Overqualified?

[milimelo 4,477]

In the couple of months that I've been here and actively job searching, I've ran across various things - from employers not even acknowledging receipt of my resume to being asked 'and what brings you here' to being told flat out that I am overqualified for their position and that they worry I will be bored there and leave them soon - this just happened yesterday when I interviewed for an administrative position. Often times they assume I am USC (must be the name - since I got married I took my husband's last name which is really common here) and I have to backtrack a bit to explain my background.

I have a BA in English, studied for a year in the States (also held a student job during my studies), I worked for an American organisation in my home country and my last position was exec. assistant to a high level official for an international organization (international diplomacy). I speak several languages and my computer skills are very good, yet I am told I am overqualified. WTH? And I am not going for the manager positions - admin assistant or exec assistant so I am at the same level as before, but it seems as I am asking for too little???? Weird.

And I just want a job!

Anyone else came across this?

[athena_ny 1]

In the couple of months that I've been here and actively job searching, I've ran across various things - from employers not even acknowledging receipt of my resume to being asked 'and what brings you here' to being told flat out that I am overqualified for their position and that they worry I will be bored there and leave them soon - this just happened yesterday when I interviewed for an administrative position. Often times they assume I am USC (must be the name - since I got married I took my husband's last name which is really common here) and I have to backtrack a bit to explain my background.

I have a BA in English, studied for a year in the States (also held a student job during my studies), I worked for an American organisation in my home country and my last position was exec. assistant to a high level official for an international organization (international diplomacy). I speak several languages and my computer skills are very good, yet I am told I am overqualified. WTH? And I am not going for the manager positions - admin assistant or exec assistant so I am at the same level as before, but it seems as I am asking for too little???? Weird.

And I just want a job!

Anyone else came across this?

Well, the economy sucks. Keep this in mind, and no one wants to say the economy sucks so they come up with excuses. They don't want someone who is overqualified because the possibility you WILL get bored and leave is pretty great. After two years in an office environment, I'm afraid this will happen when I go back to school and need a job with a flexible schedule. Perhaps you should go for some higher positions and see how that pans out, if they tell you that you are underqualified?

[milimelo 4,477]

In the couple of months that I've been here and actively job searching, I've ran across various things - from employers not even acknowledging receipt of my resume to being asked 'and what brings you here' to being told flat out that I am overqualified for their position and that they worry I will be bored there and leave them soon - this just happened yesterday when I interviewed for an administrative position. Often times they assume I am USC (must be the name - since I got married I took my husband's last name which is really common here) and I have to backtrack a bit to explain my background.

I have a BA in English, studied for a year in the States (also held a student job during my studies), I worked for an American organisation in my home country and my last position was exec. assistant to a high level official for an international organization (international diplomacy). I speak several languages and my computer skills are very good, yet I am told I am overqualified. WTH? And I am not going for the manager positions - admin assistant or exec assistant so I am at the same level as before, but it seems as I am asking for too little???? Weird.

And I just want a job!

Anyone else came across this?

Well, the economy sucks. Keep this in mind, and no one wants to say the economy sucks so they come up with excuses. They don't want someone who is overqualified because the possibility you WILL get bored and leave is pretty great. After two years in an office environment, I'm afraid this will happen when I go back to school and need a job with a flexible schedule. Perhaps you should go for some higher positions and see how that pans out, if they tell you that you are underqualified?

I've been to at least 15 interviews so far, my computers skills were tested on a number of occasions, yet nothing happened - they fill the position with an internal candidate.

BUT

I have a third and final interview with a big company tomorrow so I hope to get a job (these people thought I was a good fit and not overqualified) soon.

[greeneyedgirlfl 0]

In the couple of months that I've been here and actively job searching, I've ran across various things - from employers not even acknowledging receipt of my resume to being asked 'and what brings you here' to being told flat out that I am overqualified for their position and that they worry I will be bored there and leave them soon - this just happened yesterday when I interviewed for an administrative position. Often times they assume I am USC (must be the name - since I got married I took my husband's last name which is really common here) and I have to backtrack a bit to explain my background.

I have a BA in English, studied for a year in the States (also held a student job during my studies), I worked for an American organisation in my home country and my last position was exec. assistant to a high level official for an international organization (international diplomacy). I speak several languages and my computer skills are very good, yet I am told I am overqualified. WTH? And I am not going for the manager positions - admin assistant or exec assistant so I am at the same level as before, but it seems as I am asking for too little???? Weird.

And I just want a job!

Anyone else came across this?

