| Topic Name: |
Rejected for being Overqualified |
| Message Name: |
Narrow focus |
| Date Posted: |
03/16/2002 |
| 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: |
Too many people live the life of "job descriptions" and stated "objectives".The best managers look for employees who are willing to stay on the cutting edge. I have two types of employees a.) those who have not taken a single continuing education course since graduation and b.) those who constantly seek out learning opportunities. Lets face it if a textbook becomes obsolete in 4-5yrs what does that say about the education derived from it ?.
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