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Scenario: You have several diplomas ranging from an Associates up to a Master's degree.
You are looking for work in your field. You have many years of experience and certifications. You are highly qualified to do the job.
You are turned down by the employer but offered a job at same company to work as a parking lot attendant.
Do you..
You are looking for work in your field. You have many years of experience and certifications. You are highly qualified to do the job.
You are turned down by the employer but offered a job at same company to work as a parking lot attendant.
Do you..
Jobs
Pride
Education
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 71
Suspended Profile
SSG Tolbert,
This is not about being insulted or swallowing pride. Clinical psychology teaches us that everyone does what they do for a reason. The key is understanding the reason(s). Under these circumstances, we need to understand the reason(s) for the decision(s). The real question is why were you turned down for employment for which it seems you felt very well qualified and offered instead a position for which you appear to be overqualified.
[ deleted some questions and suggestions re writing a civilian resume ]
Warmest Regards, Sandy
This is not about being insulted or swallowing pride. Clinical psychology teaches us that everyone does what they do for a reason. The key is understanding the reason(s). Under these circumstances, we need to understand the reason(s) for the decision(s). The real question is why were you turned down for employment for which it seems you felt very well qualified and offered instead a position for which you appear to be overqualified.
[ deleted some questions and suggestions re writing a civilian resume ]
Warmest Regards, Sandy
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LtCol Brent Norquist
When you put that company out of business...make sure to send their execs an offer to park your cars for you.
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Suck it up buttercup have to start somewhere
We all painted rocks at the beginning if military career
We all painted rocks at the beginning if military career
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I'm not insulted, but I'm not going to take the job either. I will continue looking elsewhere.
If I'm desperate and need to take the job to keep my head above water, then I do so, and continue looking for a job that is in my career field or at least has the potential to use more of my skills and intellect.
If I'm desperate and need to take the job to keep my head above water, then I do so, and continue looking for a job that is in my career field or at least has the potential to use more of my skills and intellect.
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Whatever it takes to feed your family, is what you do. How do you know that that offer isn't a test of how badly you want the job? How do you know that, out of the hundreds of applicants, the first one to accept the parking attendant gets the job?
Even if it isn't a test, its money in your pocket
Even if it isn't a test, its money in your pocket
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CW3 (Join to see)
Depends on the field, and for IT workers, the premise would be absolutely ridiculous. What would be the path from parking lot attendant to IT specialist to Software Engineer??
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I would think, if you have been looking for quite some time, you take the opportunity to get a foot in the door.
I have been there. Â I have been told that I am over-qualified for posistions - i.e. they didn't want to be hiring their boss. Â I took an "entry level" position to get my foot in the door & am using it to move up quickly.
I have been there. Â I have been told that I am over-qualified for posistions - i.e. they didn't want to be hiring their boss. Â I took an "entry level" position to get my foot in the door & am using it to move up quickly.
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Great question! I say you swallow your pride and take what you can get. Something better may follow, but don't hold out for the dream job that may never materialize.
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Well, I guess it all depends. How much do you want to work for this company? Sometimes, just getting hired on at an entry-level position can net you great personal contacts that may help you move up the ladder later.
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SSgt Tolbert,
This has proven to be a very informative and thought provoking thread! One thing I'd like to point out is that your survey result comes out overwhelmingly in favor of taking the low-level job. If you analyze that a little further, among enlisted members and veterans, it's about 3-1 in favor of taking the lower paying job but among officer members and veterans, it's about 2-1 in favor of walking away.
I think that tells us a little about our military culture, that especially among enlisted people, no job is beneath us and any work is noble. I believe this is out of sync with private sector corporate America, and sadly so. We tend to believe that private sector employment rewards hard work and merit, and maybe that's the way it ought to be. But in reality, they'd be happy to have overqualified and underpaid people. Savvy choices and connections are what will get you ahead, not hard work.
This has proven to be a very informative and thought provoking thread! One thing I'd like to point out is that your survey result comes out overwhelmingly in favor of taking the low-level job. If you analyze that a little further, among enlisted members and veterans, it's about 3-1 in favor of taking the lower paying job but among officer members and veterans, it's about 2-1 in favor of walking away.
