You find the perfect job listing with a company you would love to join. The pay may be a little lower than what you are used to, but perhaps you just want a change of pace or you intend to move to a new city. You read over the job description and realize that you are overqualified for the position. It requires a bachelor's degree and a minimum of five years’ experience, while you have a master's coupled with 15 years at an industry-leading employer. How do you work around the overqualified label in the job interview?
Show Honesty
An overqualified applicant does not have to be the elephant in the room. Consider starting the interview with an honest appraisal of your skills, experiences and qualifications compared with the position requirements. Offer a brief explanation about why you are a perfect fit for the company, regardless of your credentials. Hiring managers and recruiters may look favorably upon you, due to your honesty and integrity.
Learn Fast
You have learned a lot in your time at other companies, which means you have a lot of industry knowledge. However, show your interviewers that you still have a lot to learn from the position at hand. Bring up some recent issues from the company's blog and mention that those were new concepts you had not previously considered. Showing your enthusiasm for the challenge of learning a new job goes a long way toward alleviating interviewers' fears that you could be bored in the position.
Prove Loyalty
You spent 15 years at one company, despite having offers to move to a higher level position with another employer. That shows loyalty to one business over time, in contrast to the industry norm of job-hopping every three to five years. Your track record may indicate future behavior at a new employer, and loyalty is a definite asset.
Make Salary a Non-Issue
When the discussion turns to salary, reassure the HR manager that you are only seeking the market value for your services. Stress that money is not the major factor in your job decision. Instead, emphasize your desire for a job through which you can make a positive contribution to the firm.
Take Direction From Supervisors
Sometimes the word "overqualified" equates "older." Chances are good that if you take a lower position than you have held before, you may have a supervisor younger than you with less industry experience. That person could possibly be one of your interviewers. Allay your future supervisor's fears by reassuring your interviewers that you have no problem taking direction from anyone in a managerial role.
Sell Your Soft Skills
Tell your interviewers about all of your levels of expertise, including your personal accomplishments and industry connections. Point out that the soft skills you gained through years of experience represent some of your best assets for the position. Sell major points such as being a team player, communication and adaptability.
Offer to Sign a Contract
Suggest putting a clause in your hiring contract requiring a minimum time commitment on your end. Hiring managers may fear you only plan to stay in a lower-paying position until something better comes along in a few months. Offer to agree to a written commitment of a minimum of one year, two years or however long you feel you can be an asset to the company.
Show How You Can Improve the Company
Be prepared to discuss how your work positively affected previous employers. For example, explain how sales increased a minimum of 10 percent every quarter for 20 straight quarters when you held your job for 15 years. If applicable, you could mention that you trained employees who earned promotions to higher positions, while you stayed at the same job because you loved the work. Tailor the situation to what fits for you, but make sure you can prove everything you say.
Explain Motivation for the Job
Show that you want to make your time with the company a success by coming up with a plan for your first 30 days with the employer. Your plan shows you intend to hit the ground running the minute you step into your new role. The employer knows exactly how it benefits from hiring you and realizes you are a self-starter that needs very little supervision.
Bring Your Network Into Play
Your interviewers shouldn't just take your word for it. Bring your network into play by getting a glowing endorsement from a third party. Talk to your contact beforehand, so they know what to expect when your new employer comes calling. Mention in the interview that one of your former bosses can vouch for your loyalty, knowledge and enthusiasm. Turn the mention into an expanded talking point if the hiring manager says that he called your former boss.
Being overqualified does not mean you are automatically taken out of consideration for a job. Allay fears right off the bat in a cover letter, and be ready to address concerns in the interview. You do not necessarily have to say outright that you are overqualified. However, show assertiveness by recognizing that your situation is different from other candidates for various reasons.
Photo Courtesy of gophins72 at Flickr.com
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