Should I hide my education?

[cschin4]

I think the biggest challenge of any working relationship is that the expectations need to be loud and clear. The most difficult places to work are ones with fuzzy expectations. One minute controlling and over the top and the next minute, totally hands off and you are supposed to have figured it out, enacted the solution, but if you would have, they would have said you were overstepping, etc. I have worked in places like that and it is very difficult. I have worked in places where the supervisors want to be very controlling. Fine, I will show you all of my work, all of the time, and explain my actions/results. Other jobs, totally hands off, just get the work done to the end point and that's it. And, it is on the boss and people hiring to make sure the newbies understand what is expected of them. If you want them to pour you coffee, say so. If you want them to leave you alone all day , say so. If you want them to show you everything they do for the next 6 weeks, say so.

[Scanner]

Cschin:

Yeah, I get it. . .I am not retaining a Professional Organizer, I am hiring an assistant.

It's just that the "I'm very organized" I find to be a platitude.

Now, if you said, "Well, in my last job, I helped organize the collections and deposits into an efficient breakdown of credit cards, checks, and cash", my interest is more piqued. (or whatever - again, off the cuff example)

PS: Or let's say it's for my business (a better example): "In my last job, I helped organize all new client sources into separate categories. I then interfaced with marketing and they were able to communicate better with them to have them return more often. I did this all from a free online software. I was very proud of that accomplishment."

I think:

A. Self Starter
B. She is organized and likes to contribute to organization

[cschin4]

I guess I don't think there is one "right" candidate. Various people add various things to every job. But, I think most people just really don't know how to interview or what to say. It is very difficult to try to find out what the interviewer is getting at. Perhaps instead of just asking more open ended questions, you could set up a small orgainizational drill and see how different folks deal with that and how they may have different ways of doing things. I think that would be much more concrete and usuable than chitchat, vague answers and pyschology tests. Maybe instead, some stations where candidates are asked to perform with each station being a different skill such as organization, answering phones correctly, or whatever it is you are looking to hire. Obviously, things can be taught, but it might give you a better feel. In other words, time to interview "outside the box".

[khosta]

If it were me I would do what I had to do to get the job - whether it's listing those degrees or not. It's tough out there these days and to get a job and make money isn't easy. Sometimes you just gotta put number 1 first!!

[NolaP]

My guess is you probably don't want to work for anyone that doesn't want to hire you because of your education. I mean, would you not hire someone because they went to school (meaning they are most likely hard working and dedicated)? That just seems nutty to me.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Shengmei, I was reading an article about how the new jobs created in the last couple of years are not meeting the wage levels of the jobs that were lost. In the middle of the article a woman who only had a high school diploma, but a long work history, says she was advised by the temporary placement agency to dumb down her resume!

A contracting company helped her find a new executive assistant position, but she lost that during a company merger in 2009. The contracting company then suggested she look into temporary work, which pays significantly less, with an hourly wage ranging from $11 to $18 an hour, and no benefits. She applied for hundreds of jobs -- temporary and full-time -- but was out of work for a year. With her son on his way to college, and her husband, an electrical engineer, out of work, Island began to worry. Although their mortgage was paid off, the family began sinking into debt.

"It's depressing. It is extremely depressing. Especially when you leave interviews, and you just know you've got this one. And then you don't, again," Island said. "You definitely take a look at all the extras that you have in your life. You start finding that instead of needing 150 cable channels, you only need the package that gives the basic. You don't drive as much. You clip coupons. You worry."

As the months progressed, the contracting company suggested Island dumb down her resume.

"These companies don't seem to understand that I'm just going to do what I have to do to bring money into the house," she said.

Since the new year, Island has found temporary work as a receptionist, with the help of the contracting company and a significantly reduced resume. She misses the more engaging work she did as an executive administrative assistant, and feels that she has more to offer -- that her career has amounted to more -- than answering phones.

Trading Down: Laid-Off Americans Increasingly Taking Pay Cuts - And Kissing Their Old Lives Goodbye

[tripods68]

One of my best friend got a full scholarship from NASA (space aeronautics) Virginia Tech. He end up for working for Franklin Templeton as a TEMP, where I first met him. Then work for E-Trade as Analyst. Now is an aspiring Director/Actor in short film & Theatre living in LA. Go figure!

