Reader Ariana from Edinburgh has been turned down for several jobs because she is 'overqualified', despite genuinely wanting the roles and being prepared to earn less. She asks whether the term is sometimes a polite excuse and how to convince employers she really wants the job.
Why employers say 'overqualified'
Jobs Guru James Innes says 'overqualified' is often a word employers use when they do not want to say what is really bothering them. Sometimes they genuinely think the job will not hold the candidate, fearing boredom within six months. Sometimes they suspect the candidate will keep looking and leave when something better comes along. They may also worry about salary expectations, or use it as a way to avoid a conversation about age.
How to make your application believable
Innes advises against pretending experience does not exist or cutting chunks out of a CV. Instead, he suggests explaining why the particular job appeals now - for example, less travel, fewer people to manage, a shorter commute, or work that is actually enjoyable rather than a grander title. Being transparent about this can reassure employers, even if they still say no.
Top tip and spotlight
His top tip: if applying below your previous level, explain why without sounding apologetic. A clear, ordinary reason will reassure an employer far more than pretending the change needs no explanation.
On the 'overqualified' label, Innes highlights the insulting assumption that anyone who has had a bigger job must be plotting to get back to one. People's lives are often different - some have had enough of managing twenty staff, some no longer wish to live on trains and motorways, and others would happily earn less to see their family before bedtime. Employers may still have practical concerns, since recruiting is expensive and nobody wants to refill a post three months later, but they should at least listen to the explanation.
Innes concludes that if employers refuse to believe priorities can change as people get older, there is probably not much a candidate can do about it.
