Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to apply for a job below my qualifications?

74 replies

sortingmyselfoutslowly · 04/02/2018 08:26

Would you apply for a job way below your qualifications (eg requires GCSES and you are a postgraduate) because, on balance, it fits in better with family life - school runs etc? Even if it meant working more hours?

AIBU to have a dilemma our this as I like bwing a professional and enjoy my job but part time opportunities close to where I live are non existent?

The job I'm looking at pays the same as I earn now but school hours only over 5 days and term time only. I currently teach so do get the holidays off.

OP posts:
Original poster
sortingmyselfoutslowly · 04/02/2018 08:26

Over
Being
Argh.

OP posts:
Rubyslippers7780 · 04/02/2018 08:28

Exactly what i did. My family means i need term time, school hours.
My employer delighted to have someone at my level there, although not working at that level...but maybe in the future.
Do what suits you. Life is too short- what do you need?

SleepingStandingUp · 04/02/2018 08:29

If a job suits your needs then apply for it. Have a good answer for why you applied for it if they interview and ask.

redexpat · 04/02/2018 08:30

Yanbu to apply, but lets face it you probably wont get called to interview. I would ring them first and have a chat about it. That makes you stick out in their minds a bit more and might sway things in your favour.

Brokenbiscuit · 04/02/2018 08:31

It's very common to do this - I recruit a lot in my role, and we see a lot of very over-qualified women applying for low-level roles because they fit around family life. Great for us as an employer, not so good for them.

The most junior member of staff in my team has a PhD and speaks two languages fluently. She is in an entry level admin job. She is very capable and could easily do more, but it fits with her life right now.

FWIW, we do have people in more senior roles working flexibly as well.

roundtable · 04/02/2018 08:31

Now I'm curious to know what job it is op.

But go for it and good luck.

MissWood · 04/02/2018 08:32

Is it a TA job you're thinking of by any chance, sorting?

missadasmith · 04/02/2018 08:32

life is complex. Do what is best for you and your family.

I am a post grad but now work in NMW part time admin job as I am the carer for a severely disabled child. I may even have to trade this in for carers allowance at some point (£64/week). Am I too qualified for that?

just do what suits you best. if it makes your life easier and less stressful, I'd consider it.

Andrewofgg · 04/02/2018 08:32

I would be nervous about taking you on. Would you get bored and be discontented? Are you in it for the long term?

dontticklethetoad · 04/02/2018 08:35

I have done this. What I do now is harder work, but more fulfilling.
Not to mention no childcare costs, so allows us to save or spend as we wish.

It is the best decision I have ever made, work wise.

EssentialHummus · 04/02/2018 08:36

Google The Paula Principle.

I do this, and I have to say I'm far happier for it (for the moment, anyway) - have a first-class MSc in a specialised field, was a solicitor on £130k a year... now working three hours a day alongside caring for my daughter, and obviously earning far less. I think a lot of women do.

Allington · 04/02/2018 08:40

Another one who has done it. The organization were wary and took ages to come to a decision, but are now very happy to have my skills cut price. And I have been able to take on extra work - saving them money but adding to my skills. Plus having the time, flexibility and energy I need for DD.

IAmMumWho · 04/02/2018 08:43

I applied for a job below my qualifications and sadly was rejected as they stated I was over qualified for the role.

BeyondThePage · 04/02/2018 08:44

Yep first in Maths, working part time in a shop... fits sooooo well, not just with family life (caring for both kids and parents) but also gives me a bit more free time and flexibility to do stuff I WANT to do as well as the stuff of life that NEEDS doing.

Can always move on from it in future - kids are only kids for so long, and parents ... well... don't want to think about that too much.

FaithEverPresent · 04/02/2018 08:46

Not at all! My friend did this and she is loads happier. The timings suit her, her weekends are her own again. Definitely worth applying if you think it’ll suit you better.

PurpleDaisies · 04/02/2018 08:47

Lots of TAs are qualified teachers who want a less stressful working life.

The pay is utterly shit though.

Abracadabraapileofbollocks · 04/02/2018 08:47

Yes. Absolutely? It's just getting on with life. Don't get hung up on qualifications so much. Think about you fitting what they need and vice versa.
I have been over qualified and have used the "free" area to make It clear how I wanted the work.

NurseButtercup · 04/02/2018 08:48

YANBU but in order to increase your chances of being shortlisted, you may consider omitting some of your qualifications.

Good luck

Madonnasmum · 04/02/2018 08:49

Go for it, but if call out why you are doing this in your covering letter or they may just think you are looking for a stop gap. Id also make your cv job appropriate, keep it concise and to the point rather than if you were applying for something stretching.

ALLIS0N · 04/02/2018 08:50

We have just advertised a ( reasonably well paid ) part time administrator role with flexible hours and had over 250 applicants. Nearly all women and about half were graduates.

Of those called to interview, all but one had degrees and many had a postgrad too. Like a PP, I feel sad and a bit angry that women bear all the burden of child rearing and domestic labour.

BTW several applicants were teachers trying to get out of the profession Sad. We didn’t interview them as others had much more relevant experience.

Headofthehive55 · 04/02/2018 08:53

Yes it's possible. But it's more difficult to transition back to the professional role later on. You are discounted I found. I really can't understand why I am less valuable to employers these days, having had my children and with lots of life experience, than a fresh faced graduate? That's how it feels.

CrazyExIngenue · 04/02/2018 08:56

YANBU, however, do think long and hard about it. If you are career driven taking a step down could affect your chances in the long run. Children don't stay young forever, and should the time come that you want to return to your career, you might find yourself out of the running.

BakedBeans47 · 04/02/2018 08:58

I would if I was desperate for work - albeit I guess most recruiters would worry you’d just leave when something better comes along - otherwise no.

I worked my arse off to get my qualifications and I am not dumbing myself down. Also I would worry how difficult I would find it getting back into the profession once my kids were bigger and I had taken several years away.

CheapSausagesAndSpam · 04/02/2018 09:02

I have found that not one of the jobs I applied for where I was overqualified have given me an interview.

It's very annoying.

Original poster
sortingmyselfoutslowly · 04/02/2018 09:07

Thank you for all the replies.

It's not a TA job but in a school. I fulfill all the points in the job description and actually aspects of teaching like working under pressure, communication skills, priotitising workload etc are transferrable to this post.

I really want to work more locally to where I live and not sit in traffic for up to an hour each way. There are lots of other reasons I want to leave my current job but I don't want to leave teaching permanently necessarily.

OP posts: