by Gavin Wyatt

Created on: October 14, 2009   Last Updated: October 15, 2009

Employers are hesitant to pound a square peg into a round hole these days. I am not talking about your salary (peg) and their budget (hole). With the unemployment at levels it hasn't seen since before Microsoft Word came about, an employer has their pick of potential employees. If an employee is overqualified, or under qualified, an employer is hesitant in this market to work on closing the gap. They will just move on and find their perfect, start right away match. There are some steps that can be taken to help close this gap for them, and to make yourself a more attractive hire.

Over qualified never sounded like a bad thing to me. Clearly you would like to have someone that has a plethora of skills in any position, unless the frustration of being in that position is taking away from that skill set. Just work with the person that has been moved down in pay and responsibilities. They can be miserable to work with, and extremely bitter. No prospective employer wants to roll those chicken bones with a new hire. They want the choice to be safe. Here are some ways the overqualified bring concern to prospective employers:

* Unemployed and Desperate Over qualified Applicant - They come off as "just needing a job, and that is why they are "slumming" with your company. They can still be very bitter about life bringing them this far down the totem poll."

* The Over Paid Applicant - This Applicant was being over paid at their last job, bringing them to the point of being out of touch with what their services are worth. They are always shocked and insulted at the pay wage portion of the interviewing process.

* The Overachieving Applicant - This applicant is usually older and has been in the field many years. They are often obsessed with their achievements in the field, and they will show their finger prints are on all of the major accomplishments of the industry. They can be exhausting to interview, let alone to deal with once hired.

The best way to ease concerns is to keep a level head when it comes to boasting. It can have a negative affect and cause concern. The old saying "It is hard to teach an old dog new tricks" is still held up as true by many managers. Another step is to let management know that even though you have worked in other roles with past employers, you are very excited to be responsible for new tasks. The goal is to show that you know it will be a change, but that you look forward to the change. Showing pliability and excitement is the answer.

Being

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>