Job hunting - overeducated? (sorry, this is long...)

[apirateslifeforme]

I'm getting frustrated with the job hunt. I keep getting told that I'm "overeducated" for the available position. I have a B.S. in psychology, criminal justice concentration (I usually leave that part off, though, unless I'm applying in an attorney's office). I graduated valedictorian, and I was advised by resume professionals that I absolutely should include that information. In May of this year, I earned a certificate as an accounting assistant.

When I graduated with my degree, however, it was very difficult to find employment. After 4 months, I found an office job that I ended up enjoying. I continued with that, and it has now been 13 years since I started that job.

I lost my job in February '09 and have been looking for full-time work ever since. I went back to school for the certificate so I could add a new skill to my resume. I like the office work. And I'm good at it. I've had no less than 5 of these "resume professionals" and/or HR managers review my resume, and they have nothing but good things to say about it. But I'm starting to wonder if I should leave off my bachelor's degree. Almost every time I follow up with a phone call, I'm told, "The requirements are a high school diploma and 2 years of experience. Frankly, you're overeducated." I try to simply thank them and tell them that I'd still appreciate consideration for the position, but I keep thinking of how it took me 5-10 years of experience plus extra schooling to learn the skills that they are seeking...

I think I'm mostly just venting, but what do you think? I know the "valedictorian" part is probably moot after all this time, but should I really take off the bachelor's degree?

 

[bettymae1121]

I think they are worried that because you have higher education that you'll bail on them once a better job comes along. It sounds insane that a person can be "over educated" though!

I don't know...if the next job you apply for doesn't require a BA or BS, maybe leave the valedictorian part on and "forget" to mention you're a college grad?

 

[MsLeFever]

I have a BA and a masters. When I was looking for a second job I can leave off my degree but not my past employment (college prof.). So - I always make sure that I speak to to a manager right away and say that I know that I'm overqualified but that I really am interested in the company and really do want the job. That has worked many times looking for a second job.

So - is there a time that you can explain your interest and reassure them that you aren't just taking the job until you find something "better", or in their minds more suited to your education?

 

[Crankyshank]

Is there any way to acknowledge or address this issue in your cover letter?

 

[apirateslifeforme]

I do try to explain in my cover letters that I enjoy learning simply for the sake of learning...that it's not entirely about finding another job, I just want to learn something new. Obviously I don't say it in those words, but something along those lines...

I think I also assumed that they'd look at my work history and realize that I'm not a job hopper. I was at that first job from 1997 until 2000, and then at my 2nd job from 2001 until 2009. I'm a pretty loyal employee.

 

[NotUrsula]

You should have multiple resumes for different categories of jobs. If the job requires the degree, send the one that lists the degree. If the job does not require the degree, then send the one that doesn't mention it.

There is an exception for younger folks who will have a large recent employment gap if they don't mention being a full-time student. However, you have been in the workforce long enough for that not to matter. You really only need to include your most recent 10 years of employment if you are applying for office administration work.

Trim the thing and only mention your last 10 years of employment experience. Note your high school graduation, but don't give a graduation date; they don't need to know exactly how old you are until they hire you.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

My DH has recommended that folks not overstate their accomishments for a position. The valedictorian comment, while accurate---very much tells in one word what a smart cookie you are. I would drop it for now because it does appear threatening to employers. I might also compress your statements on education to what is relevant. If you have fluff, save a copy and remove it.

An example I have---DH lost his job along with 4 or 5 others. All have been reemployed except for one. And that guy is he smartest of all of them. Lots of accomplishments and several patents. He is applying for lower level positions---he will seriously take anything and the paycut to go with it. But his resume tells a different remarkable story. The man has so many qualifications. Employers are scared if him. He should be a level 4 or 5. They only have level 3 or lowere. He is a flight risk or a potential thorn in their side when it comes to asking for promotions or raises. He came close to hire one time and they simply could not hire him. Heck--my dh would hire him if he were willing to relocate.

Qualifications greatly in excess of what is needed is a threat if a company is looking for a long term hire.

In DC, they have what are called beltway bandits. People who change jobs every couple of years. Dh's company avoids them. They want long term hires, not someone who will run at the first sniff of a better deal.

It is not uncommon to be careful with folks who can do more than you need.

I would try a toned down resume and see if you have more success. Those who followed hubby's resume advice are all gainfully employed. The one that insists on keeping everything...is not. YMMV.

 

[LukenDC]

I'm an HR professional and I do not regard someone as "over educated" unless they show signs of being a long-time professional student who cannot keep a job or they have a Ph.D. and are applying for a position that requires a BA or less. I have hired people who have a BA for jobs that require no degree and I have been wowed a couple of times with candidates who did not have the requisite education but did have incredible experience.

