Underqualified, Overqualified, and lost

I'm in an awkward position.

I have a B.S. in chemistry and a masters in teaching. I taught high school chemistry for 3 years and didn't have great experiences (the 3 jobs I had all ended relatively badly). After I quit teaching, I was unemployed for 6 months, then out of desperation, I took a job in a deli that my husband got for me (he's the meat manager of the grocery store that hired me). I had no idea what my long-term career goals were at this point, so I was content to just work.

That actually went well, for a while. I was working as a deli clerk and the manager loved me... out of the blue, he was promoted and they promoted me to manager, despite having no experience with management. I thought I did well, but there were endless conflicts that led to me being demoted and the supervisor's daughter (my assistant at the time) being made manager instead. Despite working my @#$ off and having a decent attitude for someone put in a humiliating position, they found a reason to fire me anyway after a few more months.

So now I've been unemployed for 6 months, applying for everything from waitressing positions to lab jobs to... well, anything. I've had two interviews in 6 months of applying for 3-10 or more jobs a week. One was for a seasonal REI job, where I WORKED BEFORE years ago and left on good terms. The other was for an entry-level admin assistant job. I didn't get either job.

I don't know what to focus on. I'm in school taking tech classes, but just want to work at this point. It's been years since I worked in a lab, so despite the BS in chem, I guess I'm not that qualified. And maybe my weird history despite two degrees scares off employers for simpler jobs?? I haven't taken enough classes to really qualify for much in the tech field. I just don't know what to think.

I guess I'm just looking for any insights, advice, anything... what might employers think, especially if I'm not even getting interviews?

The problem is there is a glut of unemployed people. So companies have their pick of 1000s of applicants. So if you show a hint of being a problem worker, they'll move on.

But also, you have to basically be an expert in anything you apply for. Companies that are hiring are looking for really experienced people and they want them cheap. It doesn't help that people from other countries come here on H1 visas and compete for jobs in our own backyards.

I would stop spending money on the tech classes. There is a glut of tech workers. If anything buy the books (or download them off the internet) and teach yourself. Don't waste another dime on education.

There are tech workers with 10 years experience and masters degrees that are taking $9/hr jobs.

You're like a lot of unemployed. We don't know what to do. Unfortunately there's no oracle that says "this field will hire you if you get a degree in it".

Education is so expensive that you really need to know what you're doing. And even if a field is in demand (I know of NONE) in 4 years it may be glutted (see nursing).

Also, don't be fooled by any news about "this field can't find competent workers". Typically what they mean is that companies can't find highly-qualified applicants for starting wages.

Companies don't need to train and they don't need to take recent-graduates. So they won't. So even if you get a degree, you'll probably be back to square one looking for any job. (see your chemistry degree).

You have a Master's Degree. You qualify to teach in a college. Go to the websites for your local colleges (all of them) and see what is available. You may only get one semester of work, but it's work. And it's a completely different environment than school districts.

I've thought about that, and I think I would enjoy teaching at that level more than high school. However, I tried to some extent to apply for those kinds of jobs 4-5 years ago when the job market wasn't near as bad, but generally they look for someone with a masters in *chemistry*, not just any masters. Of course the ironic thing about that is that very few graduate schools even offer masters programs in chemistry; I almost accepted an offer for a Ph.D. program in chemistry where they told me that if masters degrees are given out these days, it's basically as a consolation prize for not finishing a Ph.D. That said, there IS a school that offers one that's actually relatively close to where I live... but then I'm back to the whole paying for education thing.

I guess what really kills me is that I've seen more than one person get fired from the deli I worked at (one of them for stealing cigarettes from the store!!!) and go out and get a job literally the next day.

Thank you to Toddd, btw... I guess that's a reality check I probably already knew, but somehow it helps to hear it confirmed.

I was looking into Chemistry. I have 2 bachelors (physics/EE) and a masters in computer engineering. And I tried to find if there was a demand for chemists, and to my dismay a lot of chemists were saying how mad they were there were no jobs (from what I've read).

I guess chemical engineering is better, but I'm not sure by how much. And it's probably mostly oil-company related jobs. So you'd probably have to relocate.

But that's my dilemma. People keep saying I should find a job without a problem, but they don't realize that if you don't have years of very specific experience that your education is almost worthless.

You talk about the thief getting a job quickly, I think I'd be better off a High school dropout on welfare than having a graduate degree. I applied to Target and they actually give preferential treatment to people on assistance!

can you look in a pharmaceutical or biotech company

I've seen some job ads for people with degrees in chemistry

but then again it is partly to do with location to

where I am at, there are a couple of major pharma companies as well as colleges, and small biotech companies as well as lab companies like quest etc

always hiring

can you relocate possibly?

if you can relocate..mental hospitals and prisons usually hire.as well as hospitals ..i know its not a great prospect when you have a graduate degree ...its just hard .....makes think getting a higher edcation was pointless when you dont even have a job where you can pay back you graduate bill back...at least thats where im at....check your city and county employment websites...

its a sad state when college graduates even those who have masters degree cannot geta job at walmart

I have a Bachelor degree and just graduated with my Masters degree in May. I have applied for over 600 jobs since then (May, June, and July). I received computer generated letters saying thanks for applying, although you have many skills we have decided to pursue other applicants that more closely align with the particular job. I do have prior work experience as a Customer Service Rep (over 15 years), I have experience working for the County, the courts, a Webmaster for HP, Account Manager, electronic assembly and the list goes on and on. I actually received an email today that was for a manufacturing job, telling me the same rejection statement. I have years in a manufacturing environment. I have never been fired from a job, have an excellent work history, come with good references and I am physically attractive. The jobs are overseas. You may just have to go work at a fast food place or something like that, or return to college and hope the economy improves by the time you graduate. Also, the president has signed a bill that will force the government to hire recent grads. Unfortunately it will not be fully implemented until the end of the year 2011 or early 2012. If you have graduated within the last 2 years then you qualify to be included in this program. That is about all I know.

no such thing,gov. hire who it wants.

And they say education is key to success...? Welcome to the politics of life! I have been to three different colleges over the years, and am at the same point in life, of "what next". You can do everything right these days, and it's still not enough for everyone else! The bitter pill of all this, having your job history ruined by taking just ANY job,,and then when you think your qualified for a REAL job and apply, they think otherwise, because of your work history. It's a damn shame,employers forget you have bills and expenses, and need some way to live your life until the right opportunity arises. But no, they don't care! Empathy doesn't exist in society these days. People want what they want what they want! No exceptions!

honestly, i think you can get a college job easy, especially an online college teacher, all they do is grade online posts, and grade papers... easy moeny

How do I find out about a online job grading papers? I have never seen a job like that posted any place and I have applied at all the local colleges for other jobs I have seen on their website. I have never gotten one.

Tracy in Council Bluffs, Iowa said: How do I find out about a online job grading papers? I have never seen a job like that posted any place and I have applied at all the local colleges for other jobs I have seen on their website. I have never gotten one.

Try schools like DeVry, University of Phoenix, Argosy, Walden, etc...my roomie has been taught by instructors for online classes who live around the country.

If you have an offer to get a PhD, take it. Typically, PhD program has stipend if you do research or teaching. It will buy you few more years and hopefully everything gets better by then.