Minimum wage job: should I be truthful about my education?

[Ravmar]

Quick background: I have found a purpose to my life, and am building a website towards that end. I have already concluded that Steve's assertion that I "should never get a job" is not to be taken 100% literally. It will take time for my website to come to fruition, and I still need to eat and keep the electricity running during that time.

Getting a low-stress minimum wage job is the best way I can think of to cover the bills. I'm thinking grocery stores or coffee shops. What I'm wondering is, how many of them are willing to hire someone with a master's degree? Will they wonder why I'm not working in a higher paying job and conclude something is wrong with me? Will they presume I'm going to find a better job soon and quit? Am I better leaving my master's degree off the job application, even though this breaks the principle of Truth?

Thanks for reading and thanks in advance to those who give input.

[spirit4711]

Be honest and make a deal that's good for both parties. E.g. "I'll not be in this job forever. But I will work hard for a minimum amount of X months. You won't need to worry I'll quit before that time and you'll have enough time to recruit a successor." Whatever you promise, stick to it.

[joyfulgrowth]

I once sent the same resume to Starbucks that I had previously used for other applications. Didn't work. If I did it again, I would find a way to speak to the person making the decisions and find out about their criteria / wishes / concerns first.

How about doing a shifting perspective roleplay with a friend where you play the HR person? Just to get some more understanding for their perspective and find out what you would need to say yes (e.g. at Starbucks, new employees get many weeks of training before they start, which of course is costs they prefer to invest in people who are likely to stay).


BTW:

Getting a low-stress minimum wage job

Minimum wage doesn't always mean low-stress...

[CoolBee]

Don't tell.

If you have high qualifications they cannot understand why you are in a low-wage job. Many people simply do not understand people whose main motivation is to gain Time resource rather than Money resource. People also have very little idea of what actually is open to you. I mean, how much call IS there for someone with masters in nuclear physics and astrophysics out there? Not a lot, let me tell you!!!

When I was younger, I had a hard time getting a job at all in a severe economic recession (early 1980s) because I would go for interviews and be told 'you're too well qualified' or 'if we take you on you'll only leave'.

This is why, if it's possible, if you are studying higher qualifications full-time, also try and get a job alongside so if necessary you can explain away 2 years on your cv by saying "I was a bartender at the Coach & Horses and room maid at the Hilton' or whatever if you need to hide the qualification.

[WorkitSmart]

Originally Posted by Ravmar

Am I better leaving my master's degree off the job application, even though this breaks the principle of Truth?

Huh.. lying by omission? you think?

I don't know why, it doesn't seem like a lie to me. BUT, if you feel it's a lie, then put it on there.

I will say, I used to work at Neimans years ago, and I can't tell you how many sale people had degrees.. even PHD's. People just do what they have to do.. or in your case, what you want to do. Seriously, probably 60-65% of the sales force had some type of degree. It wasn't an issue.

Have fun with your soon-to-be new job.. and good luck with your website! Dee

[joyfulgrowth]

I guess it also depends on the culture. In my country, even a few months without any "proof" of what you did are considered a résumé red flag and would make any employer suspicious. If in your culture it is okay to be vague, you have to see for yourself if it feels like lying or not.

(Curious: Anybody here in whose culture it would be common to just mention the jobs/degrees that are relevant?)

[Marty McFly]

Recruitment agencies are good for temporary work. They are your employer and can offer you whatever you want.

[CoolBee]

In the UK you are normally expected to be able to account for all time gaps on a cv.
You certainly don't need to detail all qualifications you have (unless this is the only way you have for accounting for time gaps).
I mean where does it stop? Canoeing Grade 2, Guinea Pig Highly Commended in Local Pet Show? PIano Grade 5? No would an employer be interested in all the things you have and frankly having too many qualifications on your cv looks intimidating to many people and also doesn't make you look good, makes you look like a jerk.
The way I get round it now, if I am required to show them all, is on the front of the cv under qualifications put something like "educated to postgraduate standard (qualification + institute)" full list attached to rear of cv.

[Ravmar]

Thanks again for the support, everyone. Just when I thought I had my life figured out, I get an email from a Google recruiter out of the blue. I'm willing to dismiss all assertions that I "should never get a job" for the chance to work there. Those of you who believe in LOA, please take 60 seconds to think about all the good I can do in the world once the money starts rolling in.

[CoolBee]

Originally Posted by Ravmar

Thanks again for the support, everyone. Just when I thought I had my life figured out, I get an email from a Google recruiter out of the blue. I'm willing to dismiss all assertions that I "should never get a job" for the chance to work there. Those of you who believe in LOA, please take 60 seconds to think about all the good I can do in the world once the money starts rolling in.

Fab

[Nameless One]

You're already putting too much energy into this. It's a minimum wage job. Just go there and try to get hired and don't let them run you around in circles. Worst that can happen is you don't get the job. Have some courage and you will learn fastest. Be willing to risk it and not get the job. When someone needs to hire somebody quick at a **** job, believe me they aren't going to be that concerned about their "resume" or "application." Just find out if they need someone or not. Playing the application/resume game is a waste of energy for a job like this.