Few
things can be more frustrating in the job search than being
told that you are overqualified for a job. Overqualified?
How can I be too good for something? Would you fire your attorney
or tax accountant if they were overqualified?
Well,
let's step back a moment and try to understand why a company
might use this defense for turning down a prospective applicant
and then we will address how to overcome this hurdle. First,
the hiring process is an expensive, time consuming process
for any company. Rarely does the ideal applicant walk in the
door, sit down, and begin contributing immediately. Rather,
a company has to sift through dozens of applications, narrow
them down to a prospective interview list, screen those candidates,
and then finally choose one. From there, we are only halfway.
The company still needs to train and educate the employee
on how things are done and what is expected. Hence, a company
can ill-afford to make a mistake in this process.
From
the company perspective, an overqualified candidate - one
who has too much experience, too much education, or too highly
paid - appears as someone who has either run out of options
or is using this position as a stepping stone to something
a better - an interim paycheck if you will. Additionally,
an employer may feel that over time the applicant will grow
bored with a position that is not challenging.
So,
what to do if you find yourself bearing the mark of the overqualified?
The best approach is to tackle it head on. Start with the
résumé. If you do have too many years of experience, don't
go all the way back to your paper route in high school. Instead,
emphasize skills in more recent jobs and not the duration
spent learning them. If you write a cover letter, follow the
same logic and emphasize skills and hands-on experience.
Next,
during the interview process, be prepared to answer the question
of why you are taking a position that appears beneath your
qualifications. Perhaps you recently moved, you don't want
to travel as much, you want to learn a new industry, or you
simply want a more fulfilling career with a great company.
Point out the fact that your experience means that the training
process will not take as long, which ultimately saves your
prospective client money. Finally, talk about how you will
be able to contribute right away and that you are willing
to roll up your sleeves to do the job.
Like
the shortest distance between two points, be straightforward
from the outset. If you think you may be labeled overqualified,
address it head on. While it's no guarantee for success, being
honest and candid about why you want the position will go
a lot further to allay fears about job skipping than avoiding
the label altogether.
