New guy at work has a PhD

This seems messed up. If they start him at step 1 in the pay chart even as a level 3 chemist he is still only making $21 and hour. Why would someone do all that school to step into a $21 an hour job? He's not just out of school either. He looks 40+. I asked a girl at work who knows him and she says he just wants a steady job without crazy hours. He was working tons of long weeks at his other job. Maybe he was on salary? They can really work you like a dog in a salaried job. Still, makes it seem like there is something wrong with this guy. 2 other guys the boss hired were major jerks - I posted about the meat-head last year. There was a guy before that who would come into my office and start trying to boss me around. He left last year before we got the meat-head. The boss has done better hiring women I think. Two other guys quit in the last 6 months so this PhD is the only other man in my section of 10 people. I bet he doesn't want to help wash the dishes - I was going to bring that up again sometime.

That IS strange. What came to mind is low self-esteem, or "imposter syndrome" even. Maybe he feels even with his PhD, he's a fraud somehow, or incompetent, and doesn't want to work higher-paying jobs for that reason?

Perhaps he is one if those people who just love school. I know a few people like that, but I do not understand their love for school.

This really struck a nerve with me.. I don't have a PhD but I do have a 4 year degree in something considered to be very difficult. It IS difficult and I just couldn't do it anymore so I started applying for clerical type positions. I am so embarrassed at having the degree when I try to apply for jobs. Apparently a lot of people do think like you Parador, and judge.

I'm not judging - yet. Trying to figure out what the deal is. But I think I may have a clue. He's been at work 2 weeks and still hasn't finished reading the safety manual. I think he's as lazy as the day is long and just waned a government job so he could goof off all the time. I get nearly 6 weeks off every year. You can take even more than that if you use your sick time all the time. Lots of people call in sick a lot. Then when they really get sick and need months off they don't have it. So the get it from the sick leave trust were people can donate the hours they didn't use. No way I will ever donate- its just subsidizing the lazy.

-- Wed Nov 25, 2015 9:17 pm --

skyflyz wrote:This really struck a nerve with me.. I don't have a PhD but I do have a 4 year degree in something considered to be very difficult. It IS difficult and I just couldn't do it anymore so I started applying for clerical type positions. I am so embarrassed at having the degree when I try to apply for jobs. Apparently a lot of people do think like you Parador, and judge.

You don't have to put that you actually have the degree on the application. Do you? I didn't when I applied for jobs.

You do not have to list all of your degrees and experience on your resume( at least not in Canada) If your degree is not relevant to the job you applied for then I would recommend removing is from your resume. This is not because the recruiters are judging you as bad, but they expect you will want more money than the job can offer, or you will leave the job the second that something more in line with your education opens up. In reality, the recruiters probably think you are overqualified for the job, and will just end up bored at work.