When you send several resumes out to many different employers, you expect to hear something back. When you hear nothing it can get very discouraging. If you ask the manager who is hiring why you were not considered for the job, a lot of times they will tell you that you were overqualified for that position. In other words, you are too good for the job!

An office secretary position was open at a large school where my sister worked. There was a marine biologist among the applicants. She was refused the job. My sister made the comment that she must have been really desperate to be trying for a job as a secretary. What makes a person who is so clearly overqualified apply for a lesser job? Here are a few of the most common reasons:

Desperation

Sometimes people find themselves in desperate situations and are satisfied to take any job available. It could be due to someone losing their job from company downsizing, or they find themselves in a field that is flooded with other people looking for the same type of work. It could be a highly- educated woman who finds herself looking for work suddenly after a divorce, and she no longer has any work experience in her field. Sometimes companies close their doors for good, leaving a lot of people out of work who are desperate to find a way to feed and care for their families.

Desire For a Less Stressful Job

It is not always desperation that drives an overqualified individual to look for a lower paying job. Some people need a job that is simpler and less stressful. It is not uncommon to find people who are looking to scale down and make their lives more simple. The carpenter working on your house might be an ex-CEO or you may find that the administrative assistant is actually a school teacher.

Just Moved to This Country

Sitcoms on TV have made it a common practice to joke about the foreign janitor who is always working in the background. Later you learn that the janitor was a famous cardiac specialist in his country or maybe he was a neurosurgeon. This really is not funny because it is true. Many people come over from foreign countries who were great doctors or were specialists in some other field. When they get to the United States they cannot afford the fees or educational costs to follow their specialty in this country. That leaves them overqualified but unable to get the jobs they are actually qualified for.

The resumes of overqualified individuals get rejected for many reason. Usually it is due to the fear that:

1. They will get bored and leave. This often happens.
2. Once something better comes along they will quit. This frequently happens.
3. They are applying out of desperation. No one likes to see desperation in a job seekers qualities.
4. They may have been fired from their last more prestigious job for something that forced them to leave that field of work. They may have been caught embezzling or were disbarred. They may have been incompetent.
5. They will know so much more than everyone else it will be hard to instruct them.

Here are some suggestions on improving your chances when applying for a job you are clearly over qualified for:

1. Your resume and your cover letter should both start with the fact that you are over qualified. Let them know that you know you are overqualified for the position, and give a brief description why you want a lesser job. For an example you could write: “Dedicated and hardworking individual, who has had many successful years in the medical field, wishes to transition to a rewarding long term role in the hospitality industry.” What ever you do, don’t ignore the fact that you are overqualified for the position.
2. Stress in your resume and cover letter that you are looking to stay with the company long-term. This will help relieve any fears the hiring manager has that you are only there until something better comes along. In your cover letter talk about the company itself. Let them know that you know about them.
3. Professional achievements and education are what are the main highlights on most resumes, but when applying for a job that is much lower than your usual employment you will want to tone down you achievements. Do not lie, but leave out the information that screams, “I’m too good for this job!” Your resume should highlight the skills and education vital to the job you are applying for. Do not be afraid to get a professional resume writer to work on your resume.

Your chances of getting an interview when you are over qualified still are not as good as someone who is perfectly matched to the job, even with these suggestions. A good resume and cover letter will take you a long way though in overcoming these obstacles. Don’t give up. With perseverance it will happen.