Responses to Practice When Asked "Aren't You Overqualified?"

John Krautzel
Posted by in Career Advice


You’ve spent days crafting an impeccable cover letter and resume, picking out the perfect power suit and practicing your answers to common interview questions. You have an excellent educational background, hold plenty of work experience in the industry and possess all the necessary skills and requirements listed in the job description. You’re feeling pretty confident about your chances when the interviewer asks, “Aren’t you overqualified for the job?” How you respond to this tricky question can make or break your interview.

Take Salary off the Table

When hiring managers see an overqualified job seeker’s resume that contains years of experience in a high-paying position, they immediately assume the candidate expects a similar salary that may not be practical for the organization. Assure the interviewer that you do not expect to match the earnings of your prior position. Express that you are willing to accept the market rate for the position, or explain that you are open to negotiating a salary that works for you and the employer.

Commit to a Contract

Some employers are concerned about the length of time an overqualified candidate may stay in the position. They assume the candidate is likely to get bored easily or jump on the next best job offer he gets, leaving the company with a vacancy again. Offer to sign an employment contract that commits you to the organization for six months, one year or longer. If you’re not willing to do this, ask the employer to hire you on a trial basis for a month or two. This gives you time to prove your ability to do the job and demonstrate the positive impact you can make on the organization.

Demonstrate Your Loyalty

Let your work history speak for you. Cite specific examples from your resume and work history that show your longevity with former employers. Explain that you are not one to hop from position to position, and describe to the hiring manager why you want to work for this specific organization. Tell an employer what you can do to increase the company’s sales numbers or cut shipping costs, mentioning achievements from your past work experience that back up these claims.

Speak on Past Experiences

Discuss your previous experience supervising employees who are overqualified, and assure the hiring manager that you know how to conduct yourself appropriately. Describe how many overqualified employees undermine their managers, let their egos get in the way or act without communicating. Explain what you have learned from the past mistakes of these employees, and discuss how you can use your skills and abilities to meet the job duties and work in unison with your colleagues and superiors.

Be Honest About Your Situation

Don’t try to downplay your previous positions or lie about your intentions. If you want a position with less responsibility so you can spend more time with your family, explain that your priorities have changed and you are no longer focused on salary or job title. If you want to get back into the field rather than managing, describe your desire to get your hands dirty and take on a new challenge so you can feel motivated about your work. If you are desperate for any position because of job loss or layoff, discuss how you are a reliable employee with a proven track record, inside industry knowledge and the ability to mentor younger team members.

Rely on Your References

When you feel like you’re not doing enough to convince the hiring manager that you’re the right candidate for the job, let a third party speak for you. Ask a former supervisor or trusted colleague to write a letter of recommendation describing your prior achievements and ability to be a team player.

Whether you’re desperately looking for work in a tough economy or seeking a position with a little less responsibility, you may be willing to take a job for which you are overqualified. If an interviewer questions this, be honest about your circumstances. Do your best to allay the hiring manager's concerns while proving your dedication to the company and motivation to do the job.

Photo Courtesy of The Fabler at Flickr.com

Comment

Become a member to take advantage of more features, like commenting and voting.

  • Nancy Anderson
    Nancy Anderson

    @Madelyne thanks for your comment. So very sorry that you are going through these struggles. It's great that you are utilizing some executive search firms. Are you contacting them? You should be contacting them weekly. Or you might want to consider going for a lower position and working your way back up again. It's tough to try to get an executive position at any company let alone trying when you have that unfortunate stigma of not having experience in the US. Have you tried for positions such as financial counselor or even just working as an accountant and then working your way back up. It sounds like you need to get experience working in the financial market in the US first and then you can go for the higher executive positions. The issue is that you are an unknown in the CFO world here in the US. Fair or not it's a fact. I truly wish this wasn't the case. I imagine that, if I moved to your home country, I would encounter the same sort of discrimination. Your friends might be right - take the CFO off and go for a lower position. No surprise that you weren't considered for a dishwashing position because they know that as soon as you find another position you will be gone. You just have to be realistic and apply for positions such as financial analyst or accountant, etc. Wish there was a better answer. Keep me posted.

  • MADELYNE K.
    MADELYNE K.

