People who assume what your degree means, when it doesn't
Posted on 06/28/2006 by the cynic
Viewed: 292 times
For some background, I have my Masters in Social Work. I used it for awhile until deciding that I was bored/unhappy in that field, so I broke into corporate office work through temping.
And this is really nerdy, but I LIKE office work (as weird of looks as HR people give me when I tell them that). I've been doing it for 2 years (actually 4 if you count the admin portion of my school internships).
One thing I'm noticing is that people in the corporate world tend to assume things about my degree that aren't true, but get my resume pitched to the "No" pile, sometimes even before they meet me.
A Master's in Social Work is basically that...a license to practice therapy and social service work. It doesn't require high grades (which I did have), but it requires a sense of social justice and ability to work with others and to write well.
The program isn't as challenging to get into as other Masters programs like MBA or Engineering, but it seems like people see it on my resume and think it's medical school or something.
And yes, I admit it--I got it out of pressure from the parents and as a way to "figure out what I want to do" at 22. BAD MOVE considering that my personality as well as my politics and salary desires did not gel with the field. So I changed careers and have done office support work (database geek stuff) for 2 years now and am loving it.
Recently, I almost had a connection for a database job, but the person told my connection, "I think she's going to be bored doing this work, since she's too educated." Even though I've been doing this work for 2 years and love it, I'm not "supposed" to like it because of my Label.
Another HR person interviewed me then told the recruiter, "She was good, but she's going to be bored with the work. RRRGH! It was a good one too! She would have hired me with just a B.S.
I don't even have Master of Social Work on my resume anymore (mostly because corporate types would spend interviews taunting me for being a do-gooder due to the stigma), so I changed it to "Graduate Work in Social Sciences" to avoid someone's web spider screening me out by "Master's."
Apparently that makes office support work "beneath me" too, but I can't leave it off entirely because I have to explain my gap in employment from 2002-2004 while I went to school (plus a background check would reveal that I have it so I'd lose any offer due to lying).
How do I get these people to understand, before throwing me out of the running, that a) Social Work is not Engineering, and that getting a Master's in it isn't rocket science--it's more personality and justice orientation, and b) I am NOT bored with what I do, and would prefer that they believe me instead of playing "career counselor" instead of hiring manager ("you can't possibly want this dear," etc.).
An MS in Social Sciences won't get me to be manager of an investment bank, so I'm not sure what it is they think is a "fit."
What do you guys recommend?
(Anti-Flames DISCLAIMER: Please note that if there are any social workers here, I am NOT putting down the field. If you can do it, more power to you--I just didn't like it.
I'm just saying that having a degree in the field does not preclude doing database or admnistrative or other office support work, the way Corporate America likes to assume it does. )
POST A COMMENTthe cynic(06/28/2006)
It's a thought, and I'd actually like to! The question is how to hide the Social Work degree from my resume. It seems to be screening me out no matter what else I add. thanks!
the cynic(06/28/2006)
I realized that sounded stupid, because the obvious answer is "don't write it down." But then I'd have to explain my 2 years without paid work, and it would come out that I went to grad school, and of course a background check (financial firms practically do an FBI blueprint) would pick up on it, so we are told to be completely honest on our resumes. thoughts?
just me(06/28/2006)
Cynic, no offense but step out of your head a little bit. You seem to be consistently second guessing yourself and thinking you have to hide things and not be yourself and thinking you sound stupid. Chin up! Go forward proud of who you are and stop making headtrips for yourself!
WalkingInMyOwnShoes(06/28/2006)
Did you try interviewing for city, state or federal jobs? A lot of these organizations are what is called "degree happy" some even brag about it. There must be other "degree happy" outfits in your universe. * I know the feelings of frustration of being pushed into a career by one's parents. Aptitude, talent and interests be damned.
the cynic(06/29/2006)
Just me: Thanks--the thing is, it's not all in my head, which maybe isn't clear from my post. I know for a fact that my degrees are hurting my chances, because I am being directly told such ("We would hire you if you didn't have your Masters" and "We feel that this work bores you."). Such things are frustrating to be told when it is the job that you WANT. So I'm afraid that hiding it seems to help. I got more interviews once I changed Masters to "Graduate Work," and am now wondering how to turn more interviews into offers. I'm looking for word-processing/administrative support jobs because I get high on the stuff and it's what I like. I am being told that I shouldn't like it, and shouldn't be allowed to do it, because of what I studied at age 22. That's the catch.
NotSoBad(06/29/2006)
Hi Cynic. I feel your pain - just remember that the experience you are gaining now in your temp work is invaluable - every day is another day of experience in what you WANT to do and a step farther away from your Masters Degree. Also, don't be afraid to leave it off your resume - that is not lying. Imagine how long the resume of someone with a 30-year career might be - a resume is for showing off what you want to show off, period. If they do run a check and ask you about it, of course be honest, but leaving it off your resume is NOT lying. When you're asked about your two years without a paying job, just say something like, "I was completing a graduate degree but quickly decided that field was not for me" or something like that. My two cents...
HaveADamnNiceDay(06/30/2006)
I agree with NotSoBad. That makes a lot of cents--er, sense! It would be a good move to mention that you decided you just didn't like your field--perhaps you ought to mention that on your cover letter in brief?
Grandpa B (06/28/2006)
Hello, How about asking your current employer if you could take time to take some courses related to the type of work that you would like. You wouldn't necessarily be involved in a degree program, but these courses could help your career. All the best.
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