Anyone out of a job, and have had the following problem....

Surprise! This thread doesn't concern me (tho I had a similar event happen recently). This is something I need to run past a few of you economy/ labor/ just plain experts:

A friend of mine applies for a job in his field. He is qualified, he does any job he gets well. He has applied for, and gone to interviews on several jobs- who reject him, and then actually change the ad in the newspaper. This basically negates his qualifications completely, and it is driving him nuts. One factor someone else pointed out was he's "over 40", which should NOT have any bearing on his ability to work. Now, this is happening in NC, land of 'right to work', and illegal employer crap that makes most people want to move out.

I want to bounce some theories as to why this is happening:

Are employers getting some sort of govt cash for 'putting' ads out to make it look for employment, and if someone IS qualified, the rules have to be changed, since 'employee somehow= no more govt gravy'?

Is there some sort of state corruption going on that is keeping the unemployment numbers artificially high, so the state gets $$?

Is it a business level fraud?

Or is this state so screwed up, that this is just SOP, and anyone with any sense and any money should just leave and find pastures not fertilized by the crap we have to be fed?

As a way to give a better idea- This is what happened to me:

I went to Burger King for a 'cash job'. Something to rake in some spending money for me. I first had to wander town to find a BK that actually had an application... It wasn't 'go apply online ( I tried, the one I wanted to work at wasn't listed)- It was a blank look and 'we dont have any. Try (another location)'. Oh- keep in mind the help wanted sign had been up for a month during most of this.

Anyways, I find an application online, print it out, fill it out, turn it in. I go back a few days later- I was told 'manager's on vacation. Come back in 2 weeks'. (meanwhile during these '2 weeks', the help wanted sign went away). I come back 2 weeks later- the person behind the counter then proceeds to tell me 'he's not here, he's in another city for a week. Call this # tonight.' I did this. I get 'Oh, he's not here. Call tomorrow'. I called the next day, 'oh, he's not in.' During this time, I did NOT mention my name, or was there any connection between me and my application. I had never been run around like this ever, and the entire ordeal was beyond what was needed, especially at some burger joint. What IS being hired- are dull eyed, slow, almost braindead people who are one step away from being on life support. Someone like me, intelligent, ect- are passed right out the door.

My g/f said she applied at a Mcdonalds- She was refused an application outright by the person behind the counter. she is also intelligent, able to multitask, ect.

Is this a normal procedure around the country, or only here in NC- a 'right to work' state that obviously needs it's labor laws burned to the ground and rebuilt by real, normal people? I am dying to know- because so far, work experiences so far sound like those scary stories people tell around a campfire at night.....

There is a ton of people out of work, right now employers have a huge number of applicants to chose from. Sorry, but the application you are turning in today is 1 of 200 or more.

if a burger flip joint job is what you desire id suggest you just buy a hotdog stand and get a permit and be your own boss, you´d even make more money with the same amount of work.

to be frank i dont even understand why you´d want to sell your "soul" to a mega corporation who dont even offer you a dental plan or anything of that value.

What I am describing is a far cry from simply being refused. Everyone's gone thru that- This guy gets ignored and has witnessed an entire newspaper ad rewritten to keep him (and probably a lot of other people) from actually *getting* the job being advertised. I wouldn't have even written anything about it if it didn't sound so freaky and weird and just plain wrong.

reply to post by zerbot565

Me. With a hot dog stand... Hoo! I cant cook- think of all the poor souls I'd be sending to their deaths!

As for the job, it wasn't for the benefits, it was just for extra padding in my pocket for those things I'd like to get. Basically, part time 'walking around town' cash. I agree, tho- working for a mega corporation is bad... Working for a mega corporation in NC is a lot like walking into a tiger cage blindfolded and wearing your lucky ham. (see the Carol Burnett Show bloopers on youtube for the reference)

Well, i work in casino's... the run around and things half planned/ half done normal for me XD

reply to post by wylekat


well, yes. That's the nature of trying to get hired in todays world.

What line of work is your friend looking for?

At his age he might not just fit in with the other workers.

reply to post by wylekat


if i recall correctly, here in Finland if the job is publicly made available then everyone can apply and if your age is the factor why you didnt get the job its then discrimination, everything must be explained in the ad.

i know quite a few people who make a buck from selling hotdogs , lunch and afterhours during weekends , might not be the most glamorous job but it pays the the bills and havent stopped them from visiting thailand for a 3month trip yearly.

other then that all i can suggest is to get a job in the "helping" people field, theres a ton of old , young , "special" , disabled , families who need support from people and as far as i know it pays quite well and one might even learn something about one self.

reply to post by Pluto64


I believe it is (or was) in the IT/ information field.... tho he's probably just trying for anything at this point.

reply to post by zerbot565

i know quite a few people who make a buck from selling hotdogs , lunch and afterhours during weekends , might not be the most glamorous job but it pays the the bills and havent stopped them from visiting thailand for a 3month trip yearly.

If I could cook, I'd do it... but as someone who manages to give himself food poisoning once every couple months... would YOU open a hot dog stand?

As for discrimination- sure- we have laws here in the US- and corporations know every loophole to STILL discriminate. As for NC... Holy mother of spit... This place is a scary, nasty place to try to not only get hired in, but to keep a job..... Look up 'right to work state' and see if you can find a forum listing the pros and cons. 'Equal Opportunity', my *beep*.

