Am I over qualified?

If you have worked in an industry at a high level for many years and then, for whatever reason, find yourself applying for a similar job in the same industry and being turned down on more than one occassion.

It may be that employers are reluctant to employ you because..

• you are more expensive to hire than promoting a junior employee with less experience
• your experience may be such that you are deemed over qualified for the role
• your approach, leadership style will not fit into the culