Hiring Process...Is this even legal?

[cop12]

I received a conditional offer for a police job contingent that I pass a psychology exam and a physical. I thought it was smooth sailing until I get a call I failed my psychology exam. Floored I called and asked why.

Their answer was I was not mature enough for the job. In a few years I would be ready she said. She said I was a good deal younger then the men on the force currently and would not mix well. (Interviewed with two of them and got along fine not quite sure what she means)

She also said that she thought I was more of a action guy and that this job wouldn't fit me bc there is not much action. I never once said ANYTHING to indicate I like action/am immature (partying drinking etc. I have a serious girlfriend in which I told her my near plans to get married..buy a house et...the extreme opposite. I work a full time and a part time job as well as go to school at night....not sure how much more responsibilities I can show..)

I can not believe I did not get hired...this excuse is nuts! I really think it was age discrimination. I am not kidding when I say NOTHING I can think of shows I'm immature. One thing I always get complemented on is how mature I am. Can I really not legally get hired b/c of a psychologists OPINION that has NO BACKING! (when she called she didn't even give any reasoning..just what she thought...but nothing to explain WHY she thought what she did. Doesn't she legally need to say why. She can't jsut make stuff up from nowhere can she? She should at least have to explain herself, no?)

Any ideas/suggestions? My future career (really good job opportunity) was taken from me over ONE lady's stereotype of young guys. Heck I'm 24 with 3 years experience in a force already (small town too...action junkie...lol..don't think so...)

Any ideas would really be helpful! I'm upset!!

[Norm357]

Wait a couple of years and re-apply.

This post shows a lack of maturity. :D

[Citicop]

Wait a bit and apply again. The Department *may* have a way to appeal the decision, but I would guess that it probably won't work.

If someone fails the psych test with our department, we don't even tell them why they failed. We tell them that they did, and that is all the information they ever get.

There are plenty of departments out there, find one that wants to hire you. You will be much happier then than if you try to force yourself on a Department that doesn't want you.

Citicop.

[Kimble]

Heck I'm 24 with 3 years experience in a force already (small town too...action junkie...lol..don't think so...)

Are you saying you're already a cop with another department?

[Hockey9019]

Some agencies don't want someone younger because they may have had a few bad apples once before. Some don't want any old ones.

Its not the end of the world, just apply somewhere else. The best way to show the maturity is to take what they said, and to move on.

[Joeyd6]

Wait a couple of years and re-apply.

This post shows a lack of maturity. :D

LMAO!

[marinepilot]

This post shows a lack of maturity. :D

+1, my thoughts exactly.

[retdetsgt]

Of course it's legal. Every dept has a profile of the type of personalities they want to hire. People are rejected all the time for not matching what the dept is looking for in a pysch. exam. It's not just to see if you're crazy or not.

Frankly, along with the others, I wasn't that impressed with your rant about it. If you came across that way to me when you didn't get what you wanted, I wouldn't hire you either.

[phantasm]

A lack of maturity is not because of your age, its because of how you act, and carry yourself. Its not age discrimination. You failed the psych, and for the previously mentioned reason.

[Roger Dat]

In all honesty I tried to get hired at 21 and I was definitely an old soul, always mature for my age etc you get the point. I didnt get hired till 26 and let me tell you after going to the academy with alot of 21-23 year olds I handle situations alot differently, I can talk to people a little easier and am VERY happy that I didnt get hired till I was REALLY ready

[cadetlinux]

I also got turned down for maturity reasons last time the NYSP were hiring. I was 126th on the list, passed all of processing, but at the discretion of whoever makes the final decision they felt I could use some more time to ripen. It was a hard pill to swallow and it took about a year for me to realize that they were right. I'm such a different person than I was then at age 21. I'm 25 now and can't even begin to explain how much tighter of a grip I have on life. Let's hope the second time's a charm!

[SnapShawt]

Of course it's legal. You need to realize that many requirements of other employers do NOT apply to LE agencies. Of course they can't discriminate on the basis of race/gender - but everything else is on the table. If they feel you're too young, they have the right not to hire you based solely on that if they wish. This is a career in which age IS an important factor.

You can be hired at the age of 21, but many won't. I personally believe that there should be a minimum cap as there is a maximum with most. I don't believe anyone under the age of 25 should even be considered. But we'll never see that