Stuck working retail because I would be under employed in my area of expertise

[liberal N proud]

Hiring managers and head hunters all are impressed when the see my resume but then tell me that I would be under employed in any open position.

Now I a forced to take a retail job which is really under employed.

It verified my position, the retail people worked much harder for much less than their employers.

[SharonClark]

1. Been in your position

I asked a long-time friend who was hiring an assistant, why she couldn't hire me after I was laid off from an IT job. Her response was that it wasn't about me, she needs to hire a qualified person who would see the salary as a step up.

[HDSam]

2. I write resumes professionally...

always tailor your resume to the position requirements. For example, if they are seeking a BA/BS degree and you have a MA/MS degree, don't put the master's on your resume. It's entirely possible to oversell yourself out of a job.

[No Vested Interest]

4. Would leaving off information (such as a higher degree) reflect on one's honesty? nt

[HDSam]

5. The general thought is no...

often the education question is something like "Do you have a Bachelor's degree in xyz field? Notice they are not asking about education beyond a certain level so omitting education above and beyond that is not dishonest - you've honestly answered the question asked.

If the question is "Do you have a Bachelor's degree or higher?" answer the question honestly.

[More_Cowbell]

3. Been in your position

It's tough, but it can be done. As someone else said, tailor your resume. Besides deciding what to include, try to find things you did in previous jobs that might be done in the new one. And focus on *those,* so you can plausibly say that a potential job interests you because it includes things you found interesting in other jobs.

What you need to do (if you can honestly do it) is let a potential employer know that you're not going to bail the second a more desirable job in your field comes up.