Career Rescue

Soar to new heights with Kim Thompson

Overqualified? Zero in on relevant skills


Have you ever had more than enough skills required for a job you’re interested in? How you address your skills during an interview can counter the perception that you’re overqualified.

I once heard from a job-seeker who had been told she had too much experience on her resume, and that she was overqualified for the position she was  interviewing for. She has a strong work history that she is proud of — and for good reason. She wanted to know what she could do to overcome the impressions she’s overqualified.

She’s not alone. Many job seekers who have a solid work history — often with 25-plus years of experience —  face these issues.

In cases such as these, I suggested she emphasize the skills and experience she has that fill the employer’s needs without mentioning her years of experience.

96937502At one time, using the phrase “a professional with extensive experience” on a resume was seen as a way to mention experience but not the number of years, but a recent LinkedIn tip identified the phrase “extensive experience” as one of the most commonly used phrases on resumes, so it probably isn’t a good solution.

You probably can address this best during interviews. Most employers are interested in knowing more about your most recent experience, so if you place the emphasis on the depth of your experience, you could appear overqualified.

One way to present extensive work history is to highlight your current activities and any recently updated training, and demonstrate your willingness to learn. This will send a strong impression that you are a candidate who has solid skills with current applications.

During the interview, draw the connection between your skills and the employer’s needs, and avoid using terms like, “this is how we did it back then.”

Finally, I suggest staying current with trends and skills. Keeping your skills current may be the best career strategy.

Have you ever applied for a job you may have been overqualified for?

Categories: General
Kim Thompson

One Response

  1. ableone2 says:

    Since employers screen out resumes based largely on current job and industry, how do you propose that someone with “deep experience” actually GET an interview?