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SadAspy
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12 Dec 2010, 2:34 pm

If I apply for a minimum wage job or one that pays just slightly more, I'm told I have too much education.

If I apply for a job that I could actually support myself on, I'm told I don't have enough experience.

I really just need a job at this point. Any ideas for me?



Lene
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12 Dec 2010, 2:42 pm

How about applying for charity/pro bono work in the field that you are hoping to go into? You may be able to get some support from the government whilst you do this.



Chronos
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12 Dec 2010, 3:25 pm

SadAspy wrote:
If I apply for a minimum wage job or one that pays just slightly more, I'm told I have too much education.

If I apply for a job that I could actually support myself on, I'm told I don't have enough experience.

I really just need a job at this point. Any ideas for me?


This is a common problem. Many employers are hesitant to hire over-qualified individuals because they are worried the person will become discontent with their job, and leave when something better comes along. If it's a job you think you will enjoy doing, despite being over qualified, and intent to stay at the job long term, you need to communicate that to the interviewer.

When I was applying for seasonal jobs as a student, though the job wasn't long term, I still had to be very insistent that the employer should not be intimidated by my qualifications, as they were a bit put off by the degrees I already had. I had to convince them it was a job I would really enjoy doing, and that was the honest truth. I think it also helped that I was one of the few applicants without tattoos and face piercings.

When my classmates were applying for jobs, I noticed they would exaggerate their qualifications. They would not flat out lie, but, for example, they would imply that had more proficiency with something than they really had. When I asked one of my classmates what would happen if he got the job and they put him on a project that required a level of proficiency he did not have, he told me, he would do whatever it took to reach that level of proficiency.

He was clearly an individual who could tolerate such an uncomfortable situation though, and I notice a lot of NT's can make due on partial information, while studies seem to suggest that those with AS need more indepth information to work with something. I think this is because NT's can compensate with social skills while those with AS cannot, and thus we really need to know our stuff.



Dear_one
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13 Dec 2010, 6:55 pm

Can you just leave off some of your qualifications? Borrow a NASCAR jacket or a ball cap for the right team?

Sometimes an interviewer will ask if you know some quotes from Shakespeare or some such probe, and if you do, you are not going to fit with the team.

When Peter Drucker was first writing about scientific management, he got a lot of cooperation from his model, GM, except regarding one particular executive. There was some dark secret about his record, and it took Peter many months to get at it. This was during the era of practical men, and the gent in question had foolishly gotten himself a PhD before taking up real work.



juxtaphoz
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16 Dec 2010, 11:39 pm

I went to a staffing agency and I actually really like it. I was super stressed the first day, but the cool part about it is you get to "reinvent yourself" each place you go. The people don't know you, so it is a good way to work on your people skills.

The other good part about it is you get to try out many different jobs. The uncertainty of getting hired temp to full time is stressful, but temping could help you to build up your references and will help you pad your resume with a more eclectic set of skills.

I'm not sure what field you're in, I'm a graphic designer & I temp through TCG (it is part of Robert Half International which is a huge staffing firm)

I've been happy with it...and I've had over 25 jobs in the past ten years (full time!! ! I suck at offices!)