Age.
Apparently I am too old to work but well below the age of retirement. Go figure.
I am an Electrical Engineer and have been interested in Wind/Solar, renewable energy. I am not really employed at the moment, but in reasonably good shape and have been kicking around the idea of building/owning/running a Wind/Solar farm. So, I called up a Vocational training facility for renewable energies... they won't even consider training me as I am too old.
Now, in fairness, those Wind Turbines you see out off the side of the freeway that are, who knows how tall? There ain't know elevator. You have to climb the whole way. Guess what one of the reasons I want to do this job is? I WANT that exercise. I exercise best when it's a job and it's something I enjoy doing for pay... this would be great for me and I am not the least worried about climbing the height... though, I'd be there would be a 'learning curve' as I am not in the shape I was back in the day.
All of that said, if I want to own a farm, I want to know it's ins and outs and I am NOT going to ask a subordinate to do something I can't, or won't, go do myself and I want to be able to demonstrate that to them by going up with them and doing the work beside them, on occasion.
Sucks to be at an age where you really want to work but no one will consider hiring you for your age.
And for the record: I am licensed to teach math, currently in Oregon (and possibly Colorado) but I can't get a job... yeah, that's right, math, the subject that we keep hearing we are in dire need of teachers for... and part of the reason for exploring working in the energy field is for NOT getting a job in same (and age should be less of an issue for teaching but...).
Call me a waaaaaaaammmmbulance!
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Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.Maybe you heard about the International Teacher of the Year - British, has working use of 35 languages! just of interest.
I can't believe that a teach of your qualifications can't get a good job! You know, if I was young again, I'd migrate to one of the Scandinavian countries, or the Netherlands - they seem to have things together.
VLove
Level 4
May 7, 2018
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My suspicions, based on some books I've read, is that their teaching is quite different than ours. So, even with a Masters in Ed, I might be so far off of their beaten track as to effectively have to start over.. granted, I am basically at square one right now. 
Long and short: I have been strongly considering Denmark... but thee are a LOT of considerations involved... not least of which is that I -might- be able to afford ONE more move in my life and if I were to go there and fail... I'd be.. done for.
My, admittedly cynical and anemic, point of view of education in America is that we are more interested in people who can control the room than who know the material. I have literally watched several math teachers get it WRONG, when teaching... but they were in control of the room.
Now, I will be the first to point out that if you can NOT control the room, you really can't teach... but, even some of my students thought that my imminent loss of job was a crime... :/
Are you only seeking "permanent" employment? I would think you might have some success seeking "consulting" (the euphemism for temp) work.
doug6352
Level 7
May 6, 2018
1
I am temperamentally inclined to a stable 'permanent' employ. If the 'temp' work were steady and ongoing (what would the difference be then?), that might well work fine.
Wind & solar are the new energy boom. If you want to work, the work is out there. I'm about to convert to solar in WV and the solar company who will do the work (mtvsolar) is screaming for designers and engineers right now. Don't let your talents get wasted when the need is so great!
mtnhome
Level 7
May 6, 2018
1
That is why I contacted the company that trains in same... and was flat out told no because of age... at least they were honest (if not curt and unfriendly about it).
Maybe move to Portland to increase your odds?
gater
Level 7
May 6, 2018
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I am considering going to UO for three things (at least):
a) Endorsement to teach Science (seems Math/Science is sexier and physics, which is my forte, best of class)
b) Endorsement to teach second language learners (I have two languages under my belt and would like to leverage them AND I always have at least one speaker of Spanish in my math class rooms... would like to experiment with a classroom full of Spanish speaking kids and teach the math in Spanish... hey, if they learn the math, who cares what language they learn it in? AND your skill in your first language helps to learn a second language).
c) Endorsement in Special Ed. Plenty of jobs here and much less discrimination in hiring... as evidenced by the fact that nearly all of my substitute work is for Special Ed. NOT what I want to do but... you go where the work is, no?
Unfortunately, doing all three of these will increase the cost of my license (there is a fee for each endorsement) and will take two years (at least) of training AND three applications to the school (you can't just enroll in UO and pursue the classwork for the endorsements on your own time... you HAVE to enroll in each individual program and I may need to do that serially)... so, is this good money after bad, given that I can't get a job? Will this ensure that I get a job, or just throw my retirement money at the school? I LIKE learning, so, it will be an investment and I am NOT grousing about that part... but, if it's just for me to personalty grow and learn new things, I'd rather pursue math/physics... this question is the one I stress over the most.
And, just for the record, I interviewed at a few schools up in Portland before I had my license clinched here. Turns out I had to have my license in hand first... wasn't that way in CO. They were more willing to work with new teachers who were in the process of getting licenses, to get them into critical jobs mind.
AND, I have no issues with going rural, or to Portland, when I am done doing studies here.
Finally, hopefully all I need is funds, not luck.
Oh, to live in a country that valued education enough to not charge so dearly for it.
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