How to Land the Job When You're Overqualified
Whatever the reason, whether it's a job change or need to pay for living expenses after being laid off, many people apply for jobs that require far less experience than their own. And all too often it's seen as a negative, "I'm sorry, but you're overqualified."
Employers consider a variety of reasons why you might not be a good fit. You think you'll be unhappy or get a better job as soon as the second comes. You may even aspire to a boss position.
To combat these notions, you need to find ways to convince employers that you're the right person for the job, regardless of your experience. Here's how:
Edit your resume to suit your desired position
If your resume is three pages long, with an impressive title and experience, it's a good time to start editing. you don't lie I don't write down everything I've accomplished.
You don't even have to enter a job title if you don't want to. List the companies you have worked for and provide relevant experience for each company. Indeed, you may have overseen the international sales of a large multinational company. But did that job include answering the phone and providing excellent customer service (regardless of who the customer is)?
Find ways to mitigate some of your success. It may seem counterintuitive compared to what you've done in your career so far, but if you want this job, you'll need to find a way to lower your resume a notch or two. .
Use your industry connections for introductions
Resumes and cover letters, even good and focused, are not always good enough. You want to use the many connections you have built over the years to find someone who vouches for you.
Ideally, you know someone at the company you want to work for. Or do you know someone in the company? LinkedIn is a great place to find those connections. Once you find the right person, ask them to take the first action for you. A recommendation from someone you trust and trust is worth far more than a polished resume.
We can also talk about what you bring and why you are a good fit for us. By the time your excesses show up, you are already seen as someone who easily fits the role. If the pay is good, shouldn't you be too? You can get more for your money.
Discuss what you can do for them
Employers are selfish, and that's right. They're willing to pay you a salary and benefits, so they're looking for someone who will give them a good return on their investment. And if you show them that your experience will benefit them without costing them more, they'll be on board with it.
A good example is in the movie The Wolf of Wall Street. Jordan Belfort is nowhere to find a new job after losing his job on Wall Street. There he saw an advertisement for a small brokerage firm selling penny stocks. When they first saw Belfort, they thought it was a joke. He is too qualified. Why did he enter this place? And he brought his experience (albeit a morally bankrupt one) to the company, and before they knew it, they were making more money than they ever dreamed possible. So let's emphasize what you can do, not what titles you've won.
Employers consider a variety of reasons why you might not be a good fit. You think you'll be unhappy or get a better job as soon as the second comes. You may even aspire to a boss position.
To combat these notions, you need to find ways to convince employers that you're the right person for the job, regardless of your experience. Here's how:
Edit your resume to suit your desired position
If your resume is three pages long, with an impressive title and experience, it's a good time to start editing. you don't lie I don't write down everything I've accomplished.
You don't even have to enter a job title if you don't want to. List the companies you have worked for and provide relevant experience for each company. Indeed, you may have overseen the international sales of a large multinational company. But did that job include answering the phone and providing excellent customer service (regardless of who the customer is)?
Find ways to mitigate some of your success. It may seem counterintuitive compared to what you've done in your career so far, but if you want this job, you'll need to find a way to lower your resume a notch or two. .
Use your industry connections for introductions
Resumes and cover letters, even good and focused, are not always good enough. You want to use the many connections you have built over the years to find someone who vouches for you.
Ideally, you know someone at the company you want to work for. Or do you know someone in the company? LinkedIn is a great place to find those connections. Once you find the right person, ask them to take the first action for you. A recommendation from someone you trust and trust is worth far more than a polished resume.
We can also talk about what you bring and why you are a good fit for us. By the time your excesses show up, you are already seen as someone who easily fits the role. If the pay is good, shouldn't you be too? You can get more for your money.
Discuss what you can do for them
Employers are selfish, and that's right. They're willing to pay you a salary and benefits, so they're looking for someone who will give them a good return on their investment. And if you show them that your experience will benefit them without costing them more, they'll be on board with it.
A good example is in the movie The Wolf of Wall Street. Jordan Belfort is nowhere to find a new job after losing his job on Wall Street. There he saw an advertisement for a small brokerage firm selling penny stocks. When they first saw Belfort, they thought it was a joke. He is too qualified. Why did he enter this place? And he brought his experience (albeit a morally bankrupt one) to the company, and before they knew it, they were making more money than they ever dreamed possible. So let's emphasize what you can do, not what titles you've won.
