If Called "Overqualified," Try This...
J.T. O'Donnell
Founder & CEO, Work It DAILY | Board of Directors & CMO, McCoy | Career & Professional Development | Job Search | HR & Recruiting | Employer Branding | Recruitment Marketing | Talent Management | Executive Coaching
I got this email from a LinkedIn member last week after he read my post on how to handle job rejection:
Dear J.T.
What can I say to a company who reviews my resume, calls me in for an hour-long interview, only to declare at the end they think I'm "overqualified" for the job and not a fit. I know this company is hiring a lot of people. I would think they would love hiring someone with more experience. But, they turned me down flat. I didn't know how to respond. I just thanked them and left. What a waste of my time.
Is there anything I could have done to convince them otherwise?
Ouch. That's no fun. He's not the first to experience the, " you're overqualified" rejection - and he definitely won't be the last.
"Overqualified" = Often Code For Something Else
Many times, getting called overqualified is a general explanation employers use to avoid telling you the real reason they don't want to hire you. I've written before about this excuse and it's true meaning. Here are 9 possible reasons they really aren't hiring you.
But, the question this reader is asking is what to do to fight back. Well, here's something you can try...
Acknowledge First...Then, Ask (Don't Tell!)
The secret to handling any objection about your candidacy is to ask some polite clarifying questions so you can better understand what's really bothering the hiring manager. For example, when he says, "You're overqualified," you can try one of these:
- "I can appreciate your concern. Can you share with me what makes you feel that way?"
- "Oh, I'd hate to think you felt my experience would work against me. What concerns you about my qualifications being too much for the role?"
- "Thank you for your honestly. May I ask, are you worried that my qualifications will work against me in this job? If so, how?"
- "I"m so glad you shared your worries about my experience. What would it take to make you feel comfortable hiring me at my skill level?"
Notice how all of the above first take into account the hiring manager's feelings related to hiring you. You must acknowledge and validate his feelings. Perception is reality. Right now, his reality is you aren't a fit. You can't change that...yet.
Next, you ask a question that allows him to explore what it would take to change his mind. Asking is very important. You must resist the urge to want to defend your experience. Instead, you need to give the hiring manager the opportunity to process his concerns and share them openly with you. It will ensure he knows you have heard him. Only then will you earn the right to respond and (hopefully) be able to shift his mindset.
Key to Success: Know How to Read Between the Lines
Let me be clear - the technique above won't work every time. And, you need to pay attention to the communication style of the hiring manager to anticipate if it will work. Some employers don't like to be challenged once they've made up their mind they don't want to hire you. Again, just look at the list of reasons why they often use the "overqualified" excuse and you'll see some of them can't be fixed. The hiring manager's response to your question will either be honest and open up the discussion so you can try to give him information and reassurance that changes his mind. Or, he'll get uncomfortable with you calling him out on the response and shut the conversation down. You need to be able to read people well and take into account their voice tone, body language, and other cues to determine if they are truly open to working through their concerns around your level of experience.
That being said, you really have nothing to lose by trying this technique because you're already being told you won't get the job. So, as long as you are polite and positive when you try it, you just may be able to shift the hiring manager's perception. It's worth a shot, right?
Alternative: Accept the Compliment & Focus On Using it to Land A Job Down the Line
If the above doesn't feel right to you, and it won't for some people, the alternative is to accept the "overqualified" statement as a compliment. You have great skills and the hiring manager might sincerely be fearful he won't be able to use them in this role. But, who's to say the company might not be able to use you in a more senior position down the line? In that case, I suggest you read my article here on LinkedIn called, "Didn't Get The Job? Do This..." and use the experience as a way to start to build a long-term relationship with this employer so you can possible work with them in the future.
Never Forget, Hiring Is Discrimination
I hope one of the takeaways for those reading this is a reminder that hiring IS discrimination. Employers choose candidates based on personality, aptitude, and experience. It's never a clear-cut decision. As businesses-of-one trying to market ourselves to these employers, we must accept we are up against a lot of competition, including the discriminating mindset of the hiring manager. We can either A) get angry about it and cry foul (only to never get hired). Or, B) focus on improving our personal brand and who we market it to so we can find the right employer who wants what we are selling. The above techniques are for those folks who feel the latter is the right way to approach the job search.
What other things can you do to fight against the "overqualified" rejection? I'd love to hear your stories in the comments below.
If you want to read more of what I've written, check out my articles on Inc.com.
P.S. - First time reading my posts? Thanks for taking the time to stop by! Not only do I write for Linkedin, but I'm also founder of the career advice site, CAREEREALISM, and currently run the career coaching program, CareerHMO. I hope you'll check them both out!
If you enjoyed reading this article, you may also like:
CAREEREALISM’s Founder, J.T. O’Donnell is a nationally syndicated career expert and workplace consultant who helps American workers of all ages find greater professional satisfaction. Her book,CAREEREALISM: The Smart Approach to a Satisfying Career, outlines her highly successful career-coaching methodology. Purchase her e-book of CAREEREALISM for only $9.95 by clicking here !
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Cybersecurity and Networking Specialist I Innovative thinker I Empathetic Team Player
1yOne can only feel - when one has been in that situation >>
Maritime Recruiter
3yRecruiting is not discrimination! Here at Zhoustify actively try to be fair and avoid the definition of discrimination. According to Merriam Webster, Discrimination is the act, practice, or an instance of discriminating categorically rather than individually. Everything should be done on a individual basis. Of course, as we're applying to jobs we should be mindful for discrimination and try to cater our pitch interview and resume to combat that discriminations and bias. While we do that and play the system by it's rules of a discriminatory process we should be active in improving the system that is ineffective at judging that causes millions or tens of millions in turnover and churn within workplaces.
Head of Relationship Management
4yI love this! For me anytime I have applied for a job, I make sure I read everything, down to the companies values. I take time In looking into the company I am applying with, and the role. When a hiring manager says "your overqualified", I express the time and effort I took into making the decision to apply. A boss once told me, "if you ever hire people, hire people that are smarter than you". Those people will help you grow and help your company look at issues differently. When applying to colleges, are the recruiters looking for under-qualified people or over qualified?! I would hope all companies would want the best and the brightest no matter what role that is in. And being "over qualified", well that's just fear from the hiring manger that you will want their job, when in-fact all you want to do is help grow and better a company with a great team around you, no matter how their qualifications rank against others.
Veteran Employment Specialist | Résumé Writer | Career Transition and Development Coach | Workshop Facilitator | Speaker
7yI've often been hesitant to hire someone I deemed overqualified for fear that they would move on once something better came along. Hiring new employees is a big investment in time and money. If they quit at the first sign of a fancier title or higher salary, I not only lose my investment, but have to start the hiring process over. An applicant who thinks he may be overqualified should be able to lay that fear to rest by convincing me why he's not only willing, but excited, to take on the new role within my company. Convince me you're not "settling" and I'll bring you on board.