Insulted or Swallow your pride?

You take your resume and make the HR person eat it. I have not gotten my education and experience for nothing. All of you that say be thankful for the position you are offered can do so. I would move on and look else where for a job that appreciates EVERYTHING I have to bring to the table. Don't get me wrong, faith is a big part of my life, but it doesn't pay the bills. God, whoever that Mau be for you, will ensure you receive what you need. You do have to work for it though. So do not ever accept less than what you're worth.

I would swallow my pride and take a job that I am overqualified for, but not from the firm that I had applied with for my chosen career path. For example I am a Registered Nurse, but I would not accept a position as a housekeeper at the hospital. I would however take a position as janitor at the local elementary school, or landscaping company (Believe me I have those applications out there to). This is because I feel they wanted me on first sniff, and wish to tie me down in the future, without spending the money to have me work in the role I am trained to fulfill. I see it as the sign of a selfish company that does not want to put any skin in the game on my behalf, but wants me to become attached to them; this is contrary to proper leadership which you should be willing to invest in people in a substantial manner.

Suck it up buttercup and take the job. As its better to have a job while looking for a better opportunity.

I would not take the job find some other work. Look at USA jobs and see if there are any civil service you can take on. Search company websites like Leidos, SAIC, Boeing all the gove contractors to sere what they have. Search local government jobs. Federal jobs have veterans preference as do many state and local government. Apply for management positions. I don't think companies do the whole "Mail room to Boardroom anymore." Realistically it is possible to be put in a lower position relevant to your education at first to see if you will be a good fit. Then if they like your performance they will move you up or if don't like you show you the door. Some companies like Starbucks will start manager trainees from off the street to serve as a low line Barista at first and then move them up to get the processes of running a store, that is common. I had a friend got into Starbucks corporate but had to be a Barista for 6 months then a assistant manager, finally a store manger for a while until taking on the office job in Seattle.

It is possible to take a job that you are overqualified if you are a convenient candidate to hire. Ie you are already in the local area. I did this as a contractor. I am a Junior Analyst Subject Matter Expert in my job. My qualifications and experience on my resume rate me at a senior level and almost an assistant program manager. They were reluctant to hire me at first actually because they did not want me cut and run. But they could not find another candidate in the area so I got hired. I am fine being a JA for now as the job is means to an end. So sometimes you may decide to take a lower job because its the only one available for you in your area, otherwise you need to relocate. But if they wanted me to be the building janator very unrealistic I would say sure let me take this broom handle and **&^*^&*^. You get the idea.

Honestly taking that job to feed my kids if desperate but still insulted.

I think more info is needed. Is my masters degree in some obscure field where this is the only place I could possibly work? Was there reason given that I was turned down? Did they offer me the parking lot job as a way to retain me so that they can build me a special position running the company from the parking lot?

Honestly, I would be offended. I did not spend all this time in school to watch your freakin car. I would make it my mission to get hired on to their direct competition and my goal would be to crush their tiny little business and then offer their hiring manager a job as my driver. Muhahahhaha....

Is that really a hard choice? If your family needs to eat you do what you need to do to provide. I have no shame when it comes to feeding my family. None at all.

If I have a masters degree, I am not being a parking attendant....

It all depends on how hungry I am. If I were in desperate need of a job and jobs are scarce, then I swallow my pride to get my foot in the door. If jobs are plentiful, then I turn the job down. In the job market today, I would swallow my pride just to get a pay check coming in. I have been in that position before and with a family to feed, you do what you gotta do.

This is an interesting scenario, SSG Tolbert. Thank you for posting this poll. If I were in this situation, I would deny the job offer as being employed as a parking lot attendant. I would not be insulted, however. If I have many years of prior work experience and a portfolio of technical certifications that are relevant to my chosen career field, then I am certain that I would be able to find worthwhile employment elsewhere in the civilian workforce.

However, I do appreciate the posts that highlight the virtue of patience and maintaining a strong work ethic and diligence in the workplace. Ultimately those two traits will result one in getting promoted to a higher-paying position that rewards the employee with more responsibility and care. However, if I am highly qualified for a position in my field, with a stalwart career portfolio behind my back, I won't settle for a position that can be fulfilled by pretty much anyone.

Finding sustainable and career-fueling employment takes patience and effort, as each field has its own criteria for successfully obtaining employment. I view finding employment as being comprised of a healthy mix of luck, effort, prior education, as well as presenting yourself appropriately enough to fit seamlessly into the mold of your desired company's ideal employee.

Thank you for sharing this discussion.