DONT do.

If you're having this much trouble getting employment even despite all that volunteer work, there might be some aspect you're not aware of in the interviews that's essentially shutting you down. Something you shoiuld be doing in each one that you arent, or something you are doing that interviewers as a whole really dont like. And yes, it could be something as simple and ridiculous as some small aspect of your appearance. Or even your voice, how loud/quiet you might be. Even silly little things like that can win/lose you a job once you're in the room. The problem with interviewers: They want perfection. Nobody is perfect, but they want it anyway, so they WILL pick apart every aspect of you that they are able to witness to spot as many flaws as they can.

Of course, actually figuring out what the issue is, is the whole problem.

The one thing NOT to do though: Dont think of this and just go "But I'm doing everything just fine!". That kind of approach (the refusal to see problems that may exist, LOTS of people do exactly that when faced with frustration like this that involves some task they need to complete) will just make this that much worse. If there are problems, you must figure it out, even if the problem ends up being something bloody stupid, or something you dont like dealing with.

The trouble of course is actually figuring out, well, how to figure it out. Is there any way you can speak with a professional about it? The sort of people that are there to help get you jobs, might be able to do the "mock interview" that others had mentioned above. Which could help greatly. Of course, this is all assuming that they dont do things like say "you're doing great!" just to please you even if there are big problems... that doesnt help anyone.

Good luck either way.

 

[Mr Allen]

Yay! They "featured" my topic!

 

[Bertie Wooster]

Above.

And I didn't declare my AS and other problems either! Also, I can't help that nearly all my retail experience is in Charity shops, it's literally been the only work I've ever been able to get.

Am I unemployable? I feel I've wasted the last 20 odd years doing voluntary to get a 3 page CV of experience because I can't even get a poxy part time position selling Cookies.

Seriously WTH!

I agree with many of the other people here, im sure it isnt you as an individual, the job market is a ferocious arena and many many others would have had the same rejection you experienced. Maybe stop blaming AS for every single thing that doesn't go your way. Just keep battling on mate something will happen maybe even contact the employer explain your circumstances and ask for feedback to work on next time, after all what's the worst that could happen? At least you will know if your doing something wrong.

 

[LadyBird84]

I'm sorry this happened again. I used to have a friend who would phone after rejections to politely ask them if they would tell her why she wasn't picked or if there was anything they recommend she change for a future interview. (This was at a time when jobs were far and few between.) They once told her she wore long earrings and they thought that wasn't very professional. There was another reason why they hired someone else (more experience or something) but she never wore those earrings again. I would never have the balls to do that and I'm not sure this is appropriate in all jobs/cultures (and I'm sure they weren't always honest or even available to answer the question), but I thought I'd mention in case you thought this was something that might help you forward.