Explain that your work history is a good match for the job. And remember to only talk about experiences that are relevant to that employer. All other awards and achievements are best left out of the conversation.
Describe why you are excited about the job offer
Money isn't everything. Titles are not given to everyone. In some cases, some people really want to change career direction. If so, you'll need to find a way to communicate that to potential new employers. You may have been a senior executive at your previous company, but you may be tired of the running wheel. You want a job that pays less, has less responsibility, but offers exciting new challenges.
For example, many in the advertising industry find that once they reach the top, their work is no longer as fun and creative as it was when they started their careers. Because of this, many creative directors actually quit their jobs and apply for low-paying copywriter and art director jobs. As long as you can demonstrate why you are willing to work for less money and less power, there should be no reason why an employer should not take your application seriously.
Describe why you are excited about the job offer
Money isn't everything. Titles are not given to everyone. In some cases, some people really want to change career direction. If so, you'll need to find a way to communicate that to potential new employers. You may have been a senior executive at your previous company, but you may be tired of the running wheel. You want a job that pays less, has less responsibility, but offers exciting new challenges.
For example, many in the advertising industry find that once they reach the top, their work is no longer as fun and creative as it was when they started their careers. Because of this, many creative directors actually quit their jobs and apply for low-paying copywriter and art director jobs. As long as you can demonstrate why you are willing to work for less money and less power, there should be no reason why an employer should not take your application seriously.
Acknowledge that you know you're taking a step down
If you are affected by a business contraction, you usually need to find a job quickly to make up for your lost income. And that usually means adopting whatever is available, even if it's a significant setback. In this situation, HR managers are suspicious of candidates. They believe that overqualified candidates will see the job only as a stopgap measure and will quickly start looking for something better. The last thing recruiters want to do is interview for the same job months later. However, this can be addressed early on.
Note that this sets you back in terms of salary and experience. But also tell your employer that doing so will bring many benefits, such as new experiences, new challenges, and even better work-life balance. Reassure your employer that this is not a temporary position and that you are committed to it and will be successful.
If you are affected by a business contraction, you usually need to find a job quickly to make up for your lost income. And that usually means adopting whatever is available, even if it's a significant setback. In this situation, HR managers are suspicious of candidates. They believe that overqualified candidates will see the job only as a stopgap measure and will quickly start looking for something better. The last thing recruiters want to do is interview for the same job months later. However, this can be addressed early on.
Note that this sets you back in terms of salary and experience. But also tell your employer that doing so will bring many benefits, such as new experiences, new challenges, and even better work-life balance. Reassure your employer that this is not a temporary position and that you are committed to it and will be successful.
Do not let salary come into play until the last minute
One of the biggest problems with overqualification is payroll history. As I climbed the ladder of success, so did my income. And in your previous job, you may have been paid very well. However, since you're looking for a job that requires fewer (or different) skills, you'll also need less money.
The easiest way for recruiters to classify candidates is by expected salary or past salary. If your current position had an offer of $60,000 a year and your last salary was his $100,000, it would be rejected immediately. They ask themselves why should they consider this role. You don't know your current situation, your aspirations and needs, and you don't know why you're moving to a position with less experience.
So please don't bring your salary. If there is a blank space that needs to be filled in the form, enter "1$". When the story first comes up, tell HR that you're not worried about salary at this point. We want to focus on being the right person for the job, regardless of the money.
One of the biggest problems with overqualification is payroll history. As I climbed the ladder of success, so did my income. And in your previous job, you may have been paid very well. However, since you're looking for a job that requires fewer (or different) skills, you'll also need less money.
The easiest way for recruiters to classify candidates is by expected salary or past salary. If your current position had an offer of $60,000 a year and your last salary was his $100,000, it would be rejected immediately. They ask themselves why should they consider this role. You don't know your current situation, your aspirations and needs, and you don't know why you're moving to a position with less experience.
So please don't bring your salary. If there is a blank space that needs to be filled in the form, enter "1$". When the story first comes up, tell HR that you're not worried about salary at this point. We want to focus on being the right person for the job, regardless of the money.