Handling an Interview When You’re Overqualified

So you have an MBA, you’re a member of several professional organizations, you’ve published articles, and you’re just really good at what you do. You would think that there is no drawback, but one of the most common complaints of such kinds of people is that they have a very limited range of positions, not because they wouldn’t do well on other jobs, but because they are always looked at as overqualified.
So what should you do when you are seeking employment and are willing to take on lower positions? Here are some tips.

• Show genuine interest on the job. The reason why employers hesitate to hire experienced employees is that they worry that such professionals may become unhappy and hence leave the company prematurely. If you send a message that you just need a darn finance job, you will most likely be rejected. So show to your interviewer that you would really want to get the position for reasons other than money.

• Do not compromise your true skillset. You might be tempted to pretend that you are really inexperienced, even editing your resume and scrapping essential parts. You might get hired, sure, but you might also end up frustrated and disappointed with the tasks that you will be assigned with. So be honest with yourself and to the employer.
• Keep looking. You will most likely have a feel of the job that you are applying for even at the interview level. If you sense that the position will not be contributive to your career progress, then keep looking.
• Don’t sound desperate. This is an age-old trick that just doesn’t work anymore. Employers look for competent people who will perform well on the job, not desperate folks who are only after a job and nothing beyond that.
• Keep on networking. Everybody has benefited from networking at one point or another. Harness your network by asking contacts if they know any job that may fit you. Let them know that you are open to a myriad of opportunities. You might be a CEO in a startup company and you might be qualified for a lower level position in a huge multinational firm.

Looking for jobs at the lower levels has become a usual practice of executives. Blame it on the recession that happened the past years, or on the ever-changing landscape of the corporate world. Lateral moves are strategic and wise, and applying for different positions isn’t a stupid career move anymore. You might even see yourself shifting from a career in IT to succeeding in banking jobs!

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