Interviews think I'm over qualified?

Question

I went to an interview yesterday for an Administrative Assistant position. I was interviewed by five different pepople, one at a time. Two of them thought it's a waste of my talent to do this kind of job. I already sent out the thank-you letter to let me know I'm still interested. Is there anything more I can do?

Answer 1

When you apply for a job that is beneath your experience parameters, you HAVE to have a valid reason to do so. I suspect that the 2 dissenters were trying to see if they could discourage you. It's a pretty common good guy/bad guy interviewing technique that companies use for some ungodly reason.

You have to convince the interviewers that you are looking for a change/less responsibility/work life balance - something that they can psychologically accept as a valid premise.

If you do not successfully convince the hiring authority during the interview, the only thing you can try is to state your case again in the thank you letter.

Answer 2

With my experience, I've learned a few things about being told that you're "over qualified" for the position. THe just of it is they can't meet your salary requirements - usually they're too cheap to spend the money on someone they know is worth it and can do the job with their eyes closed because they think that you'll get bored and leave eventaully. So they'd rather find someone they can pay dirt to and know that they will "grow" into the position. If they hire you being "over qualified" then they also fear that you'll want to move up quickly, demand more money after a short time because you're soo good. So it's kinda a double-edged sword. I was very recently told myself that I was over qualified, and I was willing to take the pay cut because of the benefits and incentives the company offers AND they are literally less than 2 miles away from where I live, but they freaked when they heard how much money I was making, they didn't even bother to ask me how much I would accept to take the position or what the position was offering. I would have taken anything just to get in there. But I've also learned that everythign happens for a reason and whatever that is, the job that's menat for you is out there waiting for you to run into it. Good luck on your search.

Answer 3

No, I am afraid not. You see, the problem is that they are already convinced that you are over-qualified, that it is a waste of your talent. What they actually mean to say is that they are afraid that you will lose interest after a while when you get the job. They are afraid that you will abandon them and walk out to find something which suits your talent.

You cannot fight these arguments. I have had similar experiences with many job interviews. During the last job interview which got me my current job, they told me the same and I responded that my wife was about to deliver my baby and that I needed a fixed job for security reasons. The baby was in fact a guarantee for me to stay for a couple of years at least and they actually bought it. I am still here, five years later.

Answer 4

Are they right? Are you over qualified?

If you are, why are you interested in this job?

If you are and it was my decision, I might not hire you just because I would be nervious you'd get bored and leave.

If theres a good reason you're interviewing for jobs you're overqualified just get that across to them "I'm looking for a better work life balance" " I really want to learn about this industry" "This company is close to my home and I want to spend time with my children" would be good answers in my opinion.....

Answer 5

Helll no and this why COURIC: you have stated Alaska's proximity to Russia as element of your distant places coverage adventure. What did you recommend via that? PALIN: That Alaska has an enormously narrow maritime border between a distant places usa, Russia, and on our different part, the land-- boundary that we've with-- Canada. It-- it rather is humorous that a remark like that replaced into-- variety of made to-- cari-- i do no longer know, you recognize? journalists-- COURIC: Mock? PALIN: Yeah, mocked, i assume that's the be conscious, yeah. COURIC: clarify to me why that boosts your distant places coverage credentials. PALIN: nicely, it rather does via fact our-- our around the corner buddies are distant places countries. they are interior the state that i'm the administrative of. And there in Russia-- COURIC: have you ever been in contact with any negotiations, case in point, with the Russians? PALIN: we've commerce missions lower back and forth. We-- we do-- it rather is important once you think approximately even national secure practices subjects with Russia as Putin rears his head and springs into the air area of united states of america of america, the place-- the place do they pass? it rather is Alaska. it rather is in basic terms remarkable over the border. it rather is-- from Alaska that we deliver those out to be sure that an eye fixed is being saved in this very effective usa, Russia, via fact they are remarkable there. they are remarkable next to-- to our state.

Answer 6

This kind of response is usually based on the employer's opinion that you wont be happy and that you will leave for another job. Do your best to convince them that you will be happy doing the job and that you are interested in long term employment with their company.

Answer 7

If it is a job that you really want, stress that the "overqualification" is actually an asset that makes you the best candidate for the job.

Answer 8

Maybe you could apply for the interviewers job if they think your overqualified ;)

Answer 9

if they think you're overqualified, it basically means that they either can't or won't pay you what you're worth. look for a job where they'll respect what you do.