Three giant leaps to scale the ‘Overqualified’ hurdle Advice from Rita Ashley

Jun 15th, 2009 | By Bill | Category: Employment News, Interviewing, Resumes



Few comments by employers are as demoralizing to candidates as, “We like you but you are overqualified for this job.”

Overqualified is the easiest answer to give a candidate when an employer passes on hiring. It is rarely the real reason; it is the politically correct reason and the safest way to get the candidate to go away. Employers who pass on a candidate don’t want to ‘handle’ the questions and emotions that result from refusal; they want to move on to the next candidate. Same goes for recruiters.

Often the reason seasoned professionals are passed over has nothing to do with qualifications. Candidates simply jump to that conclusion. If you are invited to interview chances are the employer already knows you exceed their requirements. They saw something of value in your resume and invited you to interview so you could prove why they should hire you. That is what interviews are for. If they pass on you it is because you failed to prove them right.

Before you start writing your flame mail to me that you don’t get a chance to interview, to be tested, because the resume you sent in didn’t generate a response…and you assume it is because the employer sees you as over qualified, I remind you, few executives get the interviews they want by random resume submission. It is the poorest job search technique you can use.

Then there are those who genuinely believe they are or are perceived to be overqualified. The reasons all have a definable response:

The really want someone younger, cheaper – No employer is going to state that aloud. What every hiring manager wants is a successful hire. The better able you are to define their needs before you interview, the higher the likelihood of an offer.

The employer fears I will leave for a better opportunity- Employers face turn-over from all sections of the company. Your leaving is no more probable than anyone else’s IF you have discerned you can be successful in that position. Talk about what you will contribute, not what you have done before in excess.

They think I will be bored – If you communicate enthusiasm for the market niche and the challenges of that particular job, this goes away.

They think I will be unhappy – Why would they? If you keep the focus on how you can expand what you do and learn a new approach, employers won’t think of you as a misfit.

I think I need to change my resume to remove my more senior experience
– Do you know this is a firing offense? If you are not entirely honest, hide or misrepresent, you can be fired on the spot. Plus, these are lies you will have to maintain. Better to be honest and help the employer see that though you have had more senior responsibilities, there are still things you can learn and contribute that are unique.

The manager sees me as competition – Convey how you can make the manager look good. Ask what their priorities are, what their metrics for judging success in the role are and speak only to those. Be sure you are not conveying superiority in an unattractive or condescending manner. Invite a younger, trusted friend to interview you using a video recorder for later review. Dissect every part of the interview including attire and body language.

It is my experience that candidates often create their own issues by being patronizing, impatient, and dismissive or even conciliatory or apologetic. Be very critical of your interview style. Be self confident but not arrogant. As an example: Never, ever say, “Oh, that’s easy, I solved that problem,” or similar responses that dismiss the importance and difficulty the interviewer tries to convey.

Overqualified really means: “I did not see anything so compelling in your background/interview that makes me want to hire you.” If you are interviewed and then hear the overqualified comment, be certain, since they knew about your credentials from your resume, they ‘just aren’t that into you.’ Ultimately people are hired because of what they can contribute to the bottom line. Refine your message.

Overqualified really means you stressed the opportunities for promotion and career advancement instead of your desire to do the job for which they are hiring.

Overqualified really means they don’t believe you will accept the lower compensation the job offers. This concern is often mentioned upfront before there is anything to negotiate. The answer that has worked for my clients in the past is, “While compensation is important to me, working for a company with resources and commitment to my success are also important. I am sincere in my desire to work for Insane, Inc. because [insert appropriate reason here] of its market share and focus on quality products. I am certain that when it comes time to negotiate an offer we can come to terms agreeable to both of us.”

Overqualified means you need to reevaluate your job search techniques. You are not communicating why the employer should hire you. Don’t get stuck believing the comment. It is rarely the truth and even when it is, it can be overcome. If this hurdle continues to plague your job search efforts, consider a job search coach to help you realign your job search and networking efforts.

Leap One: Reboot your job search. Invite someone to do a recorded mock interview with you, then critique it from the employer’s perspective. You may also want to read my book, “Job Search Debugged” which will tell you how to recreate a compelling job search.

Leap Two: Do your homework and learn what the priorities are for the company and the job. Recalibrate your resume, elevator pitch and interview to address those needs. No employer is going to pass over a candidate who understands the company agenda and has examples of their success handling those priorities. Research, asking the right questions and knowing how to relate your own examples and communicate your qualifications win the interview and get you closer to the offer.

Leap Three: And the single best solution to overcome anyone’s objections to your experience is, secure an introduction from someone the hiring authority respects. Invite that individual to handle the objection on your behalf up-front so it doesn’t become an obstacle.

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