Title: Factors affecting perceived over-qualification among women employed in Iranian public sector

Authors: Rahmatollah Gholipour; Alireza Habibi; Fereshteh Amin; Maryamossadat Mousavi

Addresses: Faculty of Management, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran ' Ahlulbayt International University, Tehran, Iran ' Faculty of Management, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran ' Mehr Alborz University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract: Studies reported that the prevalence of over-qualification among working women is twice than that of men and its negative consequences seem to be more serious in women. However, female over-qualification is very much understudied, particularly in Eastern societies. The present study aims to explore the factors that mitigate the perception of over-qualification and its negative consequences from the perspective of women employed in Iranian public sector. We used grounded theory method and conducted in-depth interviews with 16 overqualified women. The outcome of the study reveals the pivotal role of meaningfulness in mitigating the perception of over-qualification. Meaningfulness is defined at two levels: job meaningfulness and meaningfulness in the work environment; and is further specified in terms of five variables: job appreciation, freedom, continuous goal setting, developed relationships and personal integrity. We discussed the findings, using person-job fit theory and emphasised the importance of need-supply fit in shaping meaningfulness and over-qualification.

Keywords: perceived over-qualification; female over-qualification; meaningfulness; person-job fit.

DOI: 10.1504/MEJM.2024.141932

Middle East Journal of Management, 2024 Vol.11 No.6, pp.663 - 682

Received: 02 Jan 2023
Accepted: 20 May 2023
Published online: 03 Oct 2024 *

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