I honestly would love to see if I can help my friend out and have him be able to walk in, and next time this happens, have the offending businesses' head on a pike, legally speaking.

looked abit wierd i have to say , equality is not even a word that comes to mind..

seams that people still get payed but the color of their clothes...

I've been denied applications before and 'advised' to seek employment elsewhere. This happened at the State Workforce Office. There was a black lady that worked there and any time I had to deal with her she would blatantly flat out refuse to give me an application for a job because she was saving them for black job applicants.

I met with the Supervisor and asked him about it. Soon after she was let go because of similar complaints from other people.

reply to post by Detailed Perfection


thats a classic one , thing is they cant refuse your application , its the jobplace you apply for that can and even they must have a good resonable reason as to why to want to refuse you the job or sack you.

Originally posted by wylekat
Surprise! This thread doesn't concern me (tho I had a similar event happen recently). This is something I need to run past a few of you economy/ labor/ just plain experts:

A friend of mine applies for a job in his field. He is qualified, he does any job he gets well. He has applied for, and gone to interviews on several jobs- who reject him, and then actually change the ad in the newspaper. This basically negates his qualifications completely, and it is driving him nuts. One factor someone else pointed out was he's "over 40", which should NOT have any bearing on his ability to work. Now, this is happening in NC, land of 'right to work', and illegal employer crap that makes most people want to move out.

I want to bounce some theories as to why this is happening:

Are employers getting some sort of govt cash for 'putting' ads out to make it look for employment, and if someone IS qualified, the rules have to be changed, since 'employee somehow= no more govt gravy'?

Is there some sort of state corruption going on that is keeping the unemployment numbers artificially high, so the state gets $$?

Is it a business level fraud?

Or is this state so screwed up, that this is just SOP, and anyone with any sense and any money should just leave and find pastures not fertilized by the crap we have to be fed?

As a way to give a better idea- This is what happened to me:

I went to Burger King for a 'cash job'. Something to rake in some spending money for me. I first had to wander town to find a BK that actually had an application... It wasn't 'go apply online ( I tried, the one I wanted to work at wasn't listed)- It was a blank look and 'we dont have any. Try (another location)'. Oh- keep in mind the help wanted sign had been up for a month during most of this.

Anyways, I find an application online, print it out, fill it out, turn it in. I go back a few days later- I was told 'manager's on vacation. Come back in 2 weeks'. (meanwhile during these '2 weeks', the help wanted sign went away). I come back 2 weeks later- the person behind the counter then proceeds to tell me 'he's not here, he's in another city for a week. Call this # tonight.' I did this. I get 'Oh, he's not here. Call tomorrow'. I called the next day, 'oh, he's not in.' During this time, I did NOT mention my name, or was there any connection between me and my application. I had never been run around like this ever, and the entire ordeal was beyond what was needed, especially at some burger joint. What IS being hired- are dull eyed, slow, almost braindead people who are one step away from being on life support. Someone like me, intelligent, ect- are passed right out the door.

My g/f said she applied at a Mcdonalds- She was refused an application outright by the person behind the counter. she is also intelligent, able to multitask, ect.

Is this a normal procedure around the country, or only here in NC- a 'right to work' state that obviously needs it's labor laws burned to the ground and rebuilt by real, normal people? I am dying to know- because so far, work experiences so far sound like those scary stories people tell around a campfire at night.....

Thanks for telling us that your friend was applying for a professional job as an IT worker. What you just described is actually a tactic to get through a loop hole that the govt. has. You see for a place to hire a H1b visa professional (with lower pay) from overseas, they have to prove that there isn't any american workers that are able to or applied for the job. There's many techniques, like putting an ad for IT administrator in areas of the US that have very very low education levels and then saying we can't get anybody. And if somebody does apply they will nitpick their resume to the point that they find them incompatible for their organization. And what you described they will tighten the job advertisement in order to make it impossible to find an american worker who can qualify. There is a video on you tube that was taped in secret at a conference of Human Resource people where the law firm was telling them this and other ways to get around the American worker.

Your not seeing things and neither is your friend, they are trying to bring down American living standards to the third world. Believe me, parts of the US is already a third world.

reply to post by hoghead cheese


Ya know? It makes sense. I am going to email your post to him and let him decide what to do next.

Sounds like they're violating some sort of discrimination law. Whether it be age, character, etc...

I have seen this happen before personally. I am over 40 and I have seen this trend to higher younger employees. The original ad will say something like 5+ years experience and then change to 2-5 years experience.

From what I have gathered through my experiences, Companies automatically think that someone with 10+ years experience will request or require higher salaries that those with 5 years exp.

There is and has always been a trend to higher younger people. I would say that those who are between 25-35 have a greater chance of getting the job if all else is equal.

I would say, if you have 20+ years of work history on your resume. It is time to cut it in half. It may help you get an interview where otherwise you may be screened out for being to old. Of course it won't help in the interview, but at least if you are in front of them you have a shot.

It really sucks out there right now. Any company hiring right now knows they can afford to be super specific in their search. So they are now putting their dream candidate in their ads and holding out for that exact person to walk through the door.