I think that you should leave the BA on your resume. You earned it, there is nothing exotic about it, and it demonstrates potential ability. Given the anti-intellectual sentiment among some in this country, I recommend listing your valedictorian honor selectively based upon the job you are applying for.

Are there not many jobs in your area that require a BA?

 

[apirateslifeforme]

I'm an HR professional and I do not regard someone as "over educated" unless they show signs of being a long-time professional student who cannot keep a job or they have a Ph.D. and are applying for a position that requires a BA or less. I have hired people who have a BA for jobs that require no degree and I have been wowed a couple of times with candidates who did not have the requisite education but did have incredible experience.

I think that you should leave the BA on your resume. You earned it, there is nothing exotic about it, and it demonstrates potential ability. Given the anti-intellectual sentiment among some in this country, I recommend listing your valedictorian honor selectively based upon the job you are applying for.

Are there not many jobs in your area that require a BA?

VERY few...and the ones that do, state up front that not only do you need a very specific bachelor's degree (not psychology), they only pay $9-$10/hour. The jobs that require the HS diploma? $16-$18 per hour. While I'm above the $10/hour range, $16 would be a nice raise!

 

[golfgal]

VERY few...and the ones that do, state up front that not only do you need a very specific bachelor's degree (not psychology), they only pay $9-$10/hour. The jobs that require the HS diploma? $16-$18 per hour. While I'm above the $10/hour range, $16 would be a nice raise!

WOW, around here most employers are now looking for a masters at least.

I think I would interchange "overeducatated" with "overqualified". A company isn't going to hire someone that is overqualified for a position because they tend to bail at the first sign of a better job, I don't blame them at all. You do run the risk of not getting a job because a background check doesn't pan out if you eliminate pertinent information like a college degree. My guess is that you are applying for jobs with 2 years experience coming with 13+ years of experience and that is why you are not being looked at, not so much your BA. I would start applying for jobs as executive assistants, etc. and see if you get more bites.

 

[NotUrsula]

Really, there is nothing in a background check that would penalize you for omitting higher education on a resume.

Now if you were filling out an application and it had a question about "highest educational level obtained" then yes, not including the degree would be a lie, but just leaving something off of a resume (whether it be a degree OR a job) is not dishonest. There are no "resume police" to insist that you MUST account for every moment of your adult life -- on a resume the emphasis is your choice.

I absolutely believe that they are calling her over-educated for the position in question. In many organizations educational attainments translate into a certain level of pay and status; if they don't want to give her either one commensurate with her education, then they would avoid hiring her. My DH's firm, for example, always hesitates to hire legal secretaries who have degrees, because they almost always try to change their title and pay grade to paralegal on that basis.

Also, in situations where supervisors lack degrees, the hiring of degreed clerical employees tends to be avoided. Such employees will sometimes take on a superior attitude and even foment discontent when they find out that the boss has less education than they do. I've seen it happen many times.

 

[golfgal]

Really, there is nothing in a background check that would penalize you for omitting higher education on a resume.

Now if you were filling out an application and it had a question about "highest educational level obtained" then yes, not including the degree would be a lie, but just leaving something off of a resume (whether it be a degree OR a job) is not dishonest. There are no "resume police" to insist that you MUST account for every moment of your adult life -- on a resume the emphasis is your choice.

I absolutely believe that they are calling her over-educated for the position in question. In many organizations educational attainments translate into a certain level of pay and status; if they don't want to give her either one commensurate with her education, then they would avoid hiring her. My DH's firm, for example, always hesitates to hire legal secretaries who have degrees, because they almost always try to change their title and pay grade to paralegal on that basis.

Also, in situations where supervisors lack degrees, the hiring of degreed clerical employees tends to be avoided. Such employees will sometimes take on a superior attitude and even foment discontent when they find out that the boss has less education than they do. I've seen it happen many times.

Depends on where you are working, in my DH's company if someone would omit going to college or dates don't line up, etc. they can't hire them.

 

[happily single]

I'm thinking that maybe the companies are thinking you need a higher pay because of your education?
Or, maybe there is something you are saying or doing, inadverently, in the interview. Ask an honest friend to completely interview and see how that goes.

 

[Binnie]

I'm in HR, as well, and I can tell you that generally speaking, I won't reject an applicant for having a BA. Frankly, I expect it for an office-type position.

I would definately leave off the valedictorian thing, though. It was 13 years ago, so it no longer matters.

After 13 years, your work experience is your selling point, and although your education should be there, it's definately not the information with which you should lead your resume.

I would look at your whole resume and how you're describing the work that you've done. Are your descriptions too lengthy? Are they telling you you're overeducated because it looks like you will want too much money (even though you don't). What impression is your resume leaving with hiring managers and HR-types? Over-educated is an easy excuse. Look for the real reasons that they're turning you down, not just what you've been told.

