Employment in The Villages
 

I wanted to see if anybody has had the same experience with the Villages human resources department that I have had. I have been trying to get a job through them for the past six months, applying for positions that I am well qualified for. They say that they are not going to move forward with my application, and when I ask them why, the only answer they give me is, I am not a good fit. When I press them further, and ask them what they meant by that, all they told me was that it’s not doing my case any good to keep on calling and harassing them if I ever wanted to be employed by The Villages in the future. I’m not calling to harass them. they at least owe me an explanation as to why I can’t be employed by The Villages.

Why do they owe you an "explanation"?

You want a job, they don't want to give you one. End of story.

If you don't mind me asking, what jobs are you applying for?

You got an explanation. You are not a good fit.

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I'm not sure any applicant is owed an explanation that goes into any more detail than that. It all depends on what is being applied for.

What the OP MIGHT want to do is to take the bull by the horns, so to speak, and apply in person at places that need help. Very few businesses in and around TV are NOT looking for workers. The Villages HR Dept. supplies (I assume) workers only for positions that are directly related to TV--gate guards, Community Watch and the like. But (again, assuming) there are vastly more opportunities in and around TV than there are positions working FOR TV.

And if they give you the true reason they may be opening themselves to legal action. Not a good fit is a great generic reason. Also, there are lots of jobs outside of TV that will pay more and also have flexible hours.

Its obvious there is something in your application they don't like, so move on, lots of jobs outside the Villages.

In any company or business to walk into high level positions you have to be related or referred under the table. Otherwise you have to start at bottom and be proven loyal yes person if you want a do nothing job.

They can tell a lot in your credit report. Poor score=unreliable.

Did you apply to the VCDD or with the developer..."The Villages" but which one...The VCDD is the Community Development District and Careers in The Villages is the developer...please be more specific

Caretaker and trolley driver

Developer, wanting caretaker and trolley job

Advice I would drop it, if the staff feels you are basically stalking, harassment them there isn’t any good will come to you. No business owe you an explanation other than what was explained. Their reasoning will not get any attention from an attorney. Much less a job offer

With all due respect, they owe you nothing.

I would not continue to seek work from an outfit that did not want me nor would I pursue an answer as to why not.

Over the years in various capacities I interviewed many job seekers. Those turned down never got a "why". Nor did I when I was turned down. It boils down to not being a good fit for one or more reasons. Companies have cultures and seek job candidates who they believe will be a good fit.

More likely one or more of your references may not have helped or background check or social media posts.

Sometimes it is something simple like the amount of hours you are seeking or your availability. Businesses do not work around an employee's preferences. They also will not hire full time when part timers suit their needs.

The Villages does not owe you an explanation. Look for something outside the Villages, if you don’t get something there, you have an issue.

All applications are done online thru the District or the Villages. You’re wasting peoples time to show up at a business with the Villages or the District to inquire about a job.

Perhaps reading the original post again, will shed some light on why the fit isn't right?

Folks who read resumes for a living, usually develop a knack for reading between the lines.

Unfortunate, if this is the case. You can have bad credit because you have not used credit for many years. I would think there are many elderly folks who have paid off their loans long ago. They have enough cash and do not need to buy on credit.

Does anyone know where to get a current resident phone book?

Also, regarding job applications, when did it become legal to ask your birthdate???

The bottom line is you don’t need to work there if they don’t want you. Apply at some other places, it probably won’t be long before you have a job.

Well, interesting thread. Jeff, sorry you are getting some hostile responses and a lot of assumptions made.

People are correct that sometimes the easiest answer for a hiring manager is that you aren't a good fit. When I reject someone I try to explain a bit more, such as, "We've had many applicants and unfortunately you weren't chosen because we were looking for someone with more experience...a different degree...with experience in such and such."

When I say someone is not a good fit, it often is a personality trait. That doesn't mean they have a bad personality. It just means that based on the team dynamic I would expect a clash with other employees.

You mentioned trolley driver and caretaker. Is the caretaker a job in a rec center? Anyhow, seems these jobs rely heavily on a bright and happy personality with the public. You know, the type that is overly happy and non-confrontational. That may or may not be you, but how you portray yourself in an interview is important and the best advice I can give is tailor your resume and your interviewing style to the job. Also watch YouTube videos on interviewing. I learned a lot from the vids and they helped me land a much higher paying job within my company, a job I had been rejected for a few times.

Sometimes you gotta just play the game until your foot is in the door. Good luck.

I had this experience. You got a rejection email (I never did - I was in a perpetual limbo). I have 40 years of customer service experience. My advise is change your resume. When they ask about salary say $13. This cancels a lot of people and if it pays $15 you get that anyway.

