Being told you’re overqualified for a role might initially feel like a compliment. In fact, that’s exactly why companies chose that verbiage as a response. However, the message falls flat once the recipient sees it. It’s just like when someone says, “You look great for your age.” That backhanded compliment hits the same as when a company says, “Our team felt that your deep expertise and background make you overqualified for this position.”
This might be the second-most hated response to an application, right behind not getting any response at all and having to follow up multiple times to find out they chose someone else. Let’s break this down. There are definitely legitimate, proven patterns employers recognize that have caused them to pass on “overqualified” candidates. They might fear candidates leaving soon after because they’re bored, or candidates with resumes that looked great on paper were too good to be true.
What about the person who’s overqualified but can’t find a job they are qualified for? What about the person who’s overqualified but wants a change of pace due to family, health, or lifestyle changes? What about the person who’s overqualified but has no other option because it’s been a year since their high-paying job let them go after 20 years of service and now their savings account is empty, their credit cards have piled up, and they just need an income? What about the person who moved across the country with their spouse because their job forced them to relocate 2,000 miles away from home, options are limited, and they need a job? If you’ve lived through one of these situations, or the countless other reasons why you might be applying for something beneath your current or previous role, then you’ve felt this frustration firsthand.
Here’s a message for hiring managers: Don’t overthink it; it’s not that hard. If you see a 20-year-old with 10 years of experience as a CEO of a Fortune 500 company applying for your $30/hour job, it’s safe to assume that it’s bullcrap. But when you see a resume with incredible experience and a proven work ethic, why can’t you simply follow up with a message that says something like, “Thank you for your interest! Your resume is great and shows you might be overqualified for this job. Tell us why you think you’d be (1) happy here, (2) a good fit, or (3) committed long-term.” (I’m sure your HR team can come up with better verbiage.)
Yes, there will be overqualified people, but they’re people who are willing to do whatever you need them to do because they have something to lose. They are willing to commit, to excel, and to show their worth, even if they’re worth more than they’re getting paid.
Rest easy, my overqualified friends. If a company doesn’t care enough to have a simple follow-up process in place, you probably weren’t going to be happy there anyway.