OVER-qualification

[Guest GodfallenPromos]

Can anyone explain to me WHY, as a "society" (hush brooks...lol), we have decided to "settle" for people in the work place that are either JUST qualified, need training, or just plain can't to the job to the absolute efficiency that it requires??

my mother and I both have this same problem....we are told, many times, that we are OVER-qualified for a position.

My mother has never had a college education, but is the kind of person that will take courses in what she doesn't know, so that she has all the available skills needed for a position. She is a 3x published educational author (my mother has 2 catholic based college level history answer keys under her belt, as well as an indepth study guide for angelic beings.)

She was recently informed, by a BANK, that she was OVER-QUALIFIED for the position that she was applying for....which was receptionist/ personal assistant. Some of the employees at the bank later told her that the manager was almost FRIGHTENED at the amount of skills and qualifications my mother has.....FRIGHTENED AT THE AMOUNT OF SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS.....FRIGHTENED.....

I've gotten the same thing...since I was 20, I have been told that I am over-qualified for any fast food position...which isn't a bad thing if your trying to get into bars n grills...but damn...when the manager tells you that your MORE qualified then what they are.....

I get this for business positions as well....I only have 2-3 years of international sales....it's not that much....but once they see the Masters Degree....they tend to get kinda scared....I don't get it....wouldn't it be BETTER to have someone that you DON'T HAVE TO TRAIN for 3-4 weeks???....wouldn't I SAVE YOU MONEY at that point??

has anyone else ran across this?

can anyone explain WHY we are content to select JUST par to sub par ppl for positions???

[hunhee]

It's more of a fear that you're hiring your replacement. They're afraid of their own jobs to hire you, not really thinking that it will make them look better because they'll hire someone actually qualified for the position, and free them up to do other things.

I've been turned down for a position before, because I was working on my Master's at the time, and most of them didn't even have their Bachelor's Degree. Needless to say, I need to get my ass back into a Master's program, and finish it up.

A lot of jobs are acquired because of WHO you know, not necessarily WHAT you know. A lot of times the jobs are already filled by friends or acquaintances, they're just going through the "interview process" to make it look like they're working on something.

It's annoying, I know it.. good luck to you and your mom

[tanuki1985]

Dumb people are easier to control. Some kid who dropped out of middle school and is a complete deadbeat loser is more likely to listen than someone with one or more college degree(s).

[creatureofthenyte]

I think if you get told that you're overqualified for the job you're applying for, they're just scared that you will take someone's job, and or they realize you have the skills to earn a big salary and just don't want to pay it. It's just a bullshit excuse mainly...

[Homicidalheathen]

I guess in a way its good they want to give a college kid a chance....but it still pisses me off cause I have heard it to and it was the dumbest excuse not to hire me yet.

[Guest GodfallenPromos]

I guess in a way its good they want to give a college kid a chance....but it still pisses me off cause I have heard it to and it was the dumbest excuse not to hire me yet.

I have no problem with a college kid having a chance.....if they have the qualifications for the position.

[n0Mad]

Well, if you're not over qualified then you don't have enough experience. It's just impossible to get hired anywhere.

[TygerLili]

I think if you get told that you're overqualified for the job you're applying for, they're just scared that you will take someone's job, and or they realize you have the skills to earn a big salary and just don't want to pay it. It's just a bullshit excuse mainly...

That's it sometimes.

Also, they figure if you are overqualified that you'll just get hired at their company for a few months to make ends meet, then look for a job you're more qualified for, and they don't want to have to hire someone else in a couple months for the same job.

Or they're afraid that while you're on the clock that you'll finish your duties too quickly, and have time left over to do other stuff that you shouldn't be doing. A prof in college once told me a story about a factory that someone he knew worked at where they wouldn't hire extremely intelligent or well educated people because, when they did, a bunch of them got bored working on the assembly line and one night decided to start a fire in a trash can and burn different materials as an experiment.

[Rev.Reverence]

I have run into this phenomena...I believe that some fear the applicant replacing them...but when the OWNER of a business tells you that...it is bullshit..they just don't dig on freiks.

[sass_in_the_pants]

What Tygerlil said, no one wants to hire someone just to have them leave in three months for the job that REALLY suits them. No one's got time for that shit.

[Nienna]

This is the story of my life. I have a BFA and an MBA. I have yet to use either degree. Remind me why I went to college?

[Angel of Death]

So basically your telling me forget college it's a waste of money?? lol

[Guest GodfallenPromos]

So basically your telling me forget college it's a waste of money?? lol

actually....kinda...depends on what your going in for....

[Nienna]

So basically your telling me forget college it's a waste of money?? lol

I never will regret the experience, but I make the same now as I did 11 years ago fresh out of High School. The economy has turned my degrees into little more than bragging rights, and I have a HUGE debt load that at my current pathetic salary I will never be able to even think of paying on. I woulod say if you're going to college, go into medical... or IT. There still a market for those professions.

[freydis]

I never will regret the experience, but I make the same now as I did 11 years ago fresh out of High School. The economy has turned my degrees into little more than bragging rights, and I have a HUGE debt load that at my current pathetic salary I will never be able to even think of paying on. I woulod say if you're going to college, go into medical... or IT. There still a market for those professions.

Forget IT. I have a Computer Science degree. I have yet to use it.

Seriously? Medical is definately something that will get you jobs, and Technical Writing, if you're willing to take contract jobs, you're going to get paid well.

Ultimately? Whatever it is you pick, just looking outside of Michigan will improve your chances of finding a job in your field.

[freydis]

Yup, I've gotten the "what are you doing in THIS job? You are soooooo over qualified..." speech.

Usually, its after I've been working there awhile. It's really fucking annoying to hear, especially from supervisors/managers.

Finally, I've gotten a job that's away from the front line call center bullshit. I actually feel like I'm moving ahead, now.

Now all I've got to do is get everything packed away and fucking MOVE. Then I start this new job.

[Hellion]

It just seems better working for yourself,of course alot of these places like to look at age as the biggest factor,another form of BS,and it gets really old,yeah stupid ppl are easily programable,let alone an epidemic.

[Guest GodfallenPromos]

It just seems better working for yourself,of course alot of these places like to look at age as the biggest factor,another form of BS,and it gets really old,yeah stupid ppl are easily programable,let alone an epidemic.

*hits you multiple times with a rolled up newspaper* WILL YOU PLEASE GET OFF THE AGE THING!!!!!....*wacks you*....holy shyt...lol

anyway...back to the topic....I am not saying to NOT go and get your education....I will never tell anyone that....but I will say to be CAREFUL in your choice of fields and how high you wish to go..especially in this state. More people are getting by with a two year associates then ever before....and almost EVERYONE and their mother is getting into med classes.

[Troy Spiral (13)]

Having been on the hiring-decision process many times I'd echo some of the sentiments above.

It is usually a large time and money investment to take on a new employee. If they are overqualified, you are likely just going to lose them when something better comes along, which might be very soon. If you have someone that fits the bill more directly, that is far less likely.

Its a fairly well studied and backed up practice to not hire people that are too overly qualified for the position. UNLESS in that same company there is somewhere for them to move up to fairly easily, in that case its less risky.

Also unfortunately, for some positions you actually want less motivated, less skilled people , again for the same reasons listed above. Its an annoying system, but a practical one.