    To: Nancy Anderson: Hi Nancy, I had encountered the same opinions from different people with different characters. Some made me so depressed instead of bringing back my motivation. I got here in the US last year and I was a CFO for almost 21 years in the Philippines. I thought at first I can easily get a job here considering my extensive finance and accounting experience but I was indeed wrong. I had more than 100 applications but mostly through executive search agencies which I concluded it was not helpful. For almost one year for job searching and I even tried to apply for a dishwasher position, I received no calls. I got maybe 5 interviews with executive search agencies but no follow up calls from them thereafter. The common words I got from them is I did not have any US working experience and that is a setback. All Filipino friends who are professionals and working in the US with Fortune 500 advised me to redo my resume and not to put my CFO position because the hiring manager might think I am overqualified. The word overqualified is a misnomer. It means only one thing for me and that is discrimination. Some companies do not hire new migrants. I did not follow their advice for me to delete my CFO position in my resume. I observed that if one of the top 3 Cs positions in the company interviews you, they like more to see a resume like mine, but if it is a hiring manager or staffing agency or executive search agency, it is a very slim chance to get a job. I got a job in Atlanta right away after my interview and when I resigned after a month because I need to move to Arizona, the President and CEO asked me if I can stay for three weeks. He liked my workmanship and being a Filipino hardworking professional should not be ignored in the US. Giving us a chance to prove our expertise is an asset to any company. I am again looking for new opportunities and I would say that it is a struggle to deal with.

  • Susan Bolivar
    Susan Bolivar

    Also can be cost effective to the industry.

  • Susan Bolivar
    Susan Bolivar

    Overqualified candidates have multiple assets to bring to a perspective employer. Advanced skill set, experience, and knowledge to name a few.

  • Nancy Anderson
    Nancy Anderson

    @Renee thanks for your comments. So sorry that you are struggling to find that perfect fit. It's not because of your age or you wouldn't be getting any interviews at all. Even through an employment agency, the agency is working for the company and knows what the company wants., Are you following up after the interview to try and ask why you were not chosen for the position? As for your question regarding employment agencies - companies hire these agencies to bring the people in. It's hard sometimes for a company to get the word out that they have open positions. They can post the jobs on their website but that means that you would have to be looking specifically for them. So they use an agency because the agency can do the screening for them. Sure companies have HR departments but those have changed over the last ten years or so also. HR departments are pretty lean in most companies today and hiring is one of those things that they have turned over to employment agencies. This way, the hiring manager is not wasting his time reviewing candidates who are simply not qualified for the open position. Personally I would prefer to use an agency because that way, if I get into the job and it's not for me, I can let the agency do the talking while I do the walking. I have gotten excellent jobs through an agency. Best of luck in your endeavors.

  • Renee B.
    Renee B.

    By the way the job market has changed so much out of 8 interviews I have gone on all have been through Employment agencies. Do companies not have HR departments anymore?

  • Renee B.
    Renee B.

    I am 59 going on 60, each and every one of my jobs on my resume, that I have been told to only show 10/15 years back show my tenure. Then the assume age. Of course they can't say it is due to age, but how can I think anything else when the interview goes so well? any sugggestions? I can't blink my eyes and become a 20 yr old hottie. (sorry that sounds so sarcastic) just tired of playing the game.

  • Nancy Anderson
    Nancy Anderson

    @Randy thanks for your comment. So very true - AAs are the backbone of most companies. They know what is going on, they keep your confidence and they anticipate what you might need next. I loved being an EA and was thankful that my work was appreciated. I had two great bosses which makes things a bit easier. So thank you for appreciating your AA.

  • RANDY CARPENTER
    RANDY CARPENTER

    Over the years I would have been lost without my AA. They were then nuts and bolts behind the machine, and my most valuable assets. Thank you all.

  • Nancy Anderson
    Nancy Anderson

    Thanks for that @Joyce. Totally agree. People still see an AA as that "secretary" depicted in books and movies. Not true in today's world. That AA is the right hand of the executive and must have knowledge in many different areas. A good AA/EA is the most valuable person an executive will ever hire.

  • JOYCE S.
    JOYCE S.

    Kathleen G: a Bachelor's degree is not a waste of time even for an AA: because the admin asst is usually hired to assist upper management with sensitive aspects of a company. the BA is the notice to the company that you are qualified to be that go between and you have the expertise/knowledge of a wide range of topics that might or might not relate to their position but is there nonetheless. it helps the company to know that you are well rounded in your knowledge and that you have the 'stick to itness' to complete the job. a BA is hard to come by even in today's society and an MBA is even harder/ more expensive sure, but more rounded in knowledge in topics that will assist the upper management in guiding the company.

