• Replies 15 replies
  • Subscribers 5 subscribers
  • Views 4835 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related

Discriminated against for being over qualified?

Teresa

Over the last three months I’ve applied for 3 roles, been thanked for my application, but told they won’t be going any further as I am ‘overqualified for the role’. One was for a charity with whom I have a personal connection, the other two were small - but growing - companies who I felt I could really help. I am now wondering how many others there have been who agreed with but didn’t voice this opinion.

I made it clear - or thought I’d made it clear - that I wanted to work locally, that I understood the role’s requirements and salary, and that I wanted to feel I was making a difference rather than just being a small cog in a big machine, but no joy. I’m now feeling, to be honest, discriminated against big-time!

I don’t want to have to have long commutes for the foreseeable future - yes there’s the pay and associated benefits but my wellbeing and quality of life is worth more to me. Any ideas on how to sell ‘being overqualified’ as a benefit to the employer?

Thanks.  

Parents
  • It must be really frustrating and i hope you find a role that gives you the quality of life you are after soon.

    I do agree with Keith that getting into the mindset of being 'discriminated against'. probably isn't helpful. You don't say what type of roles you have been applying for, but an organisation is always going to have to go for the people who have the best match in terms of the skills, qualifications and experience relevant to the role. People who match less well, whether they be over or under qualified are always going to be less likely to be successful. An employer can only interview/appoint a finite amount of people for a role unfortunately.

    You may want to look at how you are approaching your application - are you being clear that you want that job (rather than just understand the requirements of it), or are you focusing on how you could use your skills and experience to help the organisation succeed (which is how your bio and post comes across)? If you are focusing on how your higher level skills and experience could help the organisation, you aren't really applying for the role on offer - you are applying for the job you think you could do for them.

    It is possible that with your skills and experience, the senior managers in the organisation are concerned that if you were to be appointed to a lower role, you would find it frustrating to not be in a role that is driving the direction and strategy of the organisation (i have worked with someone who did make the step down to get a better worklife balance, but then did find it incredibly frustrating and difficult that she did not have the influence she had previously).

    Good luck with your search
Reply
  • It must be really frustrating and i hope you find a role that gives you the quality of life you are after soon.

    I do agree with Keith that getting into the mindset of being 'discriminated against'. probably isn't helpful. You don't say what type of roles you have been applying for, but an organisation is always going to have to go for the people who have the best match in terms of the skills, qualifications and experience relevant to the role. People who match less well, whether they be over or under qualified are always going to be less likely to be successful. An employer can only interview/appoint a finite amount of people for a role unfortunately.

    You may want to look at how you are approaching your application - are you being clear that you want that job (rather than just understand the requirements of it), or are you focusing on how you could use your skills and experience to help the organisation succeed (which is how your bio and post comes across)? If you are focusing on how your higher level skills and experience could help the organisation, you aren't really applying for the role on offer - you are applying for the job you think you could do for them.

    It is possible that with your skills and experience, the senior managers in the organisation are concerned that if you were to be appointed to a lower role, you would find it frustrating to not be in a role that is driving the direction and strategy of the organisation (i have worked with someone who did make the step down to get a better worklife balance, but then did find it incredibly frustrating and difficult that she did not have the influence she had previously).

    Good luck with your search
Children
No Data