Young DUer's...ever experience age discrimination?

[Jamison]

OK, before I get into this story, I need to give a little background info. on myself. I'm 29 years old & have a college degree. I currently work for the state of Missouri where I make a barely better than Wal-Mart type wage. I'm looking for a career-change and just recently got my license to sell real estate in Missouri.

Right now, I'm trying to get on with a real-estate agency since I have my license. I've had 3 interviews so far with 2 no call-backs, so I assume they didn't want me. The other company said to me "You just wouldn't fit in here." In the interview with that company they stressed that the typical real estate agent in our area is a 48-year old female. I really think they didn't want me because of my age, but could I be just jumping to conclusions?

Here's another thing...I was telling some of my neighbor's about my job hunting troubles, and one of them who's not so nice piped up and commented "There's no way in hell I'd ever buy a home from some young kid like you!" This is 50 year old guy who claims to be a libertarian & a * hater, but then again he thinks Shawn Hannity is a great guy. Anyway, I asked him why he thought I couldn't do the job solely because of my age. This guy's reply made me pretty angry, he basically said that anyone between the ages of 18-34 should not have a better job than something like Wal-Mart, McDonald's, waiting tables, etc. regardless of education. Talking to this guy got me to thinking that I had experienced older people with similar views like this. I could give more about our conversation, but I don't want to write a novel here.

I'm just wondering if any of you other young DUer's have experienced this type of discrimination. If so, share your story if you want. Anyway, I am a bit discouraged, but I'm not going to give up on my job hunt because I really would like to become a realtor.

[koopie57]

1. is there any special reason why you need to stay in Missouri?

We bought our first home from a young man who by selling to us, sold his first home. At a Kerry rally we met a very young girl who was part of a local real estate agency. By the way, we are in Minnesota. Just wanted to mention this.

[Jamison]

2. I could move...

but then I'd have to get re-licensed in another state. I could do that, but I want to start out here, and then eventually move to Georgia or Tennessee.

[Jamison]

3. .

bump up

[mark414]

4. umm yes

i am 20, but when i was 18 i spent a year working for this americorps program where i did a lot with nonprofits here in milwaukee...no one at my job or any other organization i was trying to work with and get on board with the project i was working on would take me seriously, it was very frustrating

i had good, solid ideas that would've worked, but they would always listen to me and then reply with a sort of "that's nice little boy, but let the old folks handle this" sort of attitude

same thing happened when i was working for America Coming Together before the election...myself and another woman were in charge of organizing the two largest college campuses in milwaukee, in an effort to get out as much of the student vote as possible. again, we both had great ideas (she's a little older than me...25), but even the fact that i attended one of those schools and was much more in touch with student culture and attitudes still had no bearing on them...they didn't want to let me do half the things i had planned out

in both cases i held my ground; in the first one, didn't end so well, but for ACT i ended up being able to do everything i wanted to do

i've got plenty more examples for sure, and it's pretty frustrating but i know how you feel, just keep pushing and don't let people throw you aside like that

[Jamison]

5. .

kick

[spooky3]

6. Seems strange, since you aren't that young.

Lots of real estate agents began before your age. Is it possible they are looking for you to talk them into hiring you as a test of your sales ability? Is it possible you look or act younger than 29? I know, that shouldn't matter, but it might. What if you tried looking like the photos of top agents who have listings in your local paper (super-conservative clothes, neighborly hairdo, etc.)? I've heard that people like to work with agents whom they'd welcome as neighbors.

If I were in your position, I might try to talk to an agent you admire and ask him/her for frank feedback about how to strengthen your approach. Maybe s/he would be willing to give you a mock interview and then give you some tips.

(on edit) PS congratulations on getting your license.

[tjwash]

8. You beat me to it. I was gonna say just that.

That's what the SE's at my job do to potential hires. They go out of their way to make it sound like there is no way in hell they would even think about hiring you, and you have to change their mind.

After all, RE is a devastatingly competitive field. If you can't sell yourself, how the hell are you gonna sell a piece of property?

Oh, and 29 isn't that young. Far too old to be playing the "age discrimination" card. Age discrimination is usually toward older people, not younger.

[Jamison]

10. I do look younger than 29.

I know how to dress appropriately, but most people would say I look like I'm about 23. I do look more my age if I grow out a goatee & moustache. Personally I thought my interviews went well and I did all I could to sell myself. Maybe I just haven't came across the right realtor yet. I 'm talking to Prudential Select properties right now as a prospect, and they seem pretty promising.

[GirlinContempt]

7. Yes, all the time

Not so much at work... there I get sex discrimination, working in technology, being a woman...

But I have people dismissing my political beliefs all the time because I'm young and apparently obviously just have yet to learn how the world really should work. Fortunately most of the organizations I work with don't treat me this way, the older members (in their 30s-50s) respect my opinions and listen to me. But anyone who's older who disagrees with what I say seems to pull the "you're young you'll grow out of it" card instead of actually countering any of my points, or listening to me.

[Nikia]

9. The job that I didn't get last year

It was a job for a quality manager at a relatively small plant. The plant was part of a larger corporation though. My final interview round was at corporate headquarters where I interviewed with a bunch of vice presidents. It was an approval interview. I wasn't competing against anyone. I was the plant's top choice and they paid to fly me down there.
I didn't get the job. The local human resources person said that a big part of coporate disapproval was that they thought that I was too young. I was 26 years old, which they may have been able to tell from my college graduation dates and work history. Even if they weren't there, I get carded regularly, even for 18 so I probably look younger than average.

[aeolian]

11. I started out as a rookie physicist/engineer on a team of mostly

40-year-olds. "You're my son's age." Boy, I got sick of hearing that.

I earned my respect, mainly by identifying problems before they happened, solving problems that no one else could, and, of course, pointing out when the boss was wrong. :) A gamble, yes, but you've just got to show them that you can play on the same field.

I realize now (five years later and seeing a new crop of graduates starting out) that it wasn't "discrimination" per se, just that they didn't know weather or not I could handle it. You've just got to prove yourself.

Of course, it may be different in other fields. Just speaking from my own experience.