  • Nancy Anderson
    Nancy Anderson

    @Joyce thanks for your comment. I truly dislike the words "dumb down" and I try not to recommend that anyone does that but I have found, even in my own case, that I must do that in order to get my foot in the door - at least for an interview. The best way to proceed is to try to sort of parrot what the job description is saying; adding keywords to your resume and cover letter that come from the job posting but not just regurgitating it back to them. Typically what I will do is to find a few job postings for the same type position and see what words they used in common and then attempt to infuse my resume with them. The issue here is that you are overqualified and a company is not going to take a chance on hiring you when they think that you will just jump ship as soon as your dream job comes in. So, keep the "overqualified" sections of your resume and then explain, in the cover letter, why you want a position for which you are overqualified. Phrase it in such a way as to show how the company will benefit from hiring you. Of course, as you know, there is no guarantee that this way will work, either. I know it can get frustrating but all we can do is try. Question for you - those 10 years of work experience - are they applicable to the job that you want? If not, then maybe you should consider downplaying that time and beefing up the parts of your resume that the hiring company is interested in. Example: let's say I am seeking a business analyst position that requires x number of years and a whole host of skills. Maybe I don't have all of the skills that they need but I do have 10 yrs experience as an AA. Should I include the AA experience? It's 10 years of work experience but has nothing to do with the job I want. What should I do? That's how I think about it. @Kathleen pretty much any job today requires at least some education including a job for an administrative assistant. AAs do much more than type these days and having a business degree can really help them to exceed in this position. It truly is not a waste. I worked as an AA for many years and can tell you, from personal experience, that I was the right hand of the executive. Having a business administrative/management degree was one of the qualifications that put me over the top and got me the job.

  • Kathleen Gillin
    Kathleen Gillin

    Joyce S: what I don't get is that almost all the ads I see for 'administrative assistant" ie: receptionist/secretary they ask for a Bachelors degree. seems like a total waste of a degree to me.

  • JOYCE S.
    JOYCE S.

    @ Nancy Anderson... this is your response to Lisa B below: "On your resume, see if you can find a way to downplay the "overqualified" part and bulk up the skills that you have that correspond to the position you want. " this is inconsistent with your prior responses to not 'dumb down' an over qualified resume. now you state this; you can't have it both ways: either we present our resumes as is with assistance from resume writers and leave our qualifications as is; or take out the significant qualifications and only show qualifications that match a dumbed down job description. Most of the job descriptions I have been reading lately, are so basic, it looks like the workplace does not want anyone to have a brain, just do the job, don't ask questions and leave at the end of the 8 hours, no questions asked. but even if we try to do that, we still get laid off : assignment ended because the position was terminated: and have no recourse but to start the process again. it is very disheartening in today's workplace and job ads to see this elementary level - basic /entry level - of work requirements. apparently everyone needs a Ph.D and even then you can't get a job. so what do you suggest to do now; and please don't say remove the over-qualified sections because that would mean remove over 10 years of work experience from the resume of most of us.

  • Nancy Anderson
    Nancy Anderson

    @Lisa B thanks for your comments. Keeping our fingers crossed that you get the contracting position. It's so great that you had a resume writer who was willing to write a cover letter for you. Remember, though, that you need a cover letter for each position - not just one general one. On your resume, see if you can find a way to downplay the "overqualified" part and bulk up the skills that you have that correspond to the position you want. Best of luck.

  • Lisa B.
    Lisa B.

    @Nancy Anderson.... Yes, I did ask for feedback but, none given other than the standard, we went with another candidate.

  • Lisa B.
    Lisa B.

    @ Nancy Anderson.... I have only applied for positions I do want and qualify for but, based on my resume I'm certain I come across as overqualified. I want to move back into a field of work that I'm passionate about and love doing. Had an interview today for a contracting position. Hoping this works out.

  • Lisa B.
    Lisa B.

    @Nancy Anderson....I worked with a resume writer who made changes to my original resume & created a cover letter for me.