Well, the economy sucks. Keep this in mind, and no one wants to say the economy sucks so they come up with excuses. They don't want someone who is overqualified because the possibility you WILL get bored and leave is pretty great. After two years in an office environment, I'm afraid this will happen when I go back to school and need a job with a flexible schedule. Perhaps you should go for some higher positions and see how that pans out, if they tell you that you are underqualified?

I've been to at least 15 interviews so far, my computers skills were tested on a number of occasions, yet nothing happened - they fill the position with an internal candidate.

BUT

I have a third and final interview with a big company tomorrow so I hope to get a job (these people thought I was a good fit and not overqualified) soon.

Good luck with the interview!!!

[sj5 4]

Good luck on your INTERVIEW.

[Niels Bohr 72]

The employer cannot give you a denial from employment based on being overqualified. That is ridiculous. I never met a circumstance through the previous 5-6 employers.

[athena_ny 1]

The employer cannot give you a denial from employment based on being overqualified. That is ridiculous. I never met a circumstance through the previous 5-6 employers.

Yes, they definitely can. It happens all the time.

Maybe your 5-6 previous employers didn't think you were overqualified. More a comment on you than whether or not they can do it.

[Niels Bohr 72]

Hmm....Nah. There's no such thing as overqualified. It's ridiculous. Every job has their challenges, even for being janitors or Mcdonalds workers.

Heck, a PH.D student working as a sales cashier is overqualified. ROFL. Been there done that. Nothing wrong.

Edited March 19, 2008 by consolemaster

[athena_ny 1]

Hmm....Nah. There's no such thing as overqualified. It's ridiculous. Every job has their challenges, even for being janitors or Mcdonalds workers.

Heck, a PH.D student working as a sales cashier is overqualified. ROFL. Been there done that. Nothing wrong.

But an employer is free to not give you a job BECAUSE THEY FEEL you are overqualified. El fin.

[Niels Bohr 72]

I see. If they said that to me, they'll be some problems that they need to address with me.

[mox 298]

I see. If they said that to me, they'll be some problems that they need to address with me.

Are you saying that you're so under-qualified to do anything that you'd know they were lying?

[Niels Bohr 72]

Hmm....Underqualified? I don't think so. Very funny you are. Trying to cause problems in this forum? Trying to make a smart #### remark. Yeah, whatever.

Edited March 19, 2008 by consolemaster

[Dan J 277]

The problem with an employee who may be overqualified is that he or she might get bored of the job and not do a good job, or get offered a better position elsewhere.

It does cost alot to hire and train a new employee. So they want to make sure thier invesment in you is worth it.

[Dan J 277]

In the couple of months that I've been here and actively job searching, I've ran across various things - from employers not even acknowledging receipt of my resume to being asked 'and what brings you here' to being told flat out that I am overqualified for their position and that they worry I will be bored there and leave them soon - this just happened yesterday when I interviewed for an administrative position. Often times they assume I am USC (must be the name - since I got married I took my husband's last name which is really common here) and I have to backtrack a bit to explain my background.

I have a BA in English, studied for a year in the States (also held a student job during my studies), I worked for an American organisation in my home country and my last position was exec. assistant to a high level official for an international organization (international diplomacy). I speak several languages and my computer skills are very good, yet I am told I am overqualified. WTH? And I am not going for the manager positions - admin assistant or exec assistant so I am at the same level as before, but it seems as I am asking for too little???? Weird.

And I just want a job!

Anyone else came across this?

Well, the economy sucks. Keep this in mind, and no one wants to say the economy sucks so they come up with excuses. They don't want someone who is overqualified because the possibility you WILL get bored and leave is pretty great. After two years in an office environment, I'm afraid this will happen when I go back to school and need a job with a flexible schedule. Perhaps you should go for some higher positions and see how that pans out, if they tell you that you are underqualified?

I've been to at least 15 interviews so far, my computers skills were tested on a number of occasions, yet nothing happened - they fill the position with an internal candidate.

BUT

I have a third and final interview with a big company tomorrow so I hope to get a job (these people thought I was a good fit and not overqualified) soon.

If you have companies telling you that you are overqualified, apply for a higher level position and see where it takes you. You never know, you could get lucky.

[Alex & Rachel 78]

I received this message quite often when I was job-hunting in the UK. Others are right - they're just afraid you're not going to stay long in the job. This is also far more usual with administration positions which are often seen as stepping stones into higher-level office work - retail jobs have such a high turnover anyway that they're a lot less likely to care. It's very frustrating, especially as while you're over-qualified for some jobs you usually lack the right experience for others - a common problem for a lot of new graduates, too.

Good luck for this next interview!