Overqualified? Yes, but Happy to Have a Job
GRANDVIEW, Mo. — Don Carroll, a former financial analyst with a master’s degree in business administration from a top university, was clearly overqualified for the job running the claims department for Cartwright International a small, family-owned moving company here south of Kansas City.
After being hired in December, Mr. Carroll, 31, quickly set about revamping the four-person department, which settles damage claims from moves, and creating tracking tools so the company could better understand its spending.
It is a situation being repeated across the country as the aspirations of many workers have been recalibrated amid the recession, enabling some companies to reap unexpected rewards.
A result is a new cadre of underemployed workers dotting American companies, occupying slots several rungs below where they are accustomed to working. These are not the more drastic examples of former professionals toiling away at “survival jobs” at Home Depot or Starbucks. They are the former chief financial officer working as comptroller, the onetime marketing director who is back to being an analyst, the former manager who is once again an “individual contributor.”
The phenomenon was probably inevitable in a labor market in which job seekers outnumber openings five to one. Employers are seizing the opportunity to stock up on discounted talent, despite the obvious risks that the new hires will become dissatisfied and leave. “They’re trying to really professionalize this company,” said Mr. Carroll, who is the sole breadwinner for his family of four and had lost his home to foreclosure. “I’ve been able to play a big role in that.”
For Full Article From By MICHAEL LUO at The New York Time
Interesting article and the full version gives a much richer and realistic picture of this phenomena.
ReplyDeleteTo me, the essential ingredient here is always the individual's mindset, which determines both how they view being in a job that is "lower" than past positions and how they will approach their work in that "lower" job.
As the economy "rightsizes", this is going to become a more significant issue. Older workers, who are the bulk of those who might look back to "better days" are going to be in the workforce for a long time. The types and levels of jobs which we all used to take for granted are not coming back. Accepting a job that currently asks for less than we are capable of giving will become more usual.
However, we can still exercise our creativity and abilities in any position, even those working at Home Depot or Starbucks. Any position has the possibility for challenge, engagement, and positive return. We just have to see it and act on it.
Time to get mentally tough, America:) There are far worse things than having a job that you can do without maximum effort.
John
John I think it is more than "a job that you can do without maximum effort" as employers often expect a lot from new employees no matter what their experience and skills may be!
ReplyDeleteI learned this to my detriment hoping to make a job change to a very small company that never had a sales person before and their expectations were extreme - easy work but no off time just total commitment ... and un realistic expectations.
Cheers
Thomas
Accepting a job that you are overqualified means that you agree with the terms upon hiring. Now, are you going to be happy to have the job? It will depend on the choices you make when you go to work... either you be happy about it and enjoy the easier part of the job than you were used to or be gripy about it and go back to the unemployment line.
ReplyDeleteThere will always be greater opportunity sooner or later... it's going to be competitive and challenging given the current economic situation but I think.. if we look at this as an opportunity to do our job and train those who needs help, it will help add value to the company and maybe, the next great opportunity for promotion is yours.
Judy
Overqualified is a state of mind. The notion of overqualified is a judgement we sometimes make of ourselves and it is hurtful.
ReplyDeleteOverqualified is an overused cliche'. Just because you have done the job earlier in your career or have done more than the job at hand only means you have more experience to succeed at that job.
To claim you are overqualified is not especially useful. There is always something new in a job or at least a new approach to a job. Success is your objective and the more successful you are at a given job, the more responsibility you are given. Don't be fooled by job titles.
Many of the top companies hire VPs as directors, Directors as Sr. Managers and so on. It is their policy and it works. These companies over hire to insure they get the jobs done well with the least amount of surprises and the largest ability to handle any crisis. They value their employees and the employees are proud to be associated with the best companies in the world. [You know who they are.]
So forget the title and the notion of overqualified and focus on doing the job well. What feels better than sort of success?
Rita Ashley, Career Coach
Author: Job Search Debugged
Author: Networking Debugged
I think the term confuses three issues:
ReplyDelete1 - a person taking a lower level job because she has no choice and needs to put food on the table
2 - a person whose career trajectory is not conventional, taking a job that suits his own career preferences but doesn't follow the expectations other people have of "upward mobility"
3 - a person taking on a job that is below her level because she can apply knowledge and past experience in a consultative manner to achieve results
#1 - is a last resort situation. People get into it because the other option is financial ruin. Employers try to prevent it.