When job hunting, being overqualified is not usually a question. Being UNDER qualified tends to be the concern.

Still, from time to time, we find ourselves in the position where we are overqualified for a position.

This once happened to me , so when I applied for the job, I didn’t focus on the fact that I was overqualified. Instead, I looked at it as a great position for both me and the employer because I would require little training or hand holding from supervisors.

Even when you are confident about how the job would work for you, be ready for a hiring manager to ask a few questions that may seem odd as described below.  Once you understand the reasons behind the questions, you can better field them when they come your way.

For instance, if you were previously in leadership or were a supervisor, but you are now applying for a lower level position, you might be asked, “Why would you want this job after being X?” What is really being asked is, “Are you going to work well in a team setting and/or be able to take direction from supervisors?”. It is important to be ready to address this potential concern.

“We’re looking for someone long term” is another question you might find odd. This statement really reflects the hiring manager’s concern that you will leave the moment a higher-up position comes a long. This is a valid concern. The last thing they want is to bring you in, train you, and get you and themselves comfortable only to have you leave for a position for which you are better suited. It’s not impossible to think that you may be turned down simply because a hiring manager assumes you will be bored with the job.

Another issue concerns salary. A hiring manager may be reluctant to offer you the position simply because the salary structure is lower than what you are used to.

It is through these questions and concerns that you have a great  opportunity to sell yourself. Do so by accentuating your accomplishments in terms that relate to the position. For anyone working in the nonprofit sector, the importance is on the contribution you can bring to the organization and not on the roles you’ve held in the past. It’s up to you to demonstrate it’s the work that matters, not the title that goes with it.

You only get one shot at convincing a potential employer that you are the right person for the job. In the case where I was almost overlooked for a job for which I was overqualified, I explained how I would be of value, and that I would bring all of my abilities to the table to benefit the organization.

Put yourself in the hiring manager’s shoes; what would make you hire yourself?

Last updated on July 29th, 2009 at 01:10 am