Over qualified - it does exist!

amber1979

That can be the only explanation.

I have been applying for dozens of jobs, even the entry level office admin jobs are not interested.

Yet, still we see articles in the media about how employers are horrified at the quality of the people they hire.

Here's an idea - stop employing people on the basis that you like them personally and don't find them threatening and employ them based on their skills and abilities.

:mad:

Person_one

amber1979 wrote: »

That can be the only explanation.

I have been applying for dozens of jobs, even the entry level office admin jobs are not interested.

Yet, still we see articles in the media about how employers are horrified at the quality of the people they hire.

Here's an idea - stop employing people on the basis that you like them personally and don't find them threatening and employ them based on their skills and abilities.

:mad:

At the interview I went to yesterday, the first question I was asked was "why aren't you in some really good job then?"

I'm trying to start a new career in a completely new field and am more than willing to start at the bottom of the ladder. I don't think people have felt 'threatened' by me, but I do suspect employers think I'll get bored and leave quickly. They keep recommending uni courses too, which is the plan within a few years but I'd like some experience in the field first, and an income as the earliest I could now start a uni course is September 2011!

amber1979

I've been asked similar questions too. It really makes you wonder what the point is, in working hard at school and going to university? What I should have been doing is taking notes about x-factor so I could discuss it with a potential employer.

I am seriously, genuinely tempted to give up and languish on the dole for the rest of my life. I really am.

lucylucky

"That can be the only explanation" It may be an explanation but not the only one.

amber1979

Well yes, technically the explanantion could be that there were no jobs in the first place and we're all actually living in a matrix-like fantasy land...

Say something useful, am bloody annoyed! Grr.

lucylucky

If there were no jobs why would anyone advertise them?

Perhaps your particular skills were not what the companies were after?
Perhaps people with more appropriate qualifications applied?
Perhaps people with experience in the role applied?

Person_one

amber1979 wrote: »

I've been asked similar questions too. It really makes you wonder what the point is, in working hard at school and going to university? What I should have been doing is taking notes about x-factor so I could discuss it with a potential employer.

I am seriously, genuinely tempted to give up and languish on the dole for the rest of my life. I really am.

I'm not, I didn't get 'over qualified' by giving up at the first hurdle and settling. I know its easy to get disheartened but I'm willing to plug away for however long it takes, you can't let rejections get to you, you have to try and make yourself who they want!

I'm doing voluntary work in the field I want to go into, so that the skills listed on my CV and applications start to look more like what the employers are used to seeing. Can you possibly do this too? What are your qualifications?

heretolearn_2

'Overqualified' - yep it certainly exists. I wouldn't consider a degree as overqualified for any job, in itself, but it depends on other factors.

When we recruit we do usually discount the really 'overqualifieds' unless we can see there's a good reason they've applied, otherwise we know it's just an emergency stopgap and they'll !!!!!! off as soon as they get something more in their line. This may not be true, but we can't take the risk, sorry. Sometimes people explain why they are applying for this role (i.e. got kids at home want local part-time job so I'll do your admin for a few years even though I used to be a rocket scientist). We had a lady who was a doctor applying for our cleaners job the other day, poor lady, one of those East European nationals who are restricted in the type of work they can take (basically crap unskilled ones only). Fair enough.

But if you are applying for a job way below your league - in terms of qualifications and experience - any employer is going to wonder why. And how long you'll stay.

amber1979

I know person one, but after six months of plugging away you lose hope. After endless interviews and applications you lose all hope.

If I do voluntary work I lose benefits, I cannot afford that. Hell, I can't even find somewhere to live as nobody will take HB tennents due to idiotic mortage restrictions.

I'd rather not give too many personal details over the internet, but the letters after my name read: Bsc, CPE, LPC.

I'm not a new graduate either. Yet, somehow I am not suitable for so much as a job in the post room.

Lucky, do you really believe that non-existant jobs are never advertised? You are gloriously naive lol.

lucylucky

In the current economic climate it really doesn't make sense to spend money on advertising non existent posts.

Look at other opportunities to build skills, including social, which are always worth adding to a CV.

Many people look for experience, not qualifications.

amber1979

Lucky, they hire somebody they think they will get on with personally.

Sometimes, organisations (particularly in the public sector) HAVE to advertise a post. I know of one that is being advertised but they have no intention of filling it due to budget cuts.