ABM Security has a former Chief of Police as one of the hiring managers and he was a down to earth guy and during my interview with him after I gave him my completed application he said "Are you into law enforcement" and I told him "I have experience with contract security". Perhaps it may have something to do with the fact that I physically look young but the man started stereotyping me.
I listed Pearson Education as one of my former employers and I put in temp because I was a data entry temp. And he said "Was Hennepin County temporary too". No one ever asked me such a question because Hennepin County was a Permanent position had it been otherwise I would have listed it. As a matter of fact I ended up working for Hennepin County a month after the interview with ABM Security. Hennepin County pays more than contract security and I was an Office Specialist and had my own cube the first time. The most recent employment with the county I also had my own cube but at a different department.
I never thought a former Chief of Police would stereotype me like this because you would think C.O. P are educated and have enough experience and wisdom. Someone needs to tell him that Security is not the same as Law Enforcement. Law enforcement officers have state immunity in certain situations and more protection from law suits. Security Officers are mostly hands off but when deputized have more authority and skills. I actually had 2 cop teachers at Normandale when I was learning Criminal Justice but I now changed my major to Homeland Security which is thought at a college in Downtown Minneapolis.
The former C.O. P showed me badges of all the past departments he has worked for and I was impressed that he had a wonderful career. At the end he said "I will hold your application for 3 months" and I knew injustice has occurred because he said it with this disappointed hard to describe look. I think it may had to do with the fact that I am Somalian and I appear very foreign from the outside because this is not the first time I was stereotyped. The matter was mediated and the person who stereotyped me in the past changed to become a better person after he was convinced he stereotyped me by the EEOC.
Personally I think people who stereotype are not even aware they are stereotyping and that this is a form of discrimination.
As I was leaving the ABM building I got a strong urge to report this to the EEOC but when I looked at the building from the outside and how small it was in the inside compared to the current Security company I work for, I thought this is just small business and maybe because the economy is not doing so well perhaps this company may not be doing so well either due to competition.
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