| Summary: | The purpose of this study was to investigate the experience of underemployment for
female university graduates. In this investigation, the term underemployment was used
to refer to the underutilization of one's formal education on the job, also known as
overeducation. Borgen, Amundson, and Harder's (1988) definition of underemployment
was adapted for use in this study: Participants were considered underemployed if they
possessed more formal education than required to perform the duties of jobs held at the
time of the study (as determined by 1993 National Occupational Classification [NOC]
skill levels) and if they felt overeducated for their work. An opportunistic sample of 10
women was gathered through referrals, personal contacts, networking, and active
recruitment. To participate, co-researchers met several criteria, including but not limited
to being: (a) female, (b) university graduates with at least Bachelors' degrees, (c)
objectively and subjectively underemployed (as defined in this thesis), and (d) living and
working in the lower-mainland. In terms of design, a phenomenological approach was
used. Data was collected through unstructured, open interviews. To extract common
themes of experience from the protocols, Giorgi's (1975a, 1975b, 1985)
phenomenological analysis procedures were followed. A general structural description
of this experience was generated from the findings. Final results were compared with
existing literature and implications for counselling theory, research, and practice were
offered. Rather than relying on male-based data, the researcher hopes this information
will help counsellors develop more appropriate models and interventions with which to
assist underemployed female university graduates. === Education, Faculty of === Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education (ECPS), Department of === Graduate
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