I'm overqualified and unemployed. Still.

[CreamyLady]

Well, drat. After a lifetime spent typing, filing and answering phones -- well, other things, too, but no matter my job title it was always typing, etc. at the core -- I've been told that I'm "overqualified" for that kind of job.

I just wanted a job. Typing, filing, answering phones, soothing irate clients, greasing the wheels . . . no administration, no human resources, no projections, no policy manuals.

Instead, I seem to have frightened the office manager.

Skibum says that I have to dumb down. Anyone have any suggestions?

 

[Expertise]

Watch the Fox Network more.

 

[April]

I don't understand why it matters if you're overqualified. I would think that would just be better for the employer. Makes you a better employee.

 

[CreamyLady]

You'd think so, but it appears the OM is a recently promoted paralegal, with no management skills to speak of, and during the interview I made a sensible suggestion to solve a work flow problem.

Damn, will I EVER learn to keep my big mouth shut?!

 

[CreamyLady]

Expertise, I went out and rented every Steven Seagal movie I could find -- will that do it?

 

[Expertise]

I don't understand why it matters if you're overqualified. I would think that would just be better for the employer. Makes you a better employee.

Unless your skill level/skill set/knowledge/experience potentialy threatens a minor functionaries confidence and or "empire".

Your right, in a perfect world, April. Good supervisors/bosses train their staff to be the replacement for their position. Small minded unconfident incompetent ones don't. They perceive anything above mediocrity as a threat.

 

[Sparky Kronkite]

Move to NYC......

The market for you skills here is huge - I know many ladies - (yes that doesn't sound right but unfortunately it is mostly ladies that we are talking about here - even in NYC - well the Shebabe has a male but, but, but - he is not heterosexual - if you know what I mean....) and they actually get paid small fortunes.

A woman friend of mine who just happens to have put in a life time doing the very same thing found that she had to take a buy-out - she was let go - but in the same block in which she works Alcoa was moving their corporate headquarters from Pittsburg to NYC. They needed and wanted people like here to be here at move in. Bam! Huge job for the CFO! Mega salary.

Move to New York.

 

[CreamyLady]

Sparky, let me see if I can visualize this -- a Californian moving to New York?!

Leave space, and sunshine, and a garden that grows things 12 months a year for overcrowding and winter?

I might have to, but I don't think I'll ever take to New York. It's never been high on my "Places to See" list.

 

[CW]

CL,,,

Unfortunately what Expertise said is true,,, it's always some insecure little terp that is in fear of losing their job or being shown as unqualified that tacks the label on you as being over-qualified.

Sure, play down your skills just a bit. Not to the point of being bimbo dumb, but just as less of a threat to the easily threatened.

Maybe stress that you are still willing to learn and that you hope to make a valid contribution, instead of offering an immediate suggestion? Dunno,,, back stabbing office politics is something that I have managed to steer clear of so far.

Take this in stride, learn from it and don't accept it as a slap in your face.

Good luck!!

 

[livin_simple]

Sounds like your experience was with only a single potential employer - is that correct??

There's gotta be pages of want ads for your skills in the Southern California area, granted the drive may be a grind but that's part of living where you live. Just move on and keep looking.

I've got the same problem looking for a part-time evening job. My technical skills are so advanced nobody wants to touch me for anything other than a full-time position. I've gone through a temp placement agency. They're positively excited to have extremely high caliber people to offer their potential clients.

 

[CreamyLady]

This isn't the first time it's happened to me, nor will it be the last. Most of the time it is a result of an insecure superior; there was one particular job I had (really, I was employed for the purpose!) where I scared my superior so badly she went out of her way to have me removed. THEN she wanted to buy me an expensive lunch, because she felt guilty.

The thing is -- I don't want their titles, or offices, or even salaries. I want a living wage, work enough to keep busy and be productive without draining my brain, a health plan, and the ability to go home at night, leaving the job behind. In short, it isn't a fucking career. It's just a job.

They are more than welcome to the headaches that come with being in charge. I certainly do not want them.

I think I'm just surprised that there are so many paranoid people in positions of management, frightened of their shadows and convinced that everyone wants their stupid fiefdoms.

More to the point, I wonder why I keep running into them.

 

[Sammyjo]

Sorry you didn't get this one...but you will get one, I'm sure of that!!!

 

[Mustang Sally]

overqualified

Another possibility: if they think you're overqualified, they think you won't stick around long, that you'll always be looking for something better. They just don't want to have to hire someone else in another month or two.

I'm fresh out of college, and I've already had someone tell me I'm overqualified. How the hell do you figure, with no experience in the field, that I'm overqualified? I did too good a job with my resume, I guess.

Sorry you didn't get the job, CL. Try not to get too discouraged. Something will turn up, I'm sure.

 

[GuyJD]

I KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN, CREAMY

14 years of retail sales and warehouse experience and 11 years of law enforcement could not help me land a job fast enough here in CA. I came here in June of 1999 and did not find a job until October of that year, with much thanks to my brother-in-law.

 

[Carl East]

I can't think of anyone, I'd rather take me over the top than you CL, of course I mean where my numbers are. haha

Carl

 

[Skibum]

It sucks that you didn't get the job, but it is so cool that the office manager is afraid of you! We can can use that! Anytime you can scare petty beauracrats (sp) is a good thing!

 

[Skibum]

Re: I KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN, CREAMY

I came here in June of 1999 and did not find a job until October of that year, with much thanks to my brother-in-law.

Damn, I hope I can do better than that!

 

[Xander]

I know the feeling. Whats the big deal. I'd do anything for a job. Just because my CV says IT Networking Supervisor, as my last employment. I'm overqualified and thus not eligeble for a job.....Go figure.

 

[Svedish_Chef]

Is a job a thing where you DON'T get paid?

Yup life sucks.... god, give me a job!

 

[Angel]

Xander, you can always join an escort service..

 

[CreamyLady]

It sucks that you didn't get the job, but it is so cool that the office manager is afraid of you! We can can use that! Anytime you can scare petty beauracrats (sp) is a good thing!

I don't want to be scary. I don't think I'm really scary. Well, unless I'm pushed . . . don't push.

 

[Skibum]

I won't push unless you want me too, and only where you want me to!

 

[CreamyLady]

Email, Skibum!

 

[RonG]

I don't know about being scary. The Travis Bickle Temporary Agency has not been very successful in placing clients.

Willy Loman said something about "Don't whistle in the elevator." I think the modern equivalent is that you should whistle "If I Only Had A Brain" while you are waiting for your interview. It will show your new bosses that you are a team player (code for keeping your mouth shut during executive screwups).

 

[Never]

CreamyLady:
"Sparky, let me see if I can visualize this -- a Californian moving to New York?!"

Let me see if I can add anything intelligent to the conversation.

How many Californians does it take to change a light bulb?
Three, one to change it and two to 'share in the life experience'.

How many New Yorkers does it take to change a light bulb?
Shut the fuck up!

How many Californians who have moved to New York does it take to change a light bulb?
Shut the fuck up! (And have a nice day...)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was a valiant effort but a futile one in the end.