I've been looking for a job since HS, now in college still jobless, do u think im being discriminated against?

I feel discriminated against because of my disability, and according to the disability act I should not be. I feel hopeless going on interviews after interview that my high self-esteem is slowly sinking to low. I feel like taking actions sometimes, nut don't know where to begin. What should I do?
Additional Details
My disability is that i was born with cleft lip and palate, even though I had reconstructive surgery, my nose is crooked. Because of my cleft lip and palate, I have a speech impairment, which makes it a little difficult to understand me. I also have web neck. My disability has nothing to do with my not being able to be employed, especially if the company/job is an equal opportunity employer. All of them say that but they all have a preference. I never held a real position due to this. Its not because I'm looking for the wrong position. I am qualifiable enough just as everyone else. I do things that everyone else's do. It's been years now, and I am running out of options.

Insuranceman

Maybe you just aren't looking in the RIGHT profession or perhaps you don't have the job skills that an employer is looking for.

It will get to be harder and harder with upcoming mandates on small employers.

Judy

What is your disability? Without any info on that, nobody here can have a clue....

x_athymia_x

As you haven't stated your disability, there is no way we can deduce why they might not be hiring you.

Try the 2010 census they are hiring now call 1-866-861-2010 to schedule a test because the sooner you take the test the better chance that they will call you soon. Check out their web site for more information http://www.census.gov/2010censusjobs/ind... there is a practice test on the web site.

Kimche_Spicy

I know this may not seem fair but some jobs require appearance and sometimes clear speaking as well as the job skills.

Knowing what it is you are applying for may help determine if you are truly being discriminated against unjustly or simply it is your perception. Also, critical job interviewing skills also what sets one person apart from another even if the person chosen may have some less skills than the other.

I say this because I am a successful person in job interviews. I usually have had a 80% call back ratio. In addition to those call backs, I have had at least 70% of those call backs offer me a job which has afforded me to pick and choose where I want to be employed allowing me options based on benefits and pay scale being offered at each.

Here are some examples:

TV news person in front of the camera. I may be current events savvy and understand my history, but if I do not have a clear speaking voice AND television looks, my knowledge will be useless. They will most likely pick the good looking person with good voice and try to teach her the news ropes

Sales person - I may know everything about the product, but what yields the sales is both looks and speaking without hesitation. Being confident in obtaining the goal, which is making the sale. I have one friend, a bit of cleavage and a short skirt goes a loooonnnggg way with our male clients. If they are not tripping over their own tongues, they are buying what they probably don't need

Lawyer - looks are not needed but knowledge and good speaking skills are most needed

Also, sometimes one can be shooting to high to get their foot in the door. I had my eye on getting my foot in the door at a major health insurance company. One of the top 3. I took an entry job of reception and allowed them to get to know me. I was promoted to an insurance representative within 6 motnhs of the job and they had to break their own rules as no employee was to be promoted under a year with the company.

Sometimes we have to take a small position to land ourselves in the larger ones. Sometimes we have to take pay cuts to get the job experience to market ourselves a year or two later to another company who will accept them. How my sister went from starting at $24k/year to now making over $90k because she changed jobs every few years once she felt she met her maximum skills at the company. She take those skills and market them to another willing to pay for her experience

So depending on the industry you are going for, you may have to resort to being creative in how to present yourself capable of the job. Attitude and confidence is everything. You can acknowledge your disabilities but tell them how it by know way impedes you in getting the job done by showing them in person while at the interview or giving astounding examples

Sorry for the length, but I know your frustrated and was hoping to offer you some insights for skills

Much prayers and good luck. Open to emails

Michael V

There is one sure way to get out of this mess, run your own business and that way there is no problem. Find a niche in the market and fill it. Be positive and go for it, that will be a shot in the eye to others especially if you make a success of it. Research the market and get help from Job Centres, career officers, and Government enterprise groups. You may qualify for a grant from Government to help you set up. It is a well known fact that firms shun the disabled, mainly because of ignorance and in some cases bureaucratic red tape.
My advice is go for it and prove them wrong. It is not as hard or ridiculous as it sounds to run your own business. I have been running mine for over 20 years, which came originally from an unpaid hobby.
My friend who was unhappy and bullied at work in a hair dressing salon, quit and now runs her own business as a mobile hair dresser and never looked back !
Here in the UK there are discrimination laws that help the disabled, but I am not sure about the USA try your local equivalent of the Citizens advice for this one, but try my solution and that could easily work.
Best of luck.

Mexico4me

I agree, you need to start your own home based business. It is less expensive than a lot of people think, and if you get to work at it you will earn more than you ever could at any job.
Don't let yourself be a victim, look at it as a plus! You could be earning far more by taking a different direction than the average student does and really broaden your horizons.
There are many home businesses that you can run right from your computer... I know because it's what I do!
Hope this helps

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