Overcoming being overqualified
In a tight job market, the competition for the prime jobs is tough. If you’ve reached for the stars and come out empty-handed, looking at less senior roles is an option. You may say that you’ve already tried that. But winning an offer for a less senior role will only work if you’re prepared to play the game. Standing your ground and making demands rarely works. You can overcome being told you’re “overqualified” by showing them you are the “best qualified.” I’ll describe how later in this article.
Hearing you’re overqualified is not a new phenomenon.
Hearing you’re overqualified is not a new phenomenon. I’ve helped people return to work after extended absences from the workplace for more than 20 years. The reasons people drop out of the workplace vary. Some people raise families. Others have illnesses in the family or aging parent issues.
In many cases, their former roles were high-powered and demanding. It’s no longer possible for them to sustain the long and grueling hours they once mastered. When they are ready to return to the workplace, we pursue less senior or complex roles.
Leave your ego at the door.
We follow the same recipe to overcome the results of a layoff in a market saturated with candidates. The approach requires wrapping your head around a strategy that positions you with employment that supports your living situation, finances, and goals. The most critical piece is being clear about what is most important in your life and what is possible to achieve it. The road may be longer than you thought, but you’ll get there with a carefully laid plan. Leave your ego at the door.
Become the “best qualified.”
The way to overcome being told you’re “overqualified” is to become the “best qualified.” The first step is to stop trying to impress employers with accomplishments related to a higher-level role. Your LinkedIn profile or resume captured their attention. But if the role you applied for is NOT “senior” or “director”, they need a smaller version of you. Let’s face it – If they contacted you, they’re interested. When the rejection comes after an interview, it was what happened next that prompted them to change their mind.
Although it’s common for a job seeker to think they should take out all the stops to beat their competition, over-speaking the needs of a lower-level role is a kiss of death. If you’ve pounded on your chest too loudly, an employer will back off. The reasons for withdrawing interest are typical.
If you oversold yourself, you won’t even have the opportunity to discuss money.
Yet the problem is that they’re only assumptions. Employers THINK you’ll leave for something better, want too much money, want to do things your way, or can’t respect younger managers. It’s not because you have more experience. They already knew that when they contacted you. The problem is with how you presented your qualifications. If you oversold yourself, you won’t even have the opportunity to discuss money.
You do have some level of control in this scenario. Instead of complaining about how employers won’t hire you, beat them at the game. Do your homework. Research the salary range and plan how you’ll adjust to it. Learn more about the company and why you would want to be a contributor. Wrap your head around the job functions. Decide to go after the job because you want to, not because you have to. The real trick is to show why you want to work for them and how you meet their needs without overselling yourself.
Use examples of your background that match the context of the job.
During an interview, use examples of your background that match the context of the job. Note: if you have absolutely no relatable experience because you’ve never done the functions of the job in any form, then you shouldn’t have applied. You probably worked your way up through other roles to get to where you were last. It doesn’t mean you’re no longer capable or interested in the lower-level functions. After your promotions, did you find you no longer enjoyed working away from the front lines? If this is true, then focus on the things you LIKED about your former roles that match the role you’re interviewing for.
Focus on what they need from you right NOW.
Be ready for the inevitable. Your interviewer will ask why you’re interested in a lower-level role. State how you have done the functions and enjoy them, and why the company appeals to you. It isn’t necessary to say you didn’t like the higher-level role you last held. You don’t want to create another wrong assumption. It’s a tight balance. They need to know that you can do the job, want to do the job, and that you’ll fit with the team. You don’t want them to believe you’re not interested in growth. The point is to focus on what they need from you right now. Be the best-qualified candidate.
If they come straight out and say “We think you’re overqualified”, you can respond with: “I’m glad you think that. I believe I am the best qualified. I know how to do x, y, and z, and I’ll require minimal ramp-up time. I’ll be able to solve (their immediate problem). This will be an exceptional way to learn XYZ Company’s processes from the ground up. I know you would be investing in me, and I am willing to invest too, because I know XYZ Company (is doing something important to you). I am excited about this opportunity to contribute to (what the department does).”
Review your professional image.
In the meantime, review your professional image. Are you currently overdoing it? If underneath the picture on your LinkedIn profile, you state a title, such as “Senior XX” or “Director of XX”, you’re already making a statement that says “this is who I am”, instead of “this is what I can do.” If you rely on your former titles and apply for a lesser role the employer won’t buy it. Alternatively, use that space to state your area of expertise or industry instead of using a title. A broader reach allows the door to remain open.
Another consideration is how your online presence impacts your job search. If your blogs or other posts continue to complain about the tight job market, or how disrespected you feel going through the interviewing process, you’re essentially letting the next employer know you’re a complainer. Be a problem solver. Post solutions. The bottom line: you can easily change your profile and delete a blog. Down the road, when you’re in a stronger position, you can always add the detail back.
Hearing you’re overqualified may feed your ego, but it does nothing to help you pay the bills. Do what you need to do now to get what you want. No one said you have to stay with this company forever. If necessary, give them two weeks’ notice when it’s time to go and do what you need to do to carry out your plan. Win the game instead of complaining about it.
For more career advice, check out my webinars on Career Assessment, Goal Setting and Strategic Networking and follow me on LinkedIn and (X) Twitter.
