“Overqualified”: The Frustration of Achievement

What is the sense in turning away willing workers with good skills, education and work histories?

Photo by Clark Tibbs on Unsplash

This has to be the most frustrating employment rejection any employer ever invented. It flies in the face of everything common sense and HR consultants tell you:

“Go to school!”

“Put your best foot forward!”

“Showcase your skills and abilities”

“Let the employer know you don’t mind taking a modest position!”

“Get more training!”

“Upgrade your credentials!”

Start down that road that and the employer will tell you:

“Sorry, you’re overqualified.”

There is a common assumption that “overqualified” is a euphemism for “too old”. There might be a grain of truth to that. After all, it takes a long time to get overqualified.

But I found out that overqualified isn’t just about being old. It’s something else completely.

When I began hearing that I could not perform a job because I was overqualified, I started asking questions.