Overqualified for a Job? Use This Strategy

Being told you're overqualified for a job can feel like someone telling you you're too awesome to date. Come again? You've got the experience of multiple jobs and years of workplace know-how under your belt—how can that possibly be a barrier to employment?

Hiring managers might figure you’re using this job opportunity as a temporary gig until a more senior position opens up elsewhere, or that you expect to earn a salary that’s commensurate with your experience. But just because a hiring manager thinks you look too good on paper doesn’t mean you’re out of the running.

Overcome your overqualification with these tactics.

Don’t Tiptoe Around It

In your cover letter, address the perceived mismatch outright. Acknowledge that have certain skills and experience that are beyond what the role requires, but that you are hoping for the opportunity. Make it clear why the job is actually a good fit at this point in your life.

That said, keep the focus on your interest in the job or company itself. If you’re overqualified for a job, employers will be more likely to take a chance on you if you talk about why you’re passionate about the work rather than the fact that the job requires less travel or offers a shorter commute.

Emphasize Your Longevity

One way to put the employer’s mind at ease if by stressing that you’re in it for the long haul. You’re not just taking this job while you search for something better.

Again, use your cover letter or email introduction to explain why you want this exact job, and be upfront with the hiring manager during the interview that you understand this may be a concern—but that it’s one they need not worry about.

Be Flexible on Salary

One of the hurdles of bringing so much knowledge to the table is that interviewers expect you to want a commensurate paycheck. In most cases, they won’t augment the salary just because you have some extra know-how, so be prepared to take a pay cut if you want a job you could have taken several years ago.

If you’re overqualified for a job and get asked about salary requirements, let the hiring manager know that you’re flexible. Never make it seem that the position is beneath you.

Tap Your Network

Do you know someone who works for the company, or someone who knows the interviewer? Use that to your advantage. Whenever there’s an imbalance between what an employer is looking for and what you have to offer—be that too much or too little experience—knowing someone on the inside can be the key to unlocking doors.

Sell the Advantages

Think about what your years of experience bring to the position, even if recruiters aren’t specifically looking for it. Instead of “overqualified,” view yourself as highly qualified with something extra to offer the company.

Emphasize that you are plenty capable of doing the job in question, and that your abundance of qualifications means you can assume greater responsibilities in less time than it would take to train someone else.

Tweak Your Resume

A hiring manager might think a candidate with your experience will consider some of the tasks associated with the position to be beneath them. If you’re in a supervisory role, one subtle way to address this is to take on tasks you might otherwise assign to others and list them on your resume.

By doing this, hiring managers will see that you aren’t so far removed from those types of lower-level responsibilities as they may have expected.

Get Resume Reassurance

If you’re overqualified for a job and not sure your resume is properly set up, get a free resume evaluation today from Monster. It's a quick and easy way you can ensure your skills and experience don't put you under suspicion but rather paint you as a perfect match.