<p>Ok, I know it sounds like an outrageous question, and it probably is, but someone told me it does hurt for jobs. </p>
<p>Would an employer think you are overqualified and would have to pay you too much? </p>
<p>I’ll probably be looking into Social Sciences mostly, specifically PoliSci, IR, Econ, History, maybe a few more, not sure what I want to go into.</p>
<p>A Ph.D will probably hurt you unless your wanting to go into research, or acedemics (teaching). However, I’m in no way an authority on this, it’s just what I’ve heard.</p>
<p>In the sciences, a Phd disqualifies you from a large number of POSTED job openings. Companies don’t want to pay for a Phd when a BS/MS applicant can do just fine and will be happy with the job for years to come. The caliber of jobs open to Phd holders is substantially better though.</p>
<p>Yeah I have heard this too. I mean, if you really go out there and want to use your knowledge to do something, fine…but if you’re going to go for a job less overeducated people will do fine, you’re probably going to be somewhat shunned. </p>
<p>THough, honestly, you have to be crazy to get a Ph.D. if you have NO interest in that subject that exceeds what goes into a very ordinary industrial position.</p>
<p>How easy is it to drop out of a phD program after obtaining a masters and protect your chances of getting a job (or for any other reason, lol)?</p>
<p>I agree with belevitt, and the glut of new PhD’s should be highly concerning to anyone looking to get one of those PhD-only jobs.</p>
<p>
Well, it’s a lot easier to drop out than to stay in, for sure! If you really want to leave, no program on this planet is going to make you stay. A PhD program is a choice from the first day to the last.</p>
<p>Not all doctorate programs award a master’s degree along the way or when decides to drop out. If a master’s is your goal, it is much more appropriate to apply to terminal masters programs</p>
<p>One way to avoid any ‘overqualification’ problems is to simply not mention your PhD at all. There’s no rule that says that you have to list every degree that you have. </p>
<p>Granted, you may have to explain the chronological gap on your resume. However, there are several ways to get around this without having to lie. If you have children, as many graduate students do, then you can simply say that you spent that time taking care of your kids, but now that your kids are older, you want to go back out to the workforce. This has the great advantage of actually being true - you were taking care of your kids. Another tack is to start your own small business on the side - even if it only makes a few bucks - and you can then say that that’s what you spent your time doing.</p>
<p>Keep in mind: employers are not your friends. Employment is a pure business transaction, nothing more. You don’t really owe your employer any more information than what is necessary to get the job. After all, employers are hardly going to tell you the whole truth. For example, there are plenty of stories of employers continuing to hire, knowing full well that those positions may soon be eliminated anyway because of a pending merger, sale of the division or other organizational change. In other words, they were hiring people - and in some cases, having them move across the country - knowing full well that they were going to terminate them shortly anyway. That’s the reality of business.</p>
<p>I’ve heard of people not telling employers about degrees, and I guess it makes sense. I heard someone was going to get a teaching at a middle school or H.S., but she had a JD and they took that as she would not be dedicated.</p>
<p>How ticked would your boss be if he finds out later, by coincidence? It would suck, but be funny at the same time to get fired for having a PhD. But that would be really stupid to fire someone over, IMO.</p>
<p>most application forms request you to list highest degree obtained, followed by your signature indicating information is accurate to the best of your knowledge. In addition, criminal background checks are quite common in many public university and industrial job settings. While it is prudent to offer only what is asked on a form and not more, it is unwise and a bit short-sighted to lie on application forms.</p>
<p>Well, many (probably most) companies don’t actually require any ‘application forms’. I certainly have never filled one out. </p>
<p>And besides, I would also say that there is no requirement that you state the complete truth on any application form either, just like you aren’t required to state the whole truth on your resume. The worst thing that can happen to you is that you get fired for lying on your application, whereupon you just go find another job.</p>
<p>How did you get so jaded Sakky? Of course employment is a business transaction, but it can be a whole lot more. It can propel your career forward and upward, it can be personally fulfilling, financially enriching and completely satisfying. I think starting off with dishonesty is not doing anyone any good.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t say that it’s jaded, just realistic. Let’s be honest - getting a job is all about self-marketing, and what is marketing if it is not the careful manipulation of the message you are trying to send? When you McDonalds advertises its Big Mac, it is going to present me the sandwich in a way that makes it look as delicious as possible, but of course will be very careful not to mention the calories. That’s how marketing works.</p>
<p>I certainly agree with you that a career can be highly fulfilling and satisfying. The problem is that you first have to get hired, which means that you have to surmount the artificial screens that HR erects. You don’t owe any more information than is necessary to get the job. </p>
<p>Like I said, companies aren’t exactly honest with their employees either. You think they’re always telling you the whole truth? Again, this is business. That’s how business works.</p>
<p>I would suggest that Sakky is speaking from his/her vantage point and experience gained along a specific career path. I would suggest that this viewpoint has usefulness, but it is limited as it insures an antagonistic relationship. There are other avenues and approaches as suggested by other posters.</p>
<p>In addition, when signing the many legal documents associated with employment (including tax forms, and validation of legal ability to be employed in the US), one is also quite often signing documents associated with verifying the accuracy of all information submitted during the hiring process. The caution is therefore, if one does decide to edit the completeness of submitted information, one should also take great care in reviewing the documents signed during the hiring process.</p>
<p>I just wanted to be sure I was understanding the majority on this thread:</p>
<p>So if one were to earn a PhD in any given field, they would not even be OFFERED a position if the employer thought they were overqualified? In other words, one wouldn’t be offered the position at a salary not typical of a PhD earned, but one would instead not be offered the job?</p>
<p>Nope, overqualified is as bad as underqualified and I have had many-a job opportunity lost to being overqualified.</p>
<p>To amplify belevitt’s response.
Employers often have “official” set salary ranges for each level of credentials. Therefore, they are unable to hire a PhD at the lower level without placing themselves at risk for subsequent employment actions (litigation).</p>
<p>In addition, there is often an ill-defined suspicion of why a person with a PhD would turn their back on the purpose of the PhD. The suspicion is often that the person is a “failed” PhD rather than accepting other explanations of why the person is pursuing the particular job at hand.</p>
<p>To add to what ParAlum stated, most senior positions only require a master’s degree in a relevant field. Anything higher and the hiring managers would become suspicious. That’s why you should only pursue a PhD if you’re interested in academia, think tank research, federal government (certain GS positions) and professional associations that require it.</p>
<p>^ To tenisghs’s list I would add research in most any field. E.g., doing biotech research at a pharma company generally requires a PhD, showing that you already know how to do such research.</p>