 

[abdmom]

I do try to explain in my cover letters that I enjoy learning simply for the sake of learning...that it's not entirely about finding another job, I just want to learn something new.

Perhaps by saying the above, it says to potential employers that once you know everything (or most everything) there is to know about the job, you'll leave because you are bored.

Keep at it. I had been looking for ages for a job. I have a Ph.D., so yep, I was mostly overqualified. I just landed an excellent job in my field a few minutes from my house. Keep the faith.

 

[apirateslifeforme]

Okay, so in looking at my descriptions, I have 3 or 4 bullet points for each position, stating my most prevalent duties. These aren't word-for-word, but I have something like, "Processed orders to achieve $100 million company sales goal" and "Reviewed order entries for accuracy and to eliminate costly errors." Are those even too long?

I think I'm just getting more and more confused as to what potential employers want...

 

[Imzadi]

I do try to explain in my cover letters that I enjoy learning simply for the sake of learning...that it's not entirely about finding another job, I just want to learn something new. Obviously I don't say it in those words, but something along those lines...

What does this mean?

It sounds very much like a dilletante, who's bored and will bale when he's off to learn something new.

You should have multiple resumes for different categories of jobs. If the job requires the degree, send the one that lists the degree. If the job does not require the degree, then send the one that doesn't mention it.

I agree. For the most part, I've liked to switch various types of jobs after several years, when I'm working a second job for extra money. Luckily, I live in a diverse enough place where that is possible. But, I would never put down my certifications & licensing on jobs that don't require it. I also leave off my teaching experience on jobs that aren't in the education field.

When I spent some time temping years ago, for office jobs I was interested in, I've made up a specific resume geared toward that.

When I waitered at for my cousin's catering company, then used that experience to work at a couple other companies, I only put on relevant catering & restaurant experience. No teaching, counseling or office experience. At the interviews, I didn't speak like I have a genius IQ.

The couple times I tried sales jobs, (love to shop, hated selling ) I left off the restaurant experience.

I've never had a problem with my degree being on my resume. In fact, I think it sealed getting jobs when they could have given it to others. I don't specifically state my majors.

I think you should leave off valedictorian, though and the that the degree is in psychology. Just list you have a B.S. Unless you are going for supervisory positions at Fortune 500 companies, no one wants someone smarter than them showing them up, or someone who may analyze them. Especially at jobs where your supervisor may not have a college degree.

 

[Imzadi]

Or, maybe there is something you are saying or doing, inadverently, in the interview. Ask an honest friend to completely interview and see how that goes.

I agree with this. I have a dear friend who's been a hotel concierge since 16, so she had 15 years experience at a steady job that has to fill a lot of different types of hats. She went on to get a college degree and really wants to work HR as a head hunter.

On one level, she'd be perfect, she's bright, articulate, can multitask, is great at understanding people and their needs from doing so much customer service, is inventive and strong at getting people what they want.

BUT, I can tell, she's probably really too meek when she interviews. Instead of presenting herself as take charge, head hunter material, getting people into the right jobs, she presents herself as too subservient, someone wondering if she can get a job for herself. This has been her biggest downfall and she's had several interviews at top companies who wanted her from glancing at her resume & experience.

You might be presenting yourself in such a way, providing too many details, too much intelligence, too much experience, which rules you out from getting the very kinds of jobs you want.

 

[corgi_monster]

I'm not in HR, but as co-owner I am 1/2 responsible for hiring anyone who works in our small company. To be very honest, if someone with a bachelor's degree and 10+ years of experience applied for one of our entry-level-ish job that required a HS diploma/little experience, it would trigger the following flags:

1. Why is this person applying for a position below his/her education/experience level? Unambitious? Will he/she go above and beyond if we get extraordinarily busy?

2. Why has this person never been promoted to a higher position, especially after 13 years? $16/hour in our company would be considered slightly above entry level. After 13 years of experience, I would expect someone to be in middle management. <-- THIS WOULD BE THE BIGGEST TRIGGER

3. Will this person expect to paid more because he/she has more experience and a degree?

4. Will this person find fulfillment in this position? Fulfilled employee = happy employee = long term employee

5. Someone with 2 years of experience can easily be molded into our office culture/structure. Someone with 13 years of experience may not be so adept.

So in sum, the person's education level wouldn't matter much to me. The disparity in the years of experience versus the type of job being applied for would be my biggest concern.

That being said, I'd happily interview you after seeing the word "valedictorian." While you earned that award a long time ago, it does tell me one thing - you worked hard in school, have a good work ethic, and care about your performance.

 

[DISdreamin']

Keep at it. I had been looking for ages for a job. I have a Ph.D., so yep, I was mostly overqualified. I just landed an excellent job in my field a few minutes from my house. Keep the faith.

Had to ask if the abd in your screenname was about finishing up the Ph.D.