Good morning, Well, in reading your post there was one thing that stuck out the most which is your statement of " I am always questioning why i want to be an Administrative Assistant when I am working on my MBA". Here's the thing, are you looking for a job that you desire or are you looking for a job for the salary or hourly pay? There are two things that i have learned in job seeking, 1) Don't expect your interviewers to be honest and welcoming as you are, certain standards in people most likely are not as moral as yours (if you would), and 2) if you seek what is in your heart and what desire's you have, you may find that your applying for the wrong jobs that will lead you to your MBA. This my friend, has kept me at the perfect peace in my heart and mind. I am a medical assistant with honors in graduating in 2014 and have yet to have a job in this field of study with numerous interviews and lots of hanging in the wind with no answers from the interviewer, i have worked as a crew member at wend's for the past 7 years and make less then 9 an hour, however i am at peace because my desire is to help others everyday and though my want is to work in the medical field, i see my self as helping others where ever i am and what ever i am doing, though i am living pay check to pay check i am able to sit down at the end of the day and reflect how i was a service to others, and sometimes all i can say is i am helping Wendy's for being there employee and dependable worker. In saying all that, i suggest you step outside the box and not limit yourself to what you desire but expand yourself to what you know. I think in the end you will land a job that brings in help for the family and peace in your heart.

It's sad to say but I know a lot of people who, have MBAs, and when they were in a job. They were threatened to be let go, and told oh don't worry about it you'll find another job with your qualifications. I even had a friend who was told, you're not gonna last here long. And then proceeded to try to get rid of her whenever he could, he finally did. Like some of the other people on here I wouldn't mention that you were working on getting an MBA.

Lots of good advice has been given. I will say that your complaint about perspective employer's not letting you know that they went with another candidate is kind of silly (sorry). If you went on 20 interviews in a week and the 20th hired you on the spot are you going to call the previous 19 to say remove me from consideration, doubtful.

Yes

I don't know if this would help but if if there'are a few positions that you're really interested in. I would call the company and see if the position is still open and start to talk to whoever that person is and see if you can send that resume directly to them after you have a little chat sometimes that helps otherwise a lot of networking people usually get other people jobs I see it all the time and I'm in my early sixties getting back into the workforce after working for many one owner companies. In the past but a few years ago that's how I got a lot of my positions by calling the company's which is a no no right. One of my positions I was able to get an I didn't have any experience as a mortgage loan wholesale rap a bit in loan processing anyway the way I got a job was we had a earthquake in the building and the president of the company was really shaken up and she was walking down stairs and I asked her if she was okay and I also had a friend working for that company LOL after that I got the job. This was in San Francisco Bay Area I guess that was networking right

I would leave the MBA out of the picture. Any company that may be interested in you will have to assume you will leave after you get your MBA. That is a fact.

I would keep the MBA to yourself, that immediately is a strike against you for being overqualified. Been there myself with a Bachelors.... find an easy job that you want to do, that way you save your brain cells to finish school then you can use your degree and get paid for your knowledge.

Unless the job specifies an undergraduate or graduate degree, I wouldn't mention it. Usually employers are looking for people who will stay and not look at the job as if it's just temporary. I know what you're going through however. I too live in upstate NY in Orange County. Not a whole lot of jobs up this way and I've had trouble because most of my experience is in Quality Assurance / Pharma- Biotech, which is kind of specialized and most of those jobs are all the way down in Jersey or way upstate further than Albany and just too far to commute. It's hard for me because I can't relocate at this time. I have my bachelors in science too, but doesn't seem to matter. Every job I've had since 2013 has been consulting / contract and only lasted a year each time. It's been nothing but a struggle. Sometimes I think it's my age too. Older candidates seem to have a harder time finding employment. I've had over 23 years of experience in my field too with a lot to offer, but haven't had much luck in this job climate. Can't give up though and you shouldn't either. Keep the faith Christine!

You are correct to assume that part of the problem is your age . Unfortunately , our society doesn't want anyone over 50. I have a masters and can't even find a part time anything. It's disheartening and depressing . I am a stay at home mom for 17 years and looking to go back to work but found nothing even for jobs I'm qualified for . They can guesstimate your age .

I wouldnt tell anyone what your doing