What to Do if Youre Overqualified for a Job You Want

What to Do if Youre Overqualified for a Job You WantWhat to Do if Youre Overqualified for a Job You WantIs there anythingthatfeels more unfair than being overqualified for a job? Why should you be penalized for being too good? What should you do if you really want a job but are concerned that the employer will think youd be a better fit for a higher-level position? If you think about it from an employers perspective, it makes sense. An overqualified candidate may not want to linger long at a position, and employers like to avoid turnover. Employers look for candidates who are agood match for the job, and if your credentials show youre overqualified- or underqualified- you may not be considered for the role. Find out more about why employers avoid hiring overqualified candidates, how to adjust your resume to make it clear that you are interested in the position over the long haul, what to mention in a cover letter, and how to respond to interview questionsintheblogpostbelow. Why Is Being Overqualified a Problem? Here are some of the main reasons why employers shy away from hiring candidates who appear overqualified Theyre worried youll be boredCompanies want to hire people who will stick around and enjoy their day-to-day work. If you are overqualified, hiring managers may be concerned that youll get bored and leave for an opportunity that uses your full talents. They may also be concerned that you wont want to do the level of work the position entails.Or that youre after the job as a temporary meakoranversIf youve been unemployed for a while, employers may think that you just want to get a job- any job- on your resume, and that the position is intended to parlay you into another job that youre better suited for. As with the concern about boredom, here employers main worry is that you only want the job as a stepping-stone to something better. Theyre unsure youll be able to take directionOne other reason employers may avoid hiring very qualified candidates for positions that dont match their experience level is that these candidates may struggle to take direction from people who are less qualified on paper.And nervous the pay wont match your needsSome part of anemployers concern about your being overqualified may be a worry that you will want a salary that matches your experience level- and is well above the range in place for the job. Tips for Your Resume Your resume tells the story of your career. And while you should never, everlie on your resume, it is permissible to leave off jobs and generally paint yourself as a candidate who is at the right level for the job at hand. Here are some suggestions for resume strategies that will make you look appropriately qualified for a position. Make it tailoredAs with any job application, if youre overqualified, you should make sure your resume focuses onhow your experience matches the job you want. Dont delve into experience and qualifications that go beyond the companys needs for the positi on. Include your qualifications that are the strongest match to the job, and considerwhat you might leave off your resumein order for it to get a closer look. Leave off advanced degreesYou do not need to list every degree you hold. Leave off the post-college degrees if you think they are not necessary to get the position you want. You dont need to advertise the fact that you have more credentials than the employer is looking for.You also dont want the employer to expect that youll require ahigher salary because of your degree. Leave dates off your education Theres no need to includegraduation dates for when you attended university on your resume. Dates advertise how old you are, and your age can indicate that youre overqualified for an entry-level position. Remove some jobsYou are not required to list every positionyouve held. You canremove jobs from your resumethat make you look overqualified just be aware that doing so may make companies wonder what you did during those blocks of time. Be ready to explain during a job interview. Go functionalResumes can be formatted in all sorts of ways, fromfunctional(which is an achievement- and skill-based format) tochronological(which lists jobs by when they were held). A functional resume can help reduce the impact of your most recently held title and responsibilities. Assemble your functional orcombination resumearound the position you desire. Put thesummaryorobjectivesections to useThis is the best spot- aside from the cover letter- to tell your story. Some ways to take advantage of this section when you are overqualified are Put the title of the position you want in your objective section.Explain in your summary that youre looking to transition to a new career (this can show why youd take a position below your experience level).Avoid lofty language.Skip details about how long youve worked and your strong expertise. Keep it simpleExplain your career arc in a way that makes it clear why youd take a lower-level position perhaps youre in a field where promotions have led you to management-level positions and away from doing the work you actually enjoy. De-emphasize titlesTypically,job descriptions on your resumeput the title in a place of prominence, but that doesnt have to be the case. You could put the company name on the top line and list titles below. Use less powerful wordsIn general, the advice is to punch up language and usepowerful wordsto convey how much responsibility and leadershipexperience you have, but if youre concerned about looking overqualified, dial down your language and keep it simple. Instead of Spearheaded a transition to a new accounting system you can say you Helped manage a transition to a new accounting system. Expand Use Your Cover Letter to Explain Your resume is just one part of your application package. Use your cover letter toshow why the job is right for you, even if you could be doing something ata higher level. There are many reasons why you could be looking f or a career shift at this time. Perhaps youre retired but want to mucksmuschenstill maintain a connection to the industry. Maybe you have a personal passion for the position or company. Maybe you want to return to more hands-on work in the field and leave management behind. Use your cover letter to give details on your motivations and show how youd be a good candidate. Discuss Being Overqualified During an Interview During interviews, if the topic of being overqualified comes up, ask for specifics about why the interviewer has that concern this will allow you to give the best possible response. After all, your interviewer may think youre overqualified because you have a graduate-level degree, not realizing its in an unrelated field. Take some time toprepare your response to questions about being overqualified, so youre ready to answer. Above all, dont get discouraged if you keep getting turned down for jobs because of being overqualified. With changes to your resume and cover le tter, you can get past this obstacle.