'Overqualified' sting

P

No word on PhD results yet...........

Given recent string of rejections for research assistant/grade 6 posts due to being 'overqualified' due to PhD and no funding for grade 7 promotion if awarded PhD during posts, I'm going to give the postdoc/grade 7/research associate jobs a try.

Some of the feedback recently received from a top 5 uni was to strongly consider grade 7/research associate positions and to keep an eye out for such positions in their department. Hopefully a good sign?

Oh well, can't help I guess! Need a job!

Could always go down the non graduate route again and omit all of my qualifications.....but will face that this evening, after I've worked through these grade 7 posts.

H

======= Date Modified 09 Oct 2012 13:50:21 =======

Quote From Pineapple30:

Given recent string of rejections for research assistant/grade 6 posts due to being 'overqualified' due to PhD and no funding for grade 7 promotion if awarded PhD during posts, I'm going to give the postdoc/grade 7/research associate jobs a try.


I'm not quite sure why you weren't doing this in the first place. Yes, you are overqualified for a grade 6 post. The appropriate level for you is grade 7. I'm not quite sure why this 'stings'. It's about appointing people at the appropriate level. In order to grow and develop your career you need more freedom and responsibility than a grade 6 position would give you.

The encouragement you've been given to pursue this is a positive sign. Go for it.

K

Hey Pineapple- I don't think this is unusual. I know that the university I did my PhD at and the one I'm at now both bin applications for research assistant jobs from people who have a PhD. They don't even look at them. Towards the end of my PhD I applied for 4 jobs. I applied for 2 research assistant positions, which were a great topic match, and I didn't even get interviews. I also applied for a research associate and a research fellow position and got interviews for both- I took the research associate position (which incidentally wasn't even a close match on topic!). So definitely aim for a higher level and don't take rejections from assistant posts to heart! Loads of luck with the job hunt and with the resubmission verdict! Best, KB

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