  • Nancy Anderson
    Nancy Anderson

    @Lisa so sorry to hear this. On the interview where you were called in several times but didn't get the position, did you ask why? There is nothing that says that you can't ask the interviewer why you didn't get the job. Hopefully they will be honest and tell you instead of just giving the pat answer of - another candidate was more qualified. Also, 50 resumes is a lot. You don't want to saturate the market with your resume but take your time and only submit your application for those positions that you REALLY want. If you are submitting resumes for jobs that you can do in your sleep, you aren't going to hear back from them because they know that you are overqualified and that, if they hired you, you would be gone as soon as you can get a job that is more suitable. In addition, make sure that your cover letter is addressing the needs of the company, not your own. In a cover letter, it's all about them, not about you. Take a hard look at your resume, too. Are you using keywords from the job postings in your resume and cover letter? Most companies use some form of ATS to screen your application. If it's not getting passed the ATS, you aren't going to get a call. Are you modifying your resume and cover letters for each position? Then there's the interview. If you can, contact your local college's career services center and see if they will set up a mock interview with you. If there's something wrong, they can help you to correct it. They could also review your resume and assist you with that. Sometimes we think that our resumes and cover letters are the best so it's hard for us to understand why we are not getting those calls. Having a third party review your information could make all of the difference. And @Lisa, one more thing - are you networking? Are you reaching out to others in your industry who are currently working in the same type of position? Are you contacting former coworkers and supervisors? We liken job hunting to dating. Sometimes you have to kiss a lot of toads before you find your prince.

  • Lisa B.
    Lisa B.

    All great advice for those getting an interview but, I'm in the position of not even getting interviews. I was laid off in Nov 2015 after 32 years with the same company. I've submitted 50+ applications in past 6 mo's and have only been contacted for an interview by 2 companies. 1 of the 2, I had 3 interviews and still didn't land the job and certain it was because I am overqualified. Very frustrating.

  • Sheila B.
    Sheila B.

    Being "over-qualified" can be addressed in the cover letter. The reasons for pursuing a job opportunity that is less than the previous position can be explained in the cover letter. I consider the phrase "energetic" to be a code word for young. "Over-qualified" can be dealt with. "Energetic" is a lost cause.

  • JOYCE S.
    JOYCE S.

    Nancy: you made some good points in the reply. and i have edited my resume some more, so it is not as 'wordy' thanks for the constructive comments

  • Nancy Anderson
    Nancy Anderson

    Thanks for the comments. @Joyce so sorry that you are going through this. All you can do is keep applying until you hit the right company. It's true that sometimes "over-qualified" means that they feel that your age will be a detriment. This is nothing new - it has been like this forever. The only difference now is that we have social media and sites like this where we can comment and others can see it. You have to make them see past your age if you can. It's true that once the over-qualified word comes up that it's hard to recover. However, they already knew that prior to bringing you in for an interview. You just need to sell yourself; to find the right way to let the hiring manager know that you want a position where you can use your many talents and experience to benefit the company. Always try to put in such a way as it shows the benefit to them. That could be just what is needed to get past the over-qualified stage and close the deal. @Joseph make sure that your resume is including those keywords and that you only give them what they are asking for - not the whole story. I hate the term "dumb down" but that's what you are going to need to do in order to get that first interview. Don't mention anything about managing people if that's not what the position is for. Only discuss what is included in the job posting. Once you get in for the interview, you can discuss what is not on your resume if it comes up. You know how on shows like Law & Order the lawyers always say just answer yes or no to my questions - do not elaborate. Well, it's the same thing here. Only give them what the job posting is asking for without elaborating. I know we are all proud of our accomplishments and want these hiring managers to know it but sometimes being humble is the way to go about it.

  • JOYCE S.
    JOYCE S.

    I have heard the "over-qualified" term for years now and as a convenient term for age discrimination. I have been told I am over-qualified because I have not been nor do I desire to be a manager. I am also a 55+ unemployed job seeker as Joy D below; not in dire financial straights but do want a steady paycheck for a few more years to pay off my most recent student loans. But I work because I enjoy it and it gets and keeps me active outside of my house. This term has definitely caused me to lose a few jobs because the hiring managers can't get beyond that term. That is when I end the interview, because no amount of words will change that person's mind. As soon as those words come up in the interview, I try to emphasize my experience and commitment to a job/employer/the work force and illustrate how it would benefit their organization. One time only, did that work, the other times, I ended the interview because again once a managers mind is made up that the applicant is over qualified and could probably do their job and might be after their job, said manager won't listen to anything else you say.

  • Joy D.
    Joy D.

    I tend to agree with Sam R. about the "over-qualified" term is being used for age discrimination as I am also a 55+ unemployed job seeker and have gotten that a couple of times. Very very disappointing to say the least after working so hard for so long being dependable and flexible to learn new tasks and a dedicated employee. :(

Jobs to Watch