# Overquaified for a Job? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 2, 2015, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overquaified-for-a-job/729704 "2015-09-02T13:45:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2015, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overquaified-for-a-job/729704/21 "2015-09-02T22:25:37Z")
Have you thought of doing medical studies? That can be a better way to get some cash than a cashier job. ---
**Author:** ![Q.N.Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/3da27b/32.png) [@Q.N.Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.N.Jones)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2015, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overquaified-for-a-job/729704/22 "2015-09-02T22:32:33Z")
I have been in a similar position in recent years. It is counterintuitive, but for retail jobs, I always put all my degrees down. I find that store owners really value having someone responsible and law-abiding running the cash register. The more degrees you have, the more responsible and law-abiding you will seem to them. I got every retail job I ever applied for. They know people don’t stay long in those positions and there isn’t much in the way of sunk costs for training. I find “you’re overqualified” is a problem once I start applying for professional office-type jobs though, so I omit some of my degrees when I do that. That is when people start thinking either that something is wrong with you, or that you will move on quickly and the cost of training you will be wasted. ETA: I have never had to do a cover letter for a retail job, but you can always say in the email that you are looking for a part-time job to provide extra spending money. This is a perfectly acceptable answer to every store owner/manager I ever met. ---
**Author:** ![AnaMen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dfb087/32.png) [@AnaMen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnaMen)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2015, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overquaified-for-a-job/729704/23 "2015-09-02T22:39:50Z")
> [@stillownedbysetters](#): > > Most applications do specify “what is the highest level of education you completed” or terminology similar to that. If you don’t answer honestly, that’s lying. If it doesn’t ask such a question, fine, no need to volunteer it. > > As to it not being a stop-gap job, if I’m understanding the OP correctly, he or she is looking for a job to see him or her through setting up as a writer. I’m presuming the plan is to become a writer with an income. This isn’t going to happen overnight. If the OP is offered and takes the cashiering job, he or she will be working that job for a while. In retail, a plan to stay upwards of six months is pretty long-term. Writing in “college” should suffice. I never said the poster would be a poor hire or would ditch the job immediately, but the person doing the hiring has to go by the information at hand, and the Master’s is likely to be seen as a con, not a pro. ---
**Author:** ![Carryon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc29f/32.png) [@Carryon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carryon)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2015, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overquaified-for-a-job/729704/24 "2015-09-02T23:21:24Z")
The way to do this is quite simple. You submit your resume or application and indicate that you only want to pick up 8 or 16 hours a week. In other words part time. Then once you work there and if you do a good job it’s quite easy to increase your hours. IF you’re good. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![GreenElf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@GreenElf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenElf)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2015, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overquaified-for-a-job/729704/25 "2015-09-02T23:42:56Z")
> [@AnaMen](#): > > Wanting a particular job and reluctantly settling for a job are not the same thing. > > In your version of reality, jobs might as well just be filled via a sign up sheet and waiting list. Spending a half-hour to write down your job experience etc. , complete company tests, etc., is a little different than putting your name on a sign-up sheet. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2015, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overquaified-for-a-job/729704/26 "2015-09-02T23:44:18Z")
> [@Macca26](#): > > This always got me, too. Just earlier in the thread it was mentioned retail has lost a lot of workforce due to school starting again – so it’s not like retail doesn’t have turnover and people moving in and out all the time. To vet candidates as though they should want to work there for years on end seems ridiculous. Very few people want to work retail - particularly floor retail - as their career. You’re not going to get people who stay for years because they want to. Not even 17-year-olds. We built an entire culture on the idea that nobody wants to stay and work retail. So it’s always seemed crazy that “you’re just going to want to leave” is even a reason. _No, duh._ Now give me a real reason not to hire me. I’d be bored? Doesn’t matter, I need money. Give me a better reason. So on and so forth. You’re right, but I’d like to know that the person I’m going to hire and spend the next few weeks training will be with me for at least a year or two (and our average employee seems to last about 5 years, yes, average). So, if I have 10 applications and I need to pick 1 or 2, I’m not going to pick the one from the guy who tells me “I just need to make rent until something better comes along” or the person who says “I’m leaving for college in 2 months, oh, and I’m going to South Dakota with my family for 3 weeks next month”. I understand that my workplace is a first job for the majority of my employees or a ‘I’m really bored at home while my kids are at school’ or ‘I’m retired and need something to do’ and I get that most of my employees to come there with the plan of making a career out of it, but if you tell me in the interview that you’re probably only going to stick around for a few weeks, well, I’ve got other people who want, or need, the job more than you. I know things change, life gets in the way, better jobs come along, I understand that, but even if you plan it to be a short term job, IMO, I’d like to know you’ll at least stick around a little over a season (summer/school). That is, if you’re coming in now, stay on to help train the summer crew. If you come on in summer, do us a favor and don’t take off in the middle of July. Your statement/opinion that we’ve built a culture where nobody wants to work retail doesn’t mean I have to hire people that come right out and tell me they’re only going to be here a few weeks. Honestly (and I really do mean this), I’ll take the college dropout that is thrilled to put in 40+ hours every week (or whatever we hired him for) and come in early or stay late or pick up an extra day because he doesn’t have anything else to do. ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2015, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overquaified-for-a-job/729704/27 "2015-09-03T00:04:02Z")
