Are You Often Told You’re Overqualified! Here’s What to Do!

<p>It can be very frustrating when you are looking for a job and you are constantly told you are overqualified. Even though you really want the job, and would bring your best self to work, prospective employers do not think you could seriously want a job you are too qualified for. You may have legitimate reasons for applying for a job that you are overqualified for - you may want to acquire some new skills that you can later move forward in your career; you may want a slower pace of work to further your education; or it may be a way for you to spend more time with your family. So what to do! In fact, there are a few things you can do to land a job that you are too qualified for.</p>

<p><b>Revamp your resume.</b> A resume gets you an interview, and an interview lands you the job. You cannot land a job, if your resume screams, “I’m overqualified,” therefore filtering you out. Scale down your resume to prevent a hiring manager from overlooking you because of your extensive experience. You do not want to lie on your resume, but if it spans more than 15 years, it makes sense to eliminate a position or two. Be very strategic when deciding how to scale down your resume. For instance, you would raise a red flag if you started off your career as a director - make sure that your resume tells a story and follows a logical sequence.</p>

<p><b>Focus on skills and accomplishments.</b>  This tip is related to the one above. When revamping your resume, remember to focus more on skills and accomplishment than on job titles. Use the words from the job ad to match your skills with what the employer wants. De-emphasize your skills that are not required for the job.</p>

<p><b>Tap into your network of contacts.</b>  If you are consistently told that you are overqualified, tap into your network of contacts to open doors for you. A recommendation can go a long way. And you will often get the opportunity to speak to the hiring manager or other person of influence, so start a dialog to discover what the perfect candidate looks like, then pitch yourself. Explain why you want the job - be honest and upfront.</p>

<p><b>How to Prevent Yourself from being Overlooked during the Interview</b> </p>

<p>If you get to the interview stage, to ensure that you are not overlooked for the job because you are seen as overqualified, there are a few things that you can do:</p>

<p><ul>

<li>Prepare before the interview to handle objections to hiring you because you are overqualified. Some of these objections may be disguised, so pay attention to the hiring manager’s non-verbal communication such as facial expression and body language. Objections could really mean, “You won’t be happy here,” or “You won’t be here long because this is a stepping stone for you,” or “You are after the hiring manager’s job.” </li>

<li>If you have new training, skills, and certifications that show that you are up-to-date, talk about that in the interview. Prepare a response that will address each of the objections, then discuss them before the hiring manager raises them.</li>

<li>Demonstrate a positive attitude by showing that you are interested and enthusiastic about the new position.</li>

<li>Never lie in an interview, but do not overwhelm/overload the interviewer with your vast experience.</li></ul>

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<p>The tips offered above will allow you to secure a job even if you are overqualified. And if all else fails, reconsider looking for a new job, perhaps there is a way to stay with your current employer, especially if it’s a healthy work environment. </p>