A Diary of a jobseeker (part 4).

This is the fourth blog of my diary as a working mother making a transition in the workforce, from full time student, and casual worker to a part/full time worker.

While on campus one day I discovered that the position I used to work in during my honours year was being advertised. I spoke to the woman overseeing the employment (who I had already worked with) and she told me to apply. As soon as she said this, she also stated that I was overqualified for the position. I applied for the position anyway because I knew I was capable of doing the job, as I had worked in it previously and I also desperately needed a job.

Three weeks later an email arrived in my inbox stating that I had not been successful. I felt rejected and annoyed because I thought how could anyone be more qualified than a person who had already worked in that position? I felt positively miserable and I began to think...

Does it matter if I am overqualified? I am qualified for the position. I have worked in that exact position, in that exact office. No one has the right to tell you that it is a retrograde step when you cannot get any other employment. Obviously it is better to be overqualified and unemployed or under employed, rather than taking a step sideways or down. I am not averse to working hard, but obviously people are unaware of the situation that many PhD graduates face. We are floating in limbo until we get our grades, and then there are not that many teaching or research positions available in a relatively small city such as Perth. When such positions are available employers can offer pittance because there are so many desperate, qualified, early career researchers available.

I am also a mother who is trying to fit work around a child care schedule.

I was sick of facing employers who were resigning me to genteel poverty because they think they know my situation better than myself. What is best for me is not ticking Dr in the prefix box on the Centrelink form. But just as I reached my cracking point I received a phone call...