Expert: Jason Grabill - 8/20/2010

Question
Hello Sgt. Grabill:

You've discussed age here before, but I have a new twist on the problem.  I started applying for police jobs in my early 40s, after careers in sales and teaching.  Now I'm over 50...with a whole stack of rejection (or "non-selection") letters from more than 10 different agencies from municipal, county, university depts., plus a state police agency, some of whom have interviewed me more than once.  

When I go for interviews -- hiring board or background -- I keep getting this puzzled question "Why weren't you hired by any of these agencies?"  And I honestly don't know.  I have a bachelors degree, clean record, good credit and public contact work history.  Plus I'm in great physical shape, as good as most of the younger guys.  I'm wondering if my growing number of rejections means that I've exceeded my "shelf life?"

So I'm wondering if I should (a) plug onward with the police positions or (b) try something else, such as corrections or (c) give up on this dream.  (Choice (a) is the one that I want the most).  Thanks for any advice.

Answer
Bill:

  Yours isn't an uncommon situation.  Much of it comes down to human dynamics....in other words, once you get that many rejections, hiring boards look at it and say "Hmmmmmmmm.....they must have turned him down for good reason, so we are going to do the same".

 It makes zero sense and isn't very logical, but that is what happens.  Personally, I'd keep on plugging away, (because something similar happened to me).   At one point I had applications in with multiple agencies, all of whom eventually turned me down.  It was certainly disheartening but I kept at it, and eventually was hired by a Federal agency.   

 Me?  I'd keep on going, and re-apply to some of those who've said 'no'.  Not uncommon at all for folks to be rejected several times and then hired.  Persistence does pay off.

Jason