> [@AnaMen](#): > > Is a résumé really in order here? I’d expect an application, online if the grocer is a chain. > > As a person who has done hiring for positions that did not require any sort of degree, I’d have held your Master’s degree against you in the hiring process for the simple reason that it screams “this is not the job I want, but I will grudgingly and bitterly do it only until something better turns up,” so I say leave it off. When I was in high school, some time in the upper paleolithic era, I was told that the solution to appearing like someone who is going to bolt as soon as they can is to offer to sign a contract agreeing to remain on the job for a certain period of time. I think they suggested three years. In other words, you go right up to them and say, “I know that I have a master’s degree and look like someone who just needs some emergency cash until they can find a better job. That’s not me - in fact, I will sign a contract promising not to quit for at least three years after my date of hire.” Is that not done anymore? Did that ever actually work, or were my high school teachers crapping out of both ends? ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2015, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overquaified-for-a-job/729704/28 "2015-09-03T00:19:41Z")
Any company that I’ve been at (biotech), if we found out that a PhD applied for an MS level job, and omitted their PhD, they would likely be let go. ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2015, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overquaified-for-a-job/729704/29 "2015-09-03T00:32:35Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > Any company that I’ve been at (biotech), if we found out that a PhD applied for an MS level job, and omitted their PhD, they would likely be let go. On what grounds? Would you trump up performance “issues” in order to attempt to fire them for cause? Would you “eliminate” the position \ and then re-create it a month later (oops, what were we thinking, eliminating that position?)? ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2015, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overquaified-for-a-job/729704/30 "2015-09-03T00:35:24Z")
> [@robert\_columbia](#): > > In other words, you go right up to them and say, “I know that I have a master’s degree and look like someone who just needs some emergency cash until they can find a better job. That’s not me - in fact, I will sign a contract promising not to quit for at least three years after my date of hire.” > [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > Any company that I’ve been at (biotech), if we found out that a PhD applied for an MS level job, and omitted their PhD, they would likely be let go. Offering to sign a contract or omitting your post undergrad education aren’t going to make a different when applying at a small C-Store. If someone offered (unsolicited) to sign a three year contract at my store, I’m not even sure how I’d reply. Remember, we’re talking about a minimum wage (more or less) job here. At my store we make applicants fill out the application at the store just to see if they can get all the way through it without help. If you can spell the name of the street you live on you’re half way there (honestly, I swear, and I can’t tell you how many moms and dads we’ve had to ask to stop helping). If you’re smart enough to run a register and stock a store, that’s all they care about, if you’re a hard worker and you can stay with them until their college kids come home, you’ve got a leg up on most of the other people. After that, it’s up to chance. They don’t care if you have a masters or not. But, as I said in the beginning, if you hand in a resume, you’re more likely to get passed over, at least you would in my store. TLDR, go in, ask for an application, fill it out, hand it back to someone and see what happens. ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2015, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overquaified-for-a-job/729704/31 "2015-09-03T00:45:00Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > Offering to sign a contract or omitting your post undergrad education aren’t going to make a different when applying at a small C-Store. If someone offered (unsolicited) to sign a three year contract at my store, I’m not even sure how I’d reply. > > Remember, we’re talking about a minimum wage (more or less) job here. At my store we make applicants fill out the application at the store just to see if they can get all the way through it without help. If you can spell the name of the street you live on you’re half way there (honestly, I swear, and I can’t tell you how many moms and dads we’ve had to ask to stop helping). > > If you’re smart enough to run a register and stock a store, that’s all they care about, if you’re a hard worker and you can stay with them until their college kids come home, you’ve got a leg up on most of the other people. After that, it’s up to chance. They don’t care if you have a masters or not. > > But, as I said in the beginning, if you hand in a resume, you’re more likely to get passed over, at least you would in my store. > > TLDR, go in, ask for an application, fill it out, hand it back to someone and see what happens. Hi! It’s great to see someone with some retail management experience. One of the things that I’ve wanted to do for some time is abandon my high-stress high tech career, take my degree (it’s still a Real College Degree ™, even if it is STEM), and settle in as a small-time manager of a Denny’s, K-Mart, or something like that. That is, something that isn’t fancy, but offers the possibility of a middle-class life and low-stress days. How easily can a well-educated candidate do a lateral transfer straight into a retail supervisory or management job without “working their way up” from a stock clerk or customer service position? We are assuming that they can pass all the basic literacy and math tests that they could reasonably expect to be thrown. Is there a class (e.g. “Basic Retail Concepts for People Who Are Really Smart Compared to the People Who Usually Work Retail 101”) or an exam that will immediately qualify one for retail management? ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2015, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overquaified-for-a-job/729704/32 "2015-09-03T00:51:49Z")
> [@robert\_columbia](#): > > Hi! It’s great to see someone with some retail management experience. One of the things that I’ve wanted to do for some time is abandon my high-stress high tech career, take my degree (it’s still a Real College Degree ™, even if it is STEM), and settle in as a small-time manager of a Denny’s, K-Mart, or something like that. That is, something that isn’t fancy, but offers the possibility of a middle-class life and low-stress days. How easily can a well-educated candidate do a lateral transfer straight into a retail supervisory or management job without “working their way up” from a stock clerk or customer service position? We are assuming that they can pass all the basic literacy and math tests that they could reasonably expect to be thrown. Is there a class (e.g. “Basic Retail Concepts for People Who Are Really Smart Compared to the People Who Usually Work Retail 101”) or an exam that will immediately qualify one for retail management? My workplace is, literally, mom n pop and also it’s very small (10-20 employees). It’s considerably different then how a chain or franchise multi-location store operates. ETA, if you want something low stress, I’d stay away from a restaurant (Denny’s). K-Mart stores have back offices though. ---
**Author:** ![kiz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7feea3/32.png) [@kiz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kiz)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2015, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overquaified-for-a-job/729704/33 "2015-09-03T01:00:21Z")
> [@robert\_columbia](#): > > Hi! It’s great to see someone with some retail management experience. One of the things that I’ve wanted to do for some time is abandon my high-stress high tech career, take my degree (it’s still a Real College Degree ™, even if it is STEM), and settle in as a small-time manager of a Denny’s, K-Mart, or something like that. That is, something that isn’t fancy, but offers the possibility of a middle-class life and low-stress days. How easily can a well-educated candidate do a lateral transfer straight into a retail supervisory or management job without “working their way up” from a stock clerk or customer service position? We are assuming that they can pass all the basic literacy and math tests that they could reasonably expect to be thrown. Is there a class (e.g. “Basic Retail Concepts for People Who Are Really Smart Compared to the People Who Usually Work Retail 101”) or an exam that will immediately qualify one for retail management? At the chains I’ve worked at – and this isn’t, of course, speaking of all chains – unless you were picked right after college graduation for the management training program, everything else is/was work your way up. A chain _might_ hire you as a department manager right off the street but only if you have previous retail management experience. I know of a couple of instances where this happened. One reason why it’s generally been “work your way up” is because it’s easier to train somebody for management when s/he already has some knowledge of the ropes, so to speak. I’ve done management stints in my work. It’s in no way low stress, especially around the holidays. Between customers and breaking your a\*\* so your department can take in as many POS (points of sale) as possible. If you don’t make your numbers, upper management will be hovering over you like vultures. If you don’t make them happy, _their_ bosses aren’t going to be happy. You don’t want that, trust me. ---
**Author:** ![AnaMen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dfb087/32.png) [@AnaMen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnaMen)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2015, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overquaified-for-a-job/729704/34 "2015-09-03T01:25:38Z")
> [@robert\_columbia](#): > > Hi! It’s great to see someone with some retail management experience. One of the things that I’ve wanted to do for some time is abandon my high-stress high tech career, take my degree (it’s still a Real College Degree ™, even if it is STEM), and settle in as a small-time manager of a Denny’s, K-Mart, or something like that. That is, something that isn’t fancy, but offers the possibility of a middle-class life and low-stress days. How easily can a well-educated candidate do a lateral transfer straight into a retail supervisory or management job without “working their way up” from a stock clerk or customer service position? We are assuming that they can pass all the basic literacy and math tests that they could reasonably expect to be thrown. Is there a class (e.g. “Basic Retail Concepts for People Who Are Really Smart Compared to the People Who Usually Work Retail 101”) or an exam that will immediately qualify one for retail management? You think managing a chain restaurant or retail store is “low stress”? I kind of hope some paperwork mixup actually lands you such a position. Hilarity will ensue. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2015, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overquaified-for-a-job/729704/35 "2015-09-03T01:34:29Z")
