One of the most surprising reasons qualified candidates do not hear back from an employer is that they are overqualified. The first time I came across this phenomenon was when a friend of mine told me her uncle had been out of work for two months and counting despite his decorated CV. I personally found this baffling. Surely the more qualified a candidate is, the better, right? Apparently, that was an idealistic notion on my part, for there are a few reasons why employers are reluctant to hire someone who is overqualified for a position.
The thing about overqualified applicants is that hiring managers can usually spot them right away. And, when a hiring manager receives an application from someone whose qualifications go way beyond the requirements of the position, it raises a red flag in their mind. The manager may wonder, “Why does this person want this job?” or “Can we afford to hire them?”
The issue is that when employers see an overqualified candidate, they have the impression that the applicant is using this job opportunity as a temporary gig until a better paying, more senior position opens up elsewhere. They might also figure that the candidate will request a huge sum of money.
However, looking too good on paper to a hiring manager is not the end of the world. Whether you are an intern or a senior-level director, having abundant experience should be an advantage to the employer instead of a negative point. What you need to do is tell the right story and convince the employer that you are not settling for a job below your experience level just to kill time.
With the below tactics, you can overcome your ‘overqualified’ status, find and get that job.
1. Be Humble
Humility is royalty without a crown. When someone says you are overqualified, it is a compliment. Be careful not to unintentionally exude arrogance or self-importance and resist the temptation to flaunt your extra degrees. The qualifications you might think make you more than qualified for the role may be irrelevant to that particular hiring manager. At the end of the day, the company wants someone who is a good fit for the role. If the hiring manager happens to point to your over-qualification, be humble and sincere. Acknowledge that you might have more experience than what they are looking for, but express how excited you are about the company and the role. You should also mention that you are looking forward to contributing to the best of your abilities.
Make it unquestionably clear that you have their best interests in mind. You should aim to outline in full what you intend to bring to the table and how that will benefit the organization, while being careful not to give off a condescending impression. Do your research on the company, demonstrate that you understand the problems they might be facing and present solutions. When applying for a job below your career level, you want to exude the wide-eyed curiosity of a lower level employee with the seasoned skills of someone who has been in the business for a while.
2. Tweak Your CV
At the first glance, an employer will think a candidate with your level of experience might consider some of the tasks associated with the position to be beneath them. If you are in a supervisory role, a subtle way to tackle this preconception is to take on tasks you might otherwise assign to others and list them on your CV. By doing that, prospective employers will see that those responsibilities are not ‘beneath you’ as they previously may have thought. Of course, you should also be honest with yourself about why you want this role and whether or not you really will be able to do these tasks without complaint. If not, you might want to consider holding out for a job more at your level or look for one with responsibilities you would not be as reluctant to handle.
3. Be Flexible
This is probably one of the most difficult tactics to commit to, but sometimes in order to get a position you are overqualified for, you will have to be willing to make some sacrifices. One can question the fairness of it all, but the reality of it is that you will be going up against other candidates. Candidates who may be less qualified than you are, but will settle for lower pay. You need to be flexible with your salary as it might encourage the employer to overlook your over-qualification and consider you for the role. Without doubt, you can always check Bayt.com Salaries and get a clearer idea of what compensation to expect for each different position.
4. Make Your Cover Letter Your Mouthpiece
In order to get the job, you will have to convince the employer that you are here for the long run. Whether you actually are or not is irrelevant. You will still need to persuasively assert that your interest in the job is not solely for its potential as a temporary fix to an unemployment situation. Use your cover letter to express your reasons for wanting this particular job and make a case for how this role will give you experience and put you in a favorable position in the progression of your career.
5. Sell the Advantages
Think about what your years of experience can bring to the position you are applying for, even if employers do not explicitly ask you to discuss it. Instead of viewing yourself as “overqualified”, start seeing yourself as a highly qualified professional whose experience will bring something extra to offer the company. Assert that you are perfectly capable of handling the job in question and that your extra qualifications and skills means that you will be able to assume additional responsibilities in less time than it would take them to hire someone else for the role.
Lastly, keep faith. A positive attitude brings about positive outcomes. Continue trying your best and waste no time in applying to as many jobs as possible.