I think that tells us a little about our military culture, that especially among enlisted people, no job is beneath us and any work is noble. I believe this is out of sync with private sector corporate America, and sadly so. We tend to believe that private sector employment rewards hard work and merit, and maybe that's the way it ought to be. But in reality, they'd be happy to have overqualified and underpaid people. Savvy choices and connections are what will get you ahead, not hard work.
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Cpl Christopher Bishop
Wish we could increase the percentage of the rest of Americans to feel similarly. Â (Insert pic of guy wanting $15/hr for burger-flipping, while we get far less to do far more)
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Cpl Christopher Bishop
This "story" may at first truly sound like one of those "old wives tales" but I believe this happened.
There is not only a lot of High Brass around the Quantico, VA camp, but its the location of a few schools, most notably both the Officers Candidate School, as well as the Marine Security Guard (Embassy Duty) school.
One day during a lunch break, an E5 is walking through the area to get back to the MSG School. He comes up on the E9 SgtMaj heading in a similar direction. This E9 is also with the MSG school command, and recognizes the E5. As the two of them start walking together and are about to start a conversation, a 2LT approaches them from the opposite direction. The E5 pops his greeting and salute as normal. The E9 does not. Then the 2LT actually stops the SgtMaj and says "Hey whats up...we dont salute Officers anymore, SgtMaj?"
(You can already see where this is going...insert "You gotta be shittin' me, Pyle")
All three of these Marines were wearing their Charlie uniform (point being ribbons and shooting badges are displayed).
The SgtMaj first says to the Sergeant "Stay with me, I need a Witness". Then he more closely approches the 2LT and asks him how long he has been in his rank. Apparently he had just graduted that morning, so the answer was "About 2 hours...why do you ask?"
SgtMaj says "Both of you...come with me."
The 3 walk into the comand building of the OCS. The SgtMaj demands to see the unit Commander, Executive Officer, and their own SgtMaj...all of them...right now. Within about 5 minutes they are all together. (AND apparently this is a routine the C.O. is already familiar with...but he plays along)
The MSG SgtMaj faces the 2LT, points to his own rack of ribbons at his top left awards, which of course is in fact the CMoH. He asks the 2LT if even knows WTF that is. Then he turns to the other officers and says...I dunno wtf you're teaching these youngins around here, but how about you tell me that after not only sticking it out around here to pick up my own E9, and a friggin MoH ... wtf else do I gotta do to earn a little respect around the Marine Corps community?
Needles to say, this newly graduated 2LT was recycled back through OCS---all the way back to Day 1.
I wish I had these gentlemen's names. I know the E5 personally who was "the witness". Afterwards, the Sergeant and the SgtMaj return to the MSG school area...the E9 walks into the classroom with the Sergeant and tells the E8 teaching to excuse the Sergeant for being tardy, and that his witness was needed. The class instructor simply nods as if in full understanding. This must have been a relatively repetitive event around the block.
Im sure they discuss the CMoH and its unique set of rules within OCS...they sure cover it in Enlisted Boot Camp, too. No disrespect to Officers in general, but there's always that one wingnut.
Additiionally Id like to add that I atttended that same MSG school myself. For paperwork reasons I did not deploy to an Embassy. But I do understand how the school is set up. You want to talk about about some "Who are the most badasss Marines out there?" You have to mention MSG Instructors. The minimum requirements to teach at that school include ALL of Rank E7, Former Drill Instructor, Former Recruiter, and Former Embassy time both as a Detachment Member, and a Detachment Commander. And its just seems fitting that their own E9 would have some serious decorations.
Again...I can see where that sounds like some old tale, a traditional thing....yet I totally believe it. Out of all of the OCS new Lieutenants who graduate each year...there's gotta be "that one guy".
There is not only a lot of High Brass around the Quantico, VA camp, but its the location of a few schools, most notably both the Officers Candidate School, as well as the Marine Security Guard (Embassy Duty) school.
One day during a lunch break, an E5 is walking through the area to get back to the MSG School. He comes up on the E9 SgtMaj heading in a similar direction. This E9 is also with the MSG school command, and recognizes the E5. As the two of them start walking together and are about to start a conversation, a 2LT approaches them from the opposite direction. The E5 pops his greeting and salute as normal. The E9 does not. Then the 2LT actually stops the SgtMaj and says "Hey whats up...we dont salute Officers anymore, SgtMaj?"