> [@robert\_columbia](#): > > Hi! It’s great to see someone with some retail management experience. One of the things that I’ve wanted to do for some time is abandon my high-stress high tech career, take my degree (it’s still a Real College Degree ™, even if it is STEM), and settle in as a small-time manager of a Denny’s, K-Mart, or something like that. That is, something that isn’t fancy, but offers the possibility of a middle-class life and low-stress days. How easily can a well-educated candidate do a lateral transfer straight into a retail supervisory or management job without “working their way up” from a stock clerk or customer service position? We are assuming that they can pass all the basic literacy and math tests that they could reasonably expect to be thrown. Is there a class (e.g. “Basic Retail Concepts for People Who Are Really Smart Compared to the People Who Usually Work Retail 101”) or an exam that will immediately qualify one for retail management? You are conflating your ability to get a degree with the ability to manage people. It is like saying you have a degree in math so that means you would be able to play baseball well. Completely unrelated skills in other words. Retail management is not low stress, it does not pay that well etc. Besides that, you’re attitude in general is really arrogant and condescending towards retail people; I still remember the thread where you were talking with your pastor about treating retail people like dirt because you don’t like the principles of the company they work for. It was one of the most WTF threads I ever read. It is difficult for me to believe you are serious. ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2015, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overquaified-for-a-job/729704/36 "2015-09-03T01:55:55Z")
> [@Mr.Nylock](#): > > You are conflating your ability to get a degree with the ability to manage people. It is like saying you have a degree in math so that means you would be able to play baseball well. Completely unrelated skills in other words. > > Retail management is not low stress, it does not pay that well etc. > > Besides that, you’re attitude in general is really arrogant and condescending towards retail people; I still remember the thread where you were talking with your pastor about treating retail people like dirt because you don’t like the principles of the company they work for. It was one of the most WTF threads I ever read. It is difficult for me to believe you are serious. Perhaps I was a bit extreme in that thread, sorry. But I have been, and am, quite aggravated at retail workers’ constant attempts to upsell me and push their loyalty cards, service plans, or whatever their crap du jour is. Push, push, push. It’s sometimes as if _they_ don’t even think I’m human. I start thinking that if I were in charge, I would actually have my workers behave nicely to customers and not try to upsell down everyone’s throat. It’s getting to the point where retail workers think I’m some sort of loon for not wanting that piece of plastic. I’m not a salesman - far from it, I hate sales. What I do care about is civility and good customer _service_. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2015, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overquaified-for-a-job/729704/37 "2015-09-03T02:01:42Z")
> [@robert\_columbia](#): > > Perhaps I was a bit extreme in that thread, sorry. But I have been, and am, quite aggravated at retail workers’ constant attempts to upsell me and push their loyalty cards, service plans, or whatever their crap du jour is. Push, push, push. It’s sometimes as if _they_ don’t even think I’m human. I start thinking that if I were in charge, I would actually have my workers behave nicely to customers and not try to upsell down everyone’s throat. It’s getting to the point where retail workers think I’m some sort of loon for not wanting that piece of plastic. > > I’m not a salesman - far from it, I hate sales. What I do care about is civility and good customer _service_. Hating sales and wanting to be a retail manager is a completely nonsensical position. I won’t even bother going into fallacies inherent in the rest of your assumptions. ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2015, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overquaified-for-a-job/729704/38 "2015-09-03T02:12:41Z")
> [@Mr.Nylock](#): > > Hating sales and wanting to be a retail manager is a completely nonsensical position. > > I won’t even bother going into fallacies inherent in the rest of your assumptions. I don’t agree. Sometimes I loathe going into a store because I know that they are going to try to upsell me _again_. I would actually pay more for a local store that actually had: 1. No pushy upselling, whether for loyalty cards, service plans, or whatever. 2. Staff who actually knew something about what they were selling. 3. Staff who spoke fluent English. ---
**Author:** ![AnaMen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dfb087/32.png) [@AnaMen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnaMen)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2015, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overquaified-for-a-job/729704/39 "2015-09-03T02:21:13Z")
> [@robert\_columbia](#): > > I don’t agree. Sometimes I loathe going into a store because I know that they are going to try to upsell me _again_. I would actually pay more for a local store that actually had: > > 1. No pushy upselling, whether for loyalty cards, service plans, or whatever. > 2. Staff who actually knew something about what they were selling. > 3. Staff who spoke fluent English. So shop at such places. There’s probably one shutting its doors for good every minute or so, due to the fact that this model is seldom profitable, but if you hurry in with fists full of money, maybe you can save a few. ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2015, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overquaified-for-a-job/729704/40 "2015-09-03T02:34:52Z")
> [@AnaMen](#): > > So shop at such places. There’s probably one shutting its doors for good every minute or so, due to the fact that this model is seldom profitable, but if you hurry in with fists full of money, maybe you can save a few. I try to. One of the holdouts, that I actually enjoyed shopping at, started pushing a loyalty card and now they can go pound sand as far as I am concerned. It’s sad, truly. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overquaified-for-a-job/729704.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overquaified-for-a-job/729704.md?page=3)