What do you do when you are overqualified for a job?

Question

I really want a job in an engineering firm but have been told a number of times that I am over qualified. Should I redo my resume to their preferences or should I continue to look elsewhere for another position?

Answer 1

A friend of mine had this happen and she convinced the company that she could help the company grow and would be able to provide much more than the job itself entailed. Her overqualifications would help the company excel after all don't they want the best people they can get? Companies don't grow with stupid people working there. There needs to be overachievers.

Answer 2

I'll share my story. Once upon a time, a long time ago, I was obsessed with getting a job at a certain non-profit organization. To me, it seemed like a dream job, so I went for it. First, I applied right before I finished my degree (I had a couple of months left to graduate) but, even though I was an honors student, they said whoever filled the position (executive assistant) needed to have a degree already.

I was crushed, but did not let it ruin my dream. I waited until I heard of another opening (a couple of years) and applied for another position. I was one of two final candidates. Unfortunately, during my second interview, the man said he had run into someone who knew me the day before and he, without disclosing that I was applying for a job there, asked her some questions about me. She told him I had expressed a desire to be a missionary one day. Well, he used that excuse to say the company could not risk investing in me if I was going to leave.

You'd think I'd take a hint from God, right? Nooooooo. Years later, after I had gone off on my missionary adventure, I once again applied for a position there and....I was hired!

Great, right? Bwahahahahahahahaha. Oh, boy. It was, to put it mildly, the worst move of my life, career-wise. Why?

*drumroll*

Because I WAS OVERQUALIFIED. I quickly became bored and had a miserable few years until I found a way to get out and move on to better things.

My advice: unless you are in DIRE financial need, do not, DO NOT take this job, please. You will be very unhappy there.

Hope you are able to make the decision that is best for you. All the best.

Answer 3

Depends, how badly do you need this job?

If you really need a job, then yes, you should probably redo the resume, get hired, and then have the time and money to look for a more appropriate position.

If you don't need the money/job, then keep the resume as is and contact a "head hunter" to help you find the right job

Answer 4

I think you need to do 2 things.

1. To get income coming in and to show your working; cater your resume to the company you are sending it too.

2. Then when you get that job, keep sending resumes but cater it to the high paid over qualified job their talking about. That way you have income coming in but also it shows you're in the field working. Not only that, while working you will meet a lot of people.

3. Also do this;

Find out where engineers go, where they network ie. managers and get to know them. People hire most of the time on people who can get along with them and the team. If they see you can get along with them, then hey, you got them.

How I know?

My mate just did that after years of companies telling him she is over qualified.

Good luck not that you need it.

Answer 5

Why lower yourself to what they need. Go find yourself a job you deserve & are qualified for... Think of the $$$$$$

Answer 6

Do both. Change your resume to suit their job, and keep it the same for other jobs.

Answer 7

thats a tough one
i've been rejected once and been told i was over qualified
IF I WAS OVER QUALIFIED I WOULD HAD A JOB, yAH JERK (I FELT LIKE SAYING)