AGE: Overcoming “Thanks, But You’re Overqualified"

Nothing can be more frustrating for the job seeker -- especially if you're unemployed -- to hear “You’re overqualified"! Isn't it a good thing to bring an employer so much?  Who wouldn't want someone with your years of successes and achievements? You are not using an AOL email address (or Yahoo or Hotmail), you have kept up with changes in your field, you look like you take care of yourself.

Or do they really mean something else when they say “Thanks, but you’re overqualified”? My experience with thousands of job seekers, frequent discussions with recruiters, and also being on the interviewing side of the table has taught me that when employers tell a candidate "you're overqualified", they really mean any one -- or more -- of the following:

• "You'll get bored and leave after we've spent time and money training you"
• "You'll expect too much money"
• "You'll boss us around with all your experience and knowledge"
• "You wouldn't be happy here after having been at MegaCorp"
• "You're too old" (pace, energy level, fitting in)
• "I just don't want to hire you"/other meaning

Don’t just sit there and take this, however old the interviewer is (they may be your age!). Respond!

What You Can Do



1.  Clarify and Neutralize

First, if you are in the interview when you're told, "I think you're overqualified", ask the employer right then to clarify the statement. You could say, in genuinely puzzled tones -- don't be defensive -- "Could you explain what you mean when you say 'You're overqualified'? I'm not clear on that".

Then they will get more specific, perhaps by saying "Oh, it's a crazy place around here, you wouldn't like it". But that’s still vague. So ask, “Do you mean it’s fast paced? If so, that’s exactly the kind of environment I love and do best in!” (assuming that’s true for you, of course). Then say, “Is that your only hesitation?” They may then give you another: “With all your achievements, you’d be bored.” What they really mean: You’ll be bored and leave after we’ve spent a lot of time and budget training you in how we do things here.” So to the “bored” objection, you can say, “I can see why’d you’d think that. While I can bring the kind of thinking you’re looking for, I will be applying it to new problems to me, not the same problems as I did before. I’ve made my mistakes elsewhere, and would be productive right away.”

You can then address that issue, whether it's the "real" one or not. One by one, through asking for clarification on each objection, you can knock down and neutralize the perceived obstacles to you fitting the job. And if you have a contact “inside”, have them vouch for you as well, on all those points.

2. Head 'Em Off at the Pass

Remember the old western movies when the bandits made their surprise attack on the stagecoach, charging down the hills to the surprise of the driver and passengers? They cut them off at the pass! Well, you can use this same method. Today we'd call it "addressing the objection" before it's even brought up, thus you neutralize it immediately, and the interview can then better focus on what you will bring to the employer. It's often been said "the best defense is an offense".

This is especially effective when you have to guess at what the objection is. If, for example, you're fifty years old and you walk into a company for an interview and everyone looks thirty or younger, and they’re playing indie music you don’t know, you should be prepared to talk about how you will fit in -- because you have consistently sharpened your skills (AI? other tools or training?), that you’re with it, that you're eager to continue learning, you could be a mentor. Plus, they could use your kind of diversity (age)! 

Last: Don’t Forget: Right Now, You’re in Sales

You're "selling" yourself, and the "buyer"--the potential employer--has "objections" to buying. Neutralize them. Keeping this kind of action in mind will make your job search more successful - regardless of your age.