Are You Overqualified But Underappreciated?
Many times, when graduates, especially post graduates and professionals with experience apply for particular jobs, whether online or on paper, they are told that they are overqualified for that particular job. In such a situation, the applicant may feel bad as he or she might have worked really hard to get to that significant level of education, and worked really hard through a considerable number of years throughout their careers.
In a tight job market, it becomes an employer's market. For the many experienced and well-qualified candidates seeking new job opportunities, their career pool has suddenly become considerably shallow. The dwindling jobs that one applies for may be paying less and require less experience then what one may already have achieved.
The reason for this is that hiring managers often prefer people whose compensation and experience levels matches their openings. When one is told that they are overqualified, it simply means a number of worries for recruiters.
This however does not mean the end. One should quickly forget about wallowing in self-pity & languishing while waiting for that "perfect job". This will only cause them to be out of work for an even longer period. These gaps in one's resume will make them unemployable. The vicious cycle will only continue, that is unless one is willing to live off their savings and take up a new hobby or pursue a venture while waiting, otherwise, immediate action should be taken to look for another suitable job. In order to solve such a problem, assess how well you can sell your strengths and your rationale for taking a position that may not seem challenging or well-paying enough. Make sure that you are the one who broaches the over-qualification issue with potential employers. By doing so, you defuse their objections with a carefully crafted pitch.
One should also take a non-defeatist attitude. Tell the employer that you do not plan to leave the job very quickly? Point to your job longevity history if they are worried that you will leave the moment you can. If you have been a job-hopper in the past, and you are determined to get this job, agree to sign a time-commitment contract.
If the employer asks what's your last salary was? One can prevent a disclosure that will opt you out of the race by saying, "A lot. Probably more than you are willing to pay for this position. But money is not my top priority and I am not expecting to be paid what I earned during the best years of my career." Another tack would be to show evidence of how you have actually cut costs or increased revenue for your previous companies.
Would this job bore you?
Show humility and enthusiasm for the new job, indicating what you can bring to it. An experienced consultant applying for a junior role said, "To me, I find nothing more challenging than making a client happy. I look forward to getting back to the real fun of consulting."
Will your age be discriminated against?
One way to circumvent this sensitive issue is to avoid the matter of age altogether by deflecting them towards describing their ideal candidate. Counter each criterion with how your experience and qualifications can be leveraged to their benefit. If there is evidence that you are the best candidate for the job, they cannot reject you based upon your age.
Should you be offered a job
More a post-factum tip than anything else, should you be offered a job, ensure that you get a written statement of your role and responsibilities. In a scenario where you leave the job because demands were not as expected serves only to confirm their initial fears. So get it in writing.
One should always remember in the back of their minds that it is an imperfect world with its fair load of injustices. However, one have to make the case for themselves that they are bringing something that is hand-in-glove for what the potential employer seeks. First of all, if you are willing to accept less, resolve that within yourself and concentrate on getting the job in hand. Then, focus on articulating the relevance of your prior experience and how this experience will benefit the company.
Despite the tremendous number of unemployed workers in the market, it is still extremely hard to find good people and companies still recognize that experience counts as long as it is in the right package, overqualified or not.
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