[tripods68]

[QUOTE=Scanner;290333]I think the problem is not so much your education. As an employer who hires high school graduates for the type of positions you may be looking for, I'll be frank - I am scared to hire someone like you because you will ditch me at the first opportunity you get when something else better comes along.

I realize that's life - all well and good. . .all is fair in love and the workplace.

However, if you could somehow assure an employer that you will help transition and train the next person, I'd be more open to it. It takes about 90 days to train a good assistant and then about 6 months before they are a real asset to your business.


I somewhat had experienced this once, where I applied for a particular job; Insurance Analyst temporary (contract is for ONLY 12 months or less because they had one analyst leave abruptly but plan to comeback). During the final phase of the interview, I was asked and grilled repeatedly "We want your full commitment for 12 months)". I rest assured them, "YES". But then I bailed out after only 4 months, where a permanent position opened someplace else. I needed to cover for myself in case the other guy comeback early. That's probably best decision hindsight 20/20 I've made.

You got to do what you got to do! Bottomline.

[Scanner]

Tripod,

I understand that you gotta do what you gotta do. . .but you have to also understand. . .it's not about you:

"These companies don't seem to understand that I'm just going to do what I have to do to bring money into the house," she said.

What that has to do with growing or serving my business, I am not sure at all.

And yes, if I am going to do a contract, I would be sure if you left, you'd be leaving escrowed money on the table.

[Scanner]

You know. . .all said and done. . .I do think Japan has it right (and I know they've had their share of economic problems).

Workers there don't think about their needs, they think about the company's needs. That being said, CEO's there only make 20-100X what the janitor makes. They conduct business with a sense of honor.

Something is wrong when a CEO makes 100,000% over the bottom worker and then says he earned it.

(and no, I don't make that over my workers. . .sometimes I have made less than my workers as they are paid first and me second)

[tripods68]

[QUOTE=Scanner;291143]Tripod,

Agreed! I also think what most people fail to realize especially in the interview---you must say what they want to hear from you---You have sell yourself to get that job even if it requires you to ACT a bit hollywood-style. Just sayin

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Tripod,

I understand that you gotta do what you gotta do. . .but you have to also understand. . .it's not about you:

Quote:
"These companies don't seem to understand that I'm just going to do what I have to do to bring money into the house," she said.


What that has to do with growing or serving my business, I am not sure at all.

And yes, if I am going to do a contract, I would be sure if you left, you'd be leaving escrowed money on the table.

Scanner, I did a doubletake on that sentence, too. I thought maybe she meant that she had a hard time convincing the companies she'd applied to that she seriously did want the job, that she would gratefully work at the job she applied for. She was being brushed off by companies that figured she didn't really want their job due to having had higher paying ones before. I didn't take it to mean she goes into interviews talking about her own superiority and how they should be grateful to have her, or anything like that.

And Tripod, I cannot imagine an adult in this day and age doesn't know that you have to sell yourself to the hiring company, convince them that you have what they want and will be an asset to them.

[cschin4]

Most of interviewing is just BS and gives HR a job and something to do. The questions become ridiculous. I recall then asking "how long I planned to work there". Um, what am i supposed to say to that? I don't know. When i take the job, i am planning to work there "until". Until my life changes, until i find a better job or until i take my dying breath. Who the heck knows. And, if they aren't giving me a lifetime committment why do they expect it in return. Of course, the answer is "I hope to work here for the rest of my life and to die on the job!". Then they ask you things like "are you a team player" or "do you like to work on committees". Oh yes, "I live to work on committees, yay"!. And, that follows with the personality tests which ask you how many times you stole from your previous employer, etc and only a moron could get those questions wrong.
But, to the OP, the interview is "all about them" in reality. They don't care what you like or need or want. They only want to know if your warm body fills the position, keeps the boss off their back, and that you fit in and don't make waves. Mostly they are going to hire you on your personality and looks rather than actual skills.

[charley_alford]

If you need a job, do what you have to do but you can consult with your husband one more time

[couchrobt]

In some cases, things like this may happen. If you really like to get hired, maybe it is best to not show everything. It is not exactly not telling the truth, it is just omitting some details. It may work. Good luck.