what is the prolem when a seasoned professional cannot find career opertunities as a Phd candidate?

Question

I have worked for my present employer for 14 years, and while working on continuing my education, I have obtained 2 upper level college degrees, and now I am 60 hours toward my Phd. Yet, I cannot even get to the bargaining table when I apply internally, and yet the selected candidates are less qualified in the final selection.

What is the problem when a seasoned professional cannot find career opportunities with two upper level degrees and working toward a PhD?

Excuse me for the typos; I'm a fast typist, I should have applied "spell check". Additionally, my field of expertise is "Leadership and Change Management"

I'm tempted to start out on my own.

Answer 1

I'm sure this is very frustrating. Some places just do not promote internally past a certain level. They always want someone from the outside for their "upper level" positions. Maybe they think new blood is better. You might want to look around and see if other co-workers have been promoted. You've been there a long time and it's possible they only see you in one type of job. Also some people higher up the ladder might feel threatened by your advanced degrees and fear you could replace them, so they will be reluctant to help you.

If you have a boss or mentor whom you trust in the business I would go to that person and ask to have a conversation about your long term career goals. Tell them you feel you can do more for the company and ask them how they see your future there. They probably won't come out and directly say you will never get promoted, but usually a conversation like that will bring clues that will tell you if it's worth staying.

Answer 2

You don't say what field of work you are in, so I'm answering in the dark.

For any number of careers, a master's degree or PhD are simply irrelevant to the employer. For some career fields, an advanced degree might even be a liability. In some setings, your advanced qualifications make you look like you might

a) Quickly become bored with the work and quit or
b) Want more money than that new kid fresh out of college.

Tell us at least what discipline you are working in so that we can give you a more informed answer.

ADDED QUESTION - How does your expertise relate to your current job?

Answer 3

Maybe it's your spelling. "opertunities' "prolem" ?
Seriously.