The loss of a job can be somewhat of a traumatic experience. Many emotions accompany this life altering event, there are many highs and just as many lows, I will explore the highs and lows at a later time, but what I want this article to focus on are two little words that have a very demoralizing affect on the job seeker, “Over Qualified.”
Being labeled “Over Qualified,” at first can sound kind of nice and will have a very short lived way of making a job seeker feel good about them self. A very short lived way. Then you start to wonder or even realize that’s more of an excuse or quick way to make a decision to exclude a candidate before ever talking to them than anything else.
I have tried to wrap my brain around what a hiring manager could be thinking that would have them label a candidate, “Over Qualified.” Though I am sure there are many, this is what I have come up with and there is no particular order.
1. “If you accept this position you will be bored.” Hiring managers often believe that if an employee is use to more interesting work with greater responsibilities, then a position that is less challenging will quickly bore and frustrate them causing and exodus.
2. “You probably won’t like the fact that you have more experience than your manager.” In my opinion this has more to do with insecurity than anything else. If you have more experience or even more education than the hiring manager, then there is the concern that you won’t be comfortable taking directives from this individual and that your knowledge and experience tells you better, at which point causing them to pass on your candidacy totally.
3. “As soon as something else comes along, you’ll leave.” Hiring managers often can’t understand or fathom why a person would apply for a position that is lower than their experience and/or education. The assumption here is that the candidate is desperate and is just looking for a paycheck, and as soon as something comes along more suited to your background, you are “outta” here.
4. “We can’t pay you what you want.” It is a common assumption that if you have more experience and education than is required by the job then you are going to have a higher salary expectation.
The fact of the matter is, I am sure there are some truths to all four of these points. The key is being able to successfully communicate to the hiring manager your intentions in applying for a position that they may deem you “Over Qualified” to do. Assuming a candidate has read the job description, requirements, pay range and all other factors that would enhance their decision to apply. Then who should be so quick to label one, “Over Qualified?” Because at the end of the day and when all is said and done, you are unemployed and seeking to change that status.