Few obstacles are more perplexing for job seekers than being told you’re overqualified. The problem can crop up anytime, even early in applicants’ careers, and often when they least expect it.
New research lends insight into some of the quirky and often counterintuitive reasons managers decide somebody is just too good for the job, The Wall Street Journal reports. Many people wrongly assume a power-packed résumé is a ticket to a job, says Oliver Hahl, an assistant professor of organization theory and strategy at Carnegie Mellon University. “Decisions are often much more nuanced than that.”
Hahl and several colleagues tested hiring managers’ willingness to make an offer to two candidates for a corporate finance job. Both had elite-college degrees and worked at comparable employers. One candidate had a stellar record, heading a 10-person team financing $1.5 billion transactions. The other led a much smaller team doing deals one-tenth the size.
The managers were more likely to make an offer to the candidate with the less impressive record, according to a study published in March. The managers assumed the candidate with the stellar résumé wouldn’t be as committed to the company, could intimidate or not work well with others, or might not stick with the job as long as the other applicant, the researchers found.
To avoid the label, explain upfront why you’re applying for a position that seems beneath you and research the job in depth so you can describe how it matches your experience. It can also help to line up references who will vouch for your commitment and network with contacts who also know insiders at the target company. Read the full story.
