There is a technicians job open with my local town government. I am waaaaay overqualified for it, but I am currently temporarily unemployed, could use the money, and the job looks kinda interesting. Min requirements are just a GED and hopefully some computer literacy. I have a 4-year college degree in the same field as this job type (engineering), 14 years’ experience in the field and plus am rather more than just computer “literate”.
Here is my dilemma: If I admit to having a college degree in engineering, I’m afraid they will turn me down, assuming that I am so overqualified that I will probably bore of the job rather quickly and/or be more qualified that my own boss. Those ARE actually possible outcomes, but OTOH, I need the work and would work quietly, dilegently and cheerfully at the job while I am there.
My other option is to play dumb and leave my degree and engineering job experience off the application. But what if a real opportunity ever comes up with the city, and the job requires my actual credentials? Then they pull out my old application from back whenever and either say “yeah right, sure you got a degree” (well, I can prove it actually), or worse, they’ll say I’m a liar.
I don’t know what to do. I need the work but I don’t want to be dishonest, or worse yet, illegal. I imagine it’s illegal, or at least immoral to fabricate education or experience on a job application, but what about leaving it off?
Include the degree. If there’s a position becoming available which requires your tertiary education, the chances are you’ll be one of the first to hear about it.
Unlike private employers, governments are used to people transferring or being promoted out of their entry level jobs - they don’t perceive it as any kind of “betrayal”.
As you said, this poses a dilemma – if you ever want another job with the city, you’re screwed. And what if a future employer were to call on the city to ask them to verify the information that you’ve provided to them, and the city says “Well, according to the application Gingersnap gave us in September 2002, no degree, etc.”
As an HR person, if I ran into a dichotomy like that, I’d ask for an explanation. Then I’d have to wonder when else someone would be technically dishonest when it would suit their purposes. Consider this a vote for “don’t do it.”
Include it. BTW what real “engineering” related job requires only a GED and the ability to be a keyboard monkey? I thought most engineers had to fairly well qualified and trained or does “engineer” mean different things depending on the job ie “santiation” engineer etc. Does the job specify a strong grip and heavy lifting capability? If I leave you a six pack on the lid will you also take my yard trash and overlook my inability to recycle?
Not that your snarky comments have has anything to do with the issue, but fyi the job involves using several different instruments to collect data around the city’s utilities infrastructure. For the Engineering department. Sheesh.
I thought you would take the remarks humorously specifically because yuo do have an advanced degree in engineering and would be amused at the tendency to of organizations to label anything that involves a tool or a truck “engineering” vs it’s more precise professional definition. I apologize for my error in judgement.