| Topic Name: |
Rejected for being Overqualified |
| Message Name: |
We're all college grads, right? |
| Date Posted: |
03/15/2002 |
| In Reply To: |
I know this is not what want to hear - you'd rather just blame "HR" for rejecting you, but here is the inside & corporate perspective on "overqualified" candidates:
First, recruiters are trained by people like recruiting guru, Lou Adler. He drums it into our heads that we must seek out candidates who "Want a Better Job, Not Just Any Job." He thinks these are the best quality candidates.
Think about it:(a) this means we are trained to look for people who are already employed, and successful at what they currently do; (b) this does not exclude someone who is seeking a career change - quite the contrary - Lou advocates looking for skills, aptitudes and signs of success (career progression, job history, etc) in previous positions.
So, where does that leave the unemployed job seeker who applies for positions for which they are "overqualified"? Looking desperate - that's where.
The only time one applies for position for which they are overqualified is when they are at the end of their rope, discouraged, depressed and desperate for any job. This is the antithesis of what we recruiters are trained to seek.
Also - an over-qualified person is an immediate management headache. Hiring managers are not going to select someone who is more qualified than they are for a junior position, or who is going to immediately start challenging them. Overqualified candidates who get the job immediately start trying to claw their way out of the position they so desperately wanted. They immediately resent the money and feel taken advantage of.
This is not want any company wants - and it's not an HR thing either. The idea is to put a candidate in the position who is qualified, has the skills and has some room to stretch and grow and learn. Not a candidate who is accustomed to being in a leadership, management or senior role who burns with resentment that they are reporting to someone who may not be nearly as qualified as they arej, making a lot less money than they deserve, and not getting the recognition and responsibility they deserve and are accustomed to. It's just a bad bargain all the way around.
There is some "wiggle room," for the right candidate and selective positions, but generally it just does not work out for anybody. Management has had experience with this and knows that the overqualified will bolt for a better position the minute one comes along. They are not going to expose themselves to a bad hire like this when they can select a candidate who is a better fit. |
| Message: |
And I have to tell you how to deal with being "overqualified"?
Ok - here goes: Only apply jobs for which you are not overqualified. Sheesh!
Trust me on this - you do not want to work for a company who would do this. They will think of you as a desperate chump they can take advantage of. You will be more miserable than when you were unemployed. You will hate getting up in the morning and going to work. You will be embarrassed to admit to what you do. They won't respect you and you won't stick around.
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