As many have already said, an employer does not need to give you an explanation of not hiring you.
And people cannot pull a credit report on somebody just to see your credit unless you’ve signed off on that. But I’ve never known anybody to run a credit report for a basic job.
I do believe they probably looked you up on social media. What kind of person do you look like on social media or maybe even a criminal history. Bottom line who cares move on go get a different job. there’s lots of people hiring. Obviously you’re taking this very personal, it’s just a job. Move on

They owe you no explanation. Obviously there is something in your background which is raising red flags and they don’t want to employ you. There’s plenty of other jobs so why harrass them for an explanation you won’t like anyway. Move on.

They owe you NO explanation.

You will only get a vague answer like you did. If they give anyone the true answer why they rejected anyone, they would have a law suit on their hands. That the way it is these days!

Short answer, they don’t owe you any explanation.

The Trolley Driver job requires a CDL. You must be at least years old to obtain one. Hence the asking for a date of birth/age.

You might not be a good fit...
https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...ality-test.jpg

In the age of lawyers and lawsuits, any employer would be crazy to offer any explanation for not extending an offer. An innocent slip of the tongue is all a lawyer needs to begin talking damages.

I worked for The Villages for 18 months. My last day was last Thursday.

I applied for three different jobs, two IT related, one just a rec assistant. I got to the Rec Assistant ;)

You have to be absolutely squeaky clean to work for TV. No drug issues, no criminal record, no credit issues. They will call all your references. They even called the company I last worked for in September 1999.

The reason I didn't get the IT jobs? Salary requirement. I guess I messed that one up, I told them what I used to make, I figured half of that would have been low enough. I should have gone with a 1/3rd. "The salary requirement can cause issues" to which I responded, "make me an offer", I should have said "offer me anything" lol.

Ah well, I started my home inspection business and did the continuing education during the slack time as a Rec assistant, so I got paid to continue my education. That's the reason I quit, I am doing so much Inspection and handyman work, I don't have the time to waste at Lake Miona for $13.36 :)

Absolutely not true. Nobody “walks in” in to a senior position- their experience and qualifications are reviewed, then they are interviewed (several times) and an offer may come. You start at the bottom if you have no prior experience

Lots of people telling you with all due respect to move on they owe you nothing. Well hold up. There could be some reasons they aren't hiring you besides qualifications, oh and NOW alleged potential future threat of harrassment for continuing to ask..

Hmmmm, if you work for T V and have children your kids get to go to a Villages Charter School right?? State subsidies are paid to to the Wizzard of Oz developers for Charter Schools.

Do they have houses to fill in the under 55 district of Middleton (soon to be a second under 55 called Coleman something) and desks to fill in the new charter schools?

AGE, marital status, address are clues for HR as to applicants wanting to work in TV but perhaps not hired. It is NOT an imposibility to consider when motive might exist for a potentially very selective process of hiring in T V now that the "dream" is not only about retirees wanting to subsidize their income (don't forget about healthcare costs and the elderly, oops, who said that?)

How about race ethnicity questions on the application? Any of those ???'s on there?? Aren't we supposed to be inclusive, equal and diverse? Oh are those not possible Village job application denial thoughts to wonder about? Or are those just virtuous ideologies we have to chew on everyday thanks to msm whims?

Why doesn't OP have the right to wonder or even ask HR? Right, they don't have to answer.

Basic... of course T V is very aware of lawsuit liability for saying TOO much. The threat of being a harraser... hmmm no microagression there now is there??

Simple things like you need a "cdl for this job" - of course they could say that as it would be on the job listing unless the hr department isn't brainy enough to list that.

No answer and threats of accusations of harassment could mean there is more to say but they can't say it.

No, it's none of O P's business to wonder ?? BUT the Federal Gov cares about job discrimination and numbers doesn't it?

Who polices discrimination in T V hiring practices? Once upon a time T V probably hired old people living here probably before young people I bet. Could it be that it is not what you know (or can do) but WHO you know in TV that lands you a job in T V?

All great ??'s and what happened to "there are no dumb questions" in life.

Good luck OP I hope you find the perfect job.

Exactly!!!!!!

they do check past work experience. Could be a past employer gave you a bad recommendation. Only you know if this is true. Drug testing is a BIG deal here in Florida. Think about it.

Not a good fit
 

Two suggestions. First have a friend review your application/resume with a critical eye. Some common errors are listing job history going back to many years. Employers don’t care what you did in 1990, what have you done recently. If you haven’t worked recently offer a good reason. Such as “ retired from successful career, but miss being part of a team”.
Also Team statements. If I saw an applicant with “I” to many times I wondered how they would fit in a team. My impression is the Villages is looking for good team players who not only work well with the public but also with all other employees.
Finally as stated you received all the explanation you’re entitled to. The worst thing you can do is trying to reach out for further explanation. They have invested in an online application system for a reason.