You sent in a polished resume; wore your best suit for the interview; talked a good game. You've got years of experience, the job titles to prove it and an impressive network. The job should be yours except for one really minor detail:
You're overqualified.
What does this undecipherable phrase really mean? My very unscientific poll of hiring managers yielded the following plain old English translations:
"You're too expensive."
"You're cocky."
"You [choose one] graduated summa cum laude from the school that rejected me/party with Pete Cashmore/will be the next President of the United States. You intimidate me to death. But damn if I'm going to admit it."
"You say you want to change careers. I'm not going to be your guinea pig."
"You'll be out of here the minute you know how crap the job is. Truth is, there were three others before you."
"You're just desperate to pay the bills. I can tell."
There are really only two options if you keep hearing this phrase:
Dumb down your resume. If you buy into the philosophy that getting a job in this economy means being as generic, inoffensive and unthreatening as possible, by all means tone down your accomplishments and my best wishes to you.
Maybe they're right. Maybe you're really just desperate to pay the bills.
If that's not the case and you're genuinely looking for a company that's a pioneer and a game changer, then there's always the other option:
Laugh and carry on with the job hunt. Honestly, do you really want to work for someone who can't even be imaginative with their rejection language?
That rules out 99% of the companies hiring out there. But it makes you focus on the 1% who want excellence, not mediocrity. Who will look at your salary history and say, "The budget's tight but if you're willing to talk, let's work something out." Who will say, "You party with Pete Cashmore? We need you on board!"
I know which option I'd go for. Do you?
You're overqualified.
What does this undecipherable phrase really mean? My very unscientific poll of hiring managers yielded the following plain old English translations:
"You're too expensive."
"You're cocky."
"You [choose one] graduated summa cum laude from the school that rejected me/party with Pete Cashmore/will be the next President of the United States. You intimidate me to death. But damn if I'm going to admit it."
"You say you want to change careers. I'm not going to be your guinea pig."
"You'll be out of here the minute you know how crap the job is. Truth is, there were three others before you."
"You're just desperate to pay the bills. I can tell."
There are really only two options if you keep hearing this phrase:
Dumb down your resume. If you buy into the philosophy that getting a job in this economy means being as generic, inoffensive and unthreatening as possible, by all means tone down your accomplishments and my best wishes to you.
Maybe they're right. Maybe you're really just desperate to pay the bills.
If that's not the case and you're genuinely looking for a company that's a pioneer and a game changer, then there's always the other option:
Laugh and carry on with the job hunt. Honestly, do you really want to work for someone who can't even be imaginative with their rejection language?
That rules out 99% of the companies hiring out there. But it makes you focus on the 1% who want excellence, not mediocrity. Who will look at your salary history and say, "The budget's tight but if you're willing to talk, let's work something out." Who will say, "You party with Pete Cashmore? We need you on board!"
I know which option I'd go for. Do you?
Great advice and SOOOOOOO true!!
ReplyDeleteBeing overqualified is like saying, "it's not you, it's me"...a really bad excuse for something they really don't want to admit to your face.
Spot-on analogy Veronica! Fortunately there are still some hiring managers who are courageous enough to say what's on their minds, and in a way that builds relationships instead of souring them.
ReplyDeleteYou can come clean and even be witty about it. One hiring manager told me in mock shock: "But you're wearing Viviers! I can't see you stocking boxes!" It makes me want to work for her even more. I'm not stalking her but a) I keep her in mind for the time she'll need someone like me and b) I recommend her shop to everyone I know.
To use a very abused word: Win-win.
"You're overqualified" can also mean "you're too old" without breaking the law.
ReplyDeleteI saw a lot of age discrimination in my very short stint as a recruiter.
Very wise words and just what I needed to hear. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteMore than anyone Lindsay, I can say this with conviction: Any company that tells you you're overqualified isn't worth your time.
ReplyDeleteGreat article!
ReplyDeleteWin-Win is an over-used analogy yes, but a critical one for organizations to learn today.
This is a discussion that needs to be shared with those hiring - to be accountable to the hiring process and bringing in people so they can feel like what they are doing is of value, and that they are valued by their peers and the organization as a whole.
If of interest, I had a conversation with Karen McGrane about finding work in the User Experience industry. I thought this might be of value to you and your readers. http://tinyurl.com/yzc57s4
Thanks Jeff! I think the bigger question is: What do those hiring think is of value? Pre-recession the complaint was that there are not enough good candidates on the market. Now that the recession has tipped the balance in favour of employers, the really good candidates are not being snapped up. Ironically it's a lose-lose situation.
ReplyDeleteoh my goodness, i am so happy i found this article. i feel a lot better.
ReplyDeleteI find the entire concept of “overqualified” a complete insult to anyone’s intelligence. When did the world become so stupid? Since when is ignorance a virtue? To those useless idiots in HR, tell me, if a family member becomes ill, do you go to a second rate doctor because the best is “overqualified”?
ReplyDeleteThere can be no dumber group of people than HR. What a waste of oxygen.
When an employer tells you you're "too qualified," it's like a date telling you that you're "too smart." And it's good advice to just forget both! Thanks for the great post :)
ReplyDelete