The concept of being “overqualified” is an intriguing one. Job seekers who are desperate to find employment rarely agree with this assessment when they are denied work. If you’ve ever been categorized as “overqualified,” you’re not alone. In fact, you are joining the ranks of a growing pool of candidates who have a combination of experience, credentials, and/or education that will make you stick out like a sore thumb in the position for which you are applying.
But who?
Hiring managers and supervisors are like go-betweens: They try to put the right person in the right job. Your decision-making process is based on a myriad of factors, such as your work history, skill set, educational background, and personality. They are then compared to the responsibilities and duties of the job that they consider “requirements” for success in the position.
They are usually wrong.
From the perspective of a company’s clientele, employers could never hire someone who is “overqualified” to meet their needs. Conversely, the employee who is underqualified is often the one that sticks out like a sore thumb, causing us to shake our heads and wonder “how did they Get the job?”
Not all employers shy away from so-called overqualified employees. The downturn in the economy has created an excessive saturation of qualified employees in the market that allows employers to make a solid selection.
Sixty-four percent of workers who were laid off in the last 12 months said they applied for positions that were below the job level they had previously held, according to a survey by Career Builder.
In a buyer’s market, the employer has enormous influence and the sellers (potential employees) must make concessions. It’s that easy. For some it will include lowering salary expectations, for others it may mean acquiring new skills and transitioning into new roles.
If you feel you are overqualified for the job you are seeking, please address that concern in your cover letter when submitting your resume. The key is to allay the employer’s concerns that you cannot be “challenged” (ie, bored) in the position. The key is to communicate awareness of your potential “overqualified” status as an asset, not a liability.
When that fails, he lies. Well not exactly; just become more cautious with the truth. Remove parts of your record that present you as an overqualified candidate. Temp agencies do it all the time. Boosting resumes (making candidates appear more qualified than they actually are) and simplifying resumes (making applicants’ qualifications more compatible with a position by removing superfluous information that makes you appear overqualified) is standard business practice.
Once you demonstrate your understanding of what the role entails, your only responsibility is to articulate how the value of your experience will translate into success in the role. Doing so will solve the dilemma of being overqualified and allow you to get back to work.