In an economy such as this, it seems that job seekers will apply to just about any open position out there, especially when desperation sets in. An extended job search takes an emotional toll, and leaves many wondering if they will ever get a job at all. And for those who are lucky enough to obtain interviews, there is one dreaded word that invariably comes up for many; “overqualified.” This is a quandary that is extremely common now, especially as companies eliminate positions, and merge two, three or even four titles into one. For professionals who have spent their entire careers progressing upward, it can mean that the only open positions they come across are at a level a step, or two, or three below theirs. They are finding themselves in a predicament of needing a job to pay the bills, but with experience, education or credentials that make them overqualified.
If you find yourself being told you are overqualified, don’t despair. There are strategies that can be successfully utilized to combat the overqualified label. I will also though throw out a warning - if these strategies are not in line with your actual views, or are not genuine to your situation, they will only serve as a quick fix with negative consequences. In other words, manipulating the system will eventually catch up to you.
There is one main concern that someone in my position has for candidates who fit in the overqualified category:
If hired, will you bolt for the first better opportunity that arises?
It is a legitimate concern, because employers have been burned in the past. It is a time consuming and costly process to hire and train an employee; a prospective employee who appears to be overqualified presents an inherent risk.
There are 2 big reasons a newly hired employee leaves:
1. He/she will become quickly bored in the position
2. He/she won't be satisfied with the salary
The best way to address being overqualified is head-on. There is no need to dumb down your resume, or try to appear to be less qualified. Tackle the situation by bringing up the issue first. Don't shy away from the fact that you are overqualified, but rather use it to your advantage by emphasizing that you have a wide range of skills to draw upon, and that you can be an asset in many different facets of the organization's daily business operations.
In an interview situation, make sure that you address the fact that you can stay motivated under any set of circumstances, and that you thrive on all types of challenges. This will help ease any reservations the company has that once you become bored, you will jump at the first sign of greener pastures. Also stress that although there may not be short-term prospects in respect to advancement or growth currently, you are certain that the economy will turn in the future and give opportunities to do so.
I would not recommend this in any other situation, and in fact you should NEVER be the one to bring up salary. However, this is one case where an exception can be made: bring up the salary, and that you expect to be realistic and that you have some flexibility. The key is to not lowball yourself by being acting completely desperate, but you definitely should tackle this up front in this type of situation versus leaving it to the end of the process (if it gets that far).
Convey to the interviewer that you are excited to learn as much as you can about their organization if given the opportunity to work for them (and don’t neglect to do your homework before the interview so that you have some good questions for them). Also make sure to emphasize that you are looking for STEADY growth in the long-term, not a series of quick promotions successively. Refer to the prospective employer as a “business partner” in order to relay a true sense of long-term commitment.
If you have solid lengths of tenure in previous jobs, make sure to point out your track record of staying for the long-term. This is a big plus and should help alleviate concerns on their end of you wanting to jump quickly.
Be enthusiastic! Enthusiasm goes a long way in making a positive impression.
Use your references to your advantage. The positive testimonials of others definitely help to support your cause (as long as they say the right things). Don’t be afraid to bring up the willingness of people who can speak on your behalf, and attest to your character, work ethic and previous professional contributions.
In some situations, you can actually mention you are looking for more work and home-life balance. You will need to read the situation and the interviewer properly, but this can be a way to diffuse concerns of leaving, particularly when your most recent positions have required far more responsibility and time.
Focus on explaining how your vast range of experience can be utilized by the company in numerous ways – mentoring less experienced employees, assisting other departments, optimizing processes, etc. Bring your unique value to the table.
Finally, one option I am seeing increasingly is the offer made by candidates to sign a contract committing to stay for a stated period of time, most commonly around 12 months. Do not bring this alternative up unless you are absolutely willing to follow through. You risk significant harm to your future career if you renege on this type of promise, so be 100% committed to the position and company before doing so.
There are many job seekers who have overcome the “overqualified” tag, and if you find yourself in this boat, so can you. Understand the ways people have done so, but be genuine in your approach. The strategies outlined above are not intended to manipulate the system. Rather they must be true to you. Otherwise you will do yourself a great disservice and ironically may harm those “greener pasture” offers that you had your eye on all along.
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