You have a résumé that is a mile long. Surly you are the perfect hire for the job, right? Wrong! And, with scores of individuals chomping at the bit for jobs, is there such a thing as being over qualified? According to some, the answer is yes.

What Some Employers May Think

No one knows for certain if the chips are stacked in their favor when it comes to sealing the deal with a prospective employer. There are a lot of points to take into consideration when it comes to the hiring process. One consideration is being over qualified.

According to an article published by AOL Jobs, being over qualified may mean several things. But, the term definitely is not one-size-fits-all.

Why are over qualified candidates never hired? Employers may feel that over qualified candidates will use the designated position as a stepping stone, then exit their company once the candidate finds an organization that pays what the candidate feels that he/she is worth. While this may be true for some candidates, it is not necessarily the case for all. Many just want to establish themselves with a thriving company and continue to grow within their position regardless of salary.

Some say an impression is formed within the first few minutes of meeting somebody new. To put it lightly, the employer may not like you on a personal level, but just can’t bring himself or herself to tell you. You may have been found to be particularly off-putting for whatever reason. Saying you are over qualified is a better way of saving face, rather than really expressing what truly has taken place. Overall, both prospective employer and prospective employee share one common goal, to be successful and benefit the most important aspect, the company.

Another reason an employer may label you ‘over qualified’ is because the company may want to pay even less than the figure that was thrown out on the table. It’s much easier to hire someone with less qualifications who is just as eager to get the job done, for less money, as opposed to employing someone who is over qualified for more money.

Pleased to Meet you

Several employers already know who they have in mind for the job, despite going through the motions. In essence, this may mean that you are interviewing for a job that you have little or no chance of getting. So, why were you called in to interview for the position? The long and short is that they have to. From a legal standpoint, many hiring managers are required to post jobs and subsequently interview for them, in order to cover all bases on their end.

Whether true or not, some employers say that overselling can lead to giving the impression of being over qualified. The perspective employee may constantly compare their old role with a company to the potentially new one during their interview. Simply put, the hiring manager may interpret this as meaning you are not willing to learn new things or that you will not adapt well to a new, much less, ever-changing work environment.

It’s been said, too, that employers think those who they feel are over qualified may get bored with their job. Be sure to plainly state that you are willing to fulfill all the duties that are assigned to you and you are perfectly capable of adjusting to the needs, wants and specifications of the organization.

In Search of Answers

If you feel that you did your best during an interview and were not offered a position, it may be plausible to ask for constructive criticism from the interviewer in order to incorporate their feedback during your next interview.

Can one really be over qualified? This is a question that begs an answer. What do you think?

Web Links:

–http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/economy/employment/2011-03-02-overqualified-in-job-search_N.htm;

–http://www.theladders.com/career-advice/getting-job-youre-overqualified;

–http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2012/08/22/what-the-employer-really-means-when-he-says-youre-overqualifie/

-Kimberly Williams