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Isn't it interesting how we spend our whole career becoming qualified and program ourselves to showcase our experience and talents, only to have doors slammed in our face because we are overqualified?
To me, this is happening time and again over the last 11 months now. I have 10 years of experience in the financial services industry, I have strong references, excellent connections, but I can't find a job because I'm overqualified.
I think HR and hiring managers really need to give us a break. What's the point of even interviewing at a company if they are threatened by your qualifications? These are tough times. I've even tried other industries but they won't hire me because I have no suggestions. It sucks! Anyway, any suggestions?
It's the lack of jobs, not your qualifications. People are taking ANYTHING they can get.
So now the companies can play games and dangle the job in front of many, many people who wouldn't have given it a second glance before the recession.
This is happening to millions of people, not just you. I don't know why you expect a break...get in line with the rest of us...many who have been out of work more than 10 months. I am not trying to be harsh. Just read all the threads from qualified people who can't get 'anything.'
It's the lack of jobs, not your qualifications. People are taking ANYTHING they can get.
So now the companies can play games and dangle the job in front of many, many people who wouldn't have given it a second glance before the recession.
This is happening to millions of people, not just you. I don't know why you expect a break...get in line with the rest of us...many who have been out of work more than 10 months. I am not trying to be harsh. Just read all the threads from qualified people who can't get 'anything.'
Yes, it sucks! I've been out of work for 11 months now, and can't land a thing. I have actually thought of suicide.
You have to think about it from a business perspective as well though, unfortunately. Why would they hire someone overqualified and underpaid, train them, possibly give them health insurance, benefits etc. and then have them take off (often with zero notice) when the economy picks up? They would rather hire someone who is at the level of the position who might stay and/or grow with the company as they get more experience.
It really is a gamble hiring overqualified people.
You have to think about it from a business perspective as well though, unfortunately. Why would they hire someone overqualified and underpaid, train them, possibly give them health insurance, benefits etc. and then have them take off (often with zero notice) when the economy picks up? They would rather hire someone who is at the level of the position who might stay and/or grow with the company as they get more experience.
It really is a gamble hiring overqualified people.
I understand this school of thought and all but really, when is the economy supposed to pick up? I haven't read an article yet that paints an optimistic, bright future for any of us. All I hear is how jobs won't be coming back any time soon and how the long-term unemployed will remain here for years.
AND, if I were lucky enough to get a job offer, after losing a job, spending 9 months unemployed and 6 months in a contract position, still biting nails on when will I be hired, you better believe my ass will stay put for a LONG time. I have ZERO interest in being out here in this job market mess. I'd LOVE to not have to worry about finding a job for a long, loooooooong time!
Seriously, this job jumping/flat leaving/whatever applies to whom? Do all overqualified people RISK their careers by leaving their jobs every few months when they get a better offer?
I doubt it.
Most people settle into a job and stay there a few years. I have been 'overqualified' technically for EVERY JOB I have held because I have a Masters Degree but I stayed at them and did a damn good job.
At the job I hated the most in my life I stayed for 2 years and was the top Customer Service rep with awards and stats to prove it.
So, yeah, let's move on (not the OP but the business community) from this excuse of why educated people are not being hired.
I understand this school of thought and all but really, when is the economy supposed to pick up? I haven't read an article yet that paints an optimistic, bright future for any of us. All I hear is how jobs won't be coming back any time soon and how the long-term unemployed will remain here for years.
AND, if I were lucky enough to get a job offer, after losing a job, spending 9 months unemployed and 6 months in a contract position, still biting nails on when will I be hired, you better believe my ass will stay put for a LONG time. I have ZERO interest in being out here in this job market mess. I'd LOVE to not have to worry about finding a job for a long, loooooooong time!
Thank you Miss Crabcakes and Gypsy. I agree with both of you 100%. Overqualified is another overused excuse.
My wife was in charge of filling her job as she was leaving. Every over qualified person's resume was deleted. They didn't want someone in there that could reinvent the business, they just wanted someone to do the job they posted.
If you are worried you are classified as over qualified dumb down your resume. Tailor it to the job, don't make generic resumes and blast them off.
Hard to do that for many people, though...they'll ask "What have you been doing all this time?" when you have a lot of gaps for periods where you went to school or had a better job than the one you're applying to.
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