(You can already see where this is going...insert "You gotta be shittin' me, Pyle")
All three of these Marines were wearing their Charlie uniform (point being ribbons and shooting badges are displayed).
The SgtMaj first says to the Sergeant "Stay with me, I need a Witness". Then he more closely approches the 2LT and asks him how long he has been in his rank. Apparently he had just graduted that morning, so the answer was "About 2 hours...why do you ask?"
SgtMaj says "Both of you...come with me."
The 3 walk into the comand building of the OCS. The SgtMaj demands to see the unit Commander, Executive Officer, and their own SgtMaj...all of them...right now. Within about 5 minutes they are all together. (AND apparently this is a routine the C.O. is already familiar with...but he plays along)
The MSG SgtMaj faces the 2LT, points to his own rack of ribbons at his top left awards, which of course is in fact the CMoH. He asks the 2LT if even knows WTF that is. Then he turns to the other officers and says...I dunno wtf you're teaching these youngins around here, but how about you tell me that after not only sticking it out around here to pick up my own E9, and a friggin MoH ... wtf else do I gotta do to earn a little respect around the Marine Corps community?
Needles to say, this newly graduated 2LT was recycled back through OCS---all the way back to Day 1.
I wish I had these gentlemen's names. I know the E5 personally who was "the witness". Afterwards, the Sergeant and the SgtMaj return to the MSG school area...the E9 walks into the classroom with the Sergeant and tells the E8 teaching to excuse the Sergeant for being tardy, and that his witness was needed. The class instructor simply nods as if in full understanding. This must have been a relatively repetitive event around the block.
Im sure they discuss the CMoH and its unique set of rules within OCS...they sure cover it in Enlisted Boot Camp, too. No disrespect to Officers in general, but there's always that one wingnut.
Additiionally Id like to add that I atttended that same MSG school myself. For paperwork reasons I did not deploy to an Embassy. But I do understand how the school is set up. You want to talk about about some "Who are the most badasss Marines out there?" You have to mention MSG Instructors. The minimum requirements to teach at that school include ALL of Rank E7, Former Drill Instructor, Former Recruiter, and Former Embassy time both as a Detachment Member, and a Detachment Commander. And its just seems fitting that their own E9 would have some serious decorations.
Again...I can see where that sounds like some old tale, a traditional thing....yet I totally believe it. Out of all of the OCS new Lieutenants who graduate each year...there's gotta be "that one guy".
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CW3 (Join to see)
Here's the thing: I'm an officer, and I don't think jobs are beneath me, and am insulted that anyone would assume that.
I wouldn't take the parking lot attendant job because it would hurt my career aspirations. If I want to be a database developer, a prospective employer will ask me (if they even interview me in the first place) why I worked as a parking lot attendant. The longer I work as a parking lot attendant, the more it's going to hurt my chances to get a database developer job.
I wouldn't take the parking lot attendant job because it would hurt my career aspirations. If I want to be a database developer, a prospective employer will ask me (if they even interview me in the first place) why I worked as a parking lot attendant. The longer I work as a parking lot attendant, the more it's going to hurt my chances to get a database developer job.
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Neither. I wouldn't let it insult me, but I would deny the job offer. If you truly intend to work in your degree field, the parking lot attendent job won't look good on your resume. You'd be better off relocating where you can find work that meets your qualifications and makes use of your potential.
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Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google
Now regarding "secret shit"... This is only for RP as this is a public website. Every Jane and John Doe out there must not know exactly what I did when my job is (or was) classified as "secret" or even "top secret".
I do not want to be a soft target for anyone, nor a traitor.
Yes, my education, training is listed on civilian resume, as are leadership, and other skills.
Believe me I know how to write a resume.
This 'offer' came to me via email and there was no interview for the CIO or Level IV Tier Network Administrator, or Risk Management Analysis positions.
Six months later I received and offer for the parking lot attendant. Either the have forgotten about my application / resume, or this is just a type of system random email offering jobs, like that of a virtual recruiter as many companies use today.
In the meantime... I have started my own online business (still in developing stages).
Have had loyal customers for years as side-work... hence starting my own business. No more under the table jobs.
I do penetration testing, risk analysis, statics, web design, programming, and much more.
Thank you and everyone else for their input.
My apologies for making suggestions re your civilian resume content.
I certainly wish for you all the best / good job hunting.
Warmest Regards, Sandy