Over-educated, Under-employed (4)

Posted by skyfox on Thu 22 Oct 09, 6:45 PM to skyfox's blog.

Best webpage for advice on making your academic CV work in the Real World.

Many studies show that too much education is a bad thing, but they do not recommend advice for those who already suffer from over-education. (Example 1, 2(conference review), 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 )

Yes, you too could have this job!

Study: One in three graduates in the UK is over-educated and under-employed.

Women are more likely to be over-educated and under-employed than men. (Like in Minnesota, USA and the UK (also here))

Advice: If some jobs make you overqualified for a position, eliminate those positions from your resume. If you're overeducated, don't mention the degree that makes you so.

Myth: over-educated people are lazy.

Fact: over-educated people are more active job searchers (but it's still bad for morale)

Study: over-educated people don't stay long in their first job

Study: You're more likely to find a job at your level if you commute a further distance. (and again)

Study: If you're unemployed with too much money (benefits), you may decide to go back to uni, thus making you over-educated, or, at least in Germany.

4 myths about over-educated people:

People assume that you just won't take certain kinds of jobs.
Employers who do interview me assume I will leave for a “better opportunity.”
Scam artists and multi level marketing types assume that unemployment means I have either lost my intelligence or my ethical bearings.
If you aren't working now or have a “spotty” work history there's something wrong with you.

"Humanities" is the kiss of death, employment-wise, but really it's because humanities students don't do enough maths. A Master's degree is even worse.

But really, being over-educated sucks. And it's going to get worse.

You know the worst part? All of this was found googling "help for overeducated job seekers". Sad, isn't it, how little help there is for those of us with a small fortune in student loan debt and few job prospects?

Replies

22 Oct 09, 8:24 PM
tanken
UK(NR), 2 yrs

Over-education is a a myth. Education is for life not simply for employment.

"Red hair and black leather is my favourite colour scheme" - Richard Thompson

22 Oct 09, 8:34 PM
Rosetto
2 yrs

Try attempting to change careers after a PhD and 8 years in academia.

Nightmare!!!!!!

Self employed was the only way to go.

A x

22 Oct 09, 8:39 PM
misnomer
UK(EH), 4 yrs

skyfox wrote:
You know the worst part? All of this was found googling "help for overeducated job seekers". Sad, isn't it, how little help there is for those of us with a small fortune in student loan debt and few job prospects?

I guess it's probably one of these 'blind spots' where people don't realise there's actually a problem, since it doesn't sound like there should be one. Sometimes reality is fickle and counter-intuitive, huh?

23 Oct 09, 5:00 PM
tanken
UK(NR), 2 yrs

Its_Just_A wrote:
Try attempting to change careers after a PhD and 8 years in academia.

Nightmare!!!!!!

Self employed was the only way to go.

A x

Agreed, I tried to change careers and it didn't work, I don't have a PhD though. Anyhow you are not 'over-educated', it is employers that are 'under-educated'!

"Red hair and black leather is my favourite colour scheme" - Richard Thompson