[SkyPuncher]

I have heard it anecdotally time and time again, "Overqualified".

Specialization only pays more when there's demand for the exact specialization. Nobody wants to pay a PhD and risk them moving onto the "perfect" position when the same job can be done by somebody more generalized.

[cujo]

Couldn't OP just not list that on the resume/application? This seems like a solvable problem if it's as bad as they make it out.

[SkyPuncher]

This is the solution.

I once worked with a guy that had a law degree. He never listed that law degree when applying to software engineering jobs. People figured he'd just go back to law, even though he hated practicing law.