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Help with job applications!

Unknown userMember

Help with job applications!

ACK! I have several job applications due in midnight tomorrow night and I'm struggling.

I'm basically applying for anything and everything, quite a few jobs 'below' my skill level - entry level jobs without tertiary requirements etc.

What should I say in my job application for why I am applying for jobs significantly below my skill level?

Can I be honest and say that the combination of studying part-time and a mental ilness means that I struggle with fulfilling stressful work requirements??? (aka I have anxiety attacks and cry at work all the time and this apparently puts people off)

What should I say?

@Faith-and-Hope, @Teej, @Queenie, @Appleblossom, @Phoenix_Rising, @CheerBear, @TAB,

@Shaz51, @Former-Member, @SleepyPanda, @Former-Member and anyone else I've forgotten!

20 replies

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In response to: Help with job applications!

TABSenior Contributor

Re: Help with job applications!

Hi @Former-Member um just put what you need to in application. Things that are relevant. The reat will sort itself out. Object is to get the job, deal with other stuff if it arises.

In response to: Re: Help with job applications!

Unknown userMember

Re: Help with job applications!

@TAB..... I'm experienced and would normally earn 70-90k for my past jobs.
If I apply for a $50k/year job they're going to think something's up. They will throw my resume in the bin if I don't give some explanation for why I'm applying.
I guess as everyone has said, talking about my studies is probably the way to go. I just don't think I can handle the idea of being rejected from more/losing another job. That would seriously push me over the edge.

In response to: Help with job applications!

TABSenior Contributor

Re: Help with job applications!

People's circumstances change re jobs they look at. If its not something definited or hierarchical re pay difference they'll probably think they got a win. @Former-Member

In response to: Help with job applications!

TABSenior Contributor

Re: Help with job applications!

..thks spellcheck for inventing a new work re 'definited' lol

In response to: Re: Help with job applications!

Unknown userMember

Re: Help with job applications!

When I was helping hire in past jobs, if you were overqualified for the job by a lot - your application went in the big round filing cabinet (the bin) just as much as severely under-qualified did.

In response to: Re: Help with job applications!

Phoenix_RisingSenior Contributor

Re: Help with job applications!

@Former-Member I don't think I have anything particularly helpful to say on this topic. Aside from the occasional marking and tutoring gigs I do, I've only ever had blue collar minimum wage jobs. It blows my mind to think of an "entry level" position that pays $50,000/year. That is way more than I ever got in my one full-time job that I had for 4 years.

In response to: Help with job applications!

Unknown userMember

Re: Help with job applications!

Hi @Former-Member i know of someone who went from el1 to aps4. They said that they wanted to work without the level of responsibility and have more work/life balance. Good luck. Keep applying.

In response to: Help with job applications!

Unknown userMember

Re: Help with job applications!

Thanks @Former-Member, that makes me feel more confiden

In response to: Re: Help with job applications!

Unknown userMember

Re: Help with job applications!

@Former-Member I just wanted to say thank you again.
For some reason I now know what I'm going to say - work/life balance.
And then I don't feel like I'm lying to them about my MI and it will pave the way for discussions for needing time off work for therapy a few times a week. I covers what I feed I need to say without actually saying it.

In response to: Help with job applications!

Unknown userMember

Re: Help with job applications!

That's awesome. Everyone needs work/life balance. Good luck with your applications!
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