Overqualified

Until last week I was unaware that you could be overqualified for a job. I had heard of under qualified and not qualified, but never did it cross my mind that I could actually be too good to work somewhere.

I applied for jobs in the mall to hold me over until I found a full-time position in my field. When only one store bought I didn’t think much of it and went to the interview thinking it would be a breeze. My college degree and previous job would probably make me the best damn chocolate salesperson in the store.

When I got there the woman took one look at my application and proclaimed, “Wow, you’re too smart to work here. I mean…you went to college.” When I told her that I was looking for something part-time to help pay the bills and that I was totally okay with the minimum wage and mindless tasks, she informed me that I was way too “overqualified” to be hired. I was actually being refused a job because I had too much education. This actually left me speechless. I wandered around the mall trying to wrap my head around what had just occurred. What if someone really needed this job? Someone who had been laid off from a corporate job and needed to put food on their kid’s table until something better came up. What’s the solution here? Lie about your education or experience? Or is not hiring someone because they have a higher degree than what’s necessary for the job some kind of reverse discrimination?

The Informational Interview

This is something that comes along during rough economic times. You know they’re not hiring. They know they’re not hiring. But you still go through the motions of a formal interview. It’s like a new kind of yuppie torture. It requires the same about of energy as a real interview but there’s not job at the end. All you can hope for is that this company lifts it’s hiring freeze and the person you’re meeting with actually remembers to call you.

Also, there’s usually a lot of talk about what a terrible time it is to be looking for a job, which is not in the least bit helpful, and it always ends with a half-hearted, “Whelp, I’m sure you’ll find something. I’ll let you know if I hear anything.” It’s exhausting, really.

Unfortunately, these informational interviews are your best bet in an economy like this. I’ve gotten some solid leads from these meetings and every once in a while the employer really does remember you when something opens up. So, unfortunately, this is a type of torture I condone.

Jobless in Tampa Bay

As 4.6 million Americans will tell you, job-hunting is definitely one of the most frustrating things on the planet. Especially when you’re hunting in a bad economy.

I’ve been looking for work for about six months now, but I hit desperation about two weeks ago when I moved to Tampa. Since then I’ve sent about 50 “feeler” emails, applied for 10 positions, gone on seven “informational interviews” and borderline stalked two HR reps. Oh, I also applied for about 20 part-time gigs at the mall.

This week I’ll post some of my observations from the hunt.

The Winds of Change

Growing-up I always loved my dad’s story about watching man land on the moon. As a nine-year-old, he was captivated by the image of Lance Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin bouncing around on the moon’s rocky surface. I always wondered if I’d get to tell my kids about watching history happen.

September 11th is a day we’ll all tell our kids about, but today is a day that I recall with a smile. A day I shed tears not of sorrow but of pride. I don’t care what side of the aisle you’re on; it was pretty cool to watch America welcome it’s first black president.

What I found most striking was the crowd. From what I’ve seen and read they were peaceful, respectful and shockingly happy for people that had been sitting in freezing weather since before dawn. There was a truly unified feeling radiating from the capital, and I felt it all the way in Tampa, FL.

In case you missed his first presidential address, you can catch it on CNN.com. They’ve got video and text versions.

The Tampa Tribune followed some local students as they witnessed history.

The St. Pete Times visited local watch parties to get perspectives from Tampa Bay residents.


If you don’t support our new president’s politics, consider celebrating this historical event buy supporting his call to service. Obama has spoken several times encouraging Americans to get involved in their communities. He might represent a much needed change to many Americans, but no one can change a nation on his or her own. Find a local service project that suits you through Hands on Tampa Bay or at www.volunteermatch.org.

Trying something sort-of new

For a journalist who’s used to writing about a certain beat or topic (as you civilians call it) starting a blog is a little scary. What will I write about? Who will I write to? Writing about yourself seems so self-absorbed when you’ve been telling stories about others for the past four years.

Several people suggested using a blog to get my your writing out “there”, and that I should to pick a topic I’m passionate about. Well that’s a little silly. As journalists, we’re told to not be passionate about anything except, of course, journalism.

So here goes. My first personal blog (I hosted a lifestyle blog at my last job). There’s no topic yet. I think I’ll write about whatever moves me and watch for a trend.