Overqualified For The Job? See How To Conquer It

Have you ever heard a recruiter say that you are overqualified for the job you are running for? Because this is a question that not only hinders your relocation, but that of many experienced professionals like you.

The situation is as follows. For years, you have accumulated experience in many areas and segments. You know the market and have the skills required by the job posting. You are looking for a replacement, are sufficiently able to take up most of the positions you are applying for and would accept to earn less than you earned. However, you are quickly dismissed from the selection process on the grounds that you are too qualified for the job.

Do you know what that means? Probably the recruiter is afraid that you are only seeing this job as a “hole-in-the-job” that will drop as soon as you find something better.

Kim Stiens, recruitment consultant and CEO of Ranavain career consulting site, explains in a FastCompany article that a professional in this situation may appear to want a lower position just to pay off their debts. “Recruiters fear he is not sufficiently involved with the position,” she says. Therefore, they end up giving preference to less qualified candidates who are eager to do the job.

The big point is that they can hardly see an overqualified candidate as ambitious in the position. But not everything is lost. There are a few ways to show that you are really interested in the job and to get the job once and for all. Want to see?

How to get a job by being overqualified for the job

1. Clearly state why you want the job

Do you want more balance between personal and professional life? Looking for a less stressful job? Are you entering a new industry and feel the need to start in an entry position? Or do you simply understand that the economic situation in the country is complicated and that the positions you have held in recent years, with their pay, have been in the past? Understanding your own motives is the first step in convincing the recruiter.

2. Show me how work has to do with you

You need to show the recruiter that you are interested in the job. To do this, tell which aspects of the job are attractive to you and how it fits into your career goals. Perhaps you have played a similar role in other organizations and have had positive experiences to tell – even though the position is now at a lower level.

3. Show interest in the company

Sometimes people are willing to take a lower level job in the company of their dreams. If so, this argument is likely to be strong enough to convince the recruiter that you are the right person for the job.

4. Understand employer needs

Show that you understand, know the market, understand business issues, and can help solve them. Research the company a lot before this conversation. Employers know that someone with experience has a shorter learning curve and that hiring someone with a lower salary is an advantage for them. However, this does not mean that you do not have to demonstrate everything you can do for them.

5. Are you overqualified or differently qualified?

If you are trying to change careers, the recruiter may find that you are overqualified for an entry-level position because you have 10 years of non-job experience. He may prefer someone with a year and a half of experience fully applicable to work than someone with 10 years of experience in other areas. In this case, clearly show how your skills can be transferred to the new area. “The hiring manager won’t do it for you,” says Stiens.