02 Jun 10 How to Overcome Being Overqualified
Have you ever gone through the interview process, felt confident that youd performed extremely well, and then heard these dreadful words: Im sorry, but we feel youre overqualified for this position.
Arrggh!!
When I was told that after an interview, several thoughts went through my frustration-fogged mind What kind of crazy excuse is that for not hiring me? So what if Im overqualified dont employers always want to hire the person with the best qualifications? If Im willing to take this job, overqualified or not, why is that a problem? This isnt fair! Whats the real reason they dont want to hire me?
When interviewers say you are overqualified, heres what they are concerned about:
(1) Youll be bored in this position;
(2) You wont be satisfied with the salary theyre offering;
(3) Youll leave as soon as you get a better opportunity;
(4) Theyll have to go through the time-consuming and expensive process of hiring and training someone all over again.
They may or may not make you feel better about being overqualified, but you must admit those are legitimate concerns.
If you get the overqualified excuse once, youll be wary about getting it again. So if you apply for other jobs that may be at a lower level than warranted by your background, skills, education and experience, you may be tempted to dumb down your resume and omit things like college degrees. But lying about your background is not the way to go.
Heres a better strategy: address it head-on. Be the first one to raise the overqualified issue with a potential employer. If you bring it up yourself, you can discuss it openly and convince the interviewer that it
wont be a problem.
They key as with every job interview issue is to anticipate and prepare. Before you go to the interview,think about what youll say and how you will convince them that they should hire you, even if you are overqualified.
After explaining how you will be a great asset for their company, tell them why you are applying for a lower-level position. Do not say, I cant find anything else and I really need a job. Though that may be the case, this approach is a little too honest and will reinforce their fear that you will leave
at the first opportunity.
Say something like, You can tell that Ive worked at a higher level before, but this position is exactly what Im looking for. Then, depending on the job and your circumstances, explain why. For example:
* Ive always wanted to work for your company [or in this industry], and Im willing to take a lower-level position to get that opportunity.
* It will allow me to use my skills and expand my experience in a new field.
* Im looking for something a little less stressful, with fewer responsibilities, so I can spend more time with my family.
* This position provides the stability and long-term growth potential Im looking for.
* The salary is not my top priority. Id have no problem with earning less than Ive earned in the past.
Be very enthusiastic about the job. Explain how you can meet their needs now and in the future as the company grows. And most important of all, convince them that you will not quit as soon as something better comes along.
If you are convinced that this job would be worth it, you might even try this: offer to sign an agreement stating that you will stay on the job for a minimum of 12 months. Whether the hiring manager actually takes you up on that offer or not, it will definitely make a very positive impression!
If you anticipate the overqualified issue and address it up front, it will not be a drawback to your success!
Tags: Background Skills, College Degrees, Excuse, Frustration, Interview Issue, Interviewer, Interviewers, Job Interview, Jobs, Legitimate Concerns, Real Reason, Resume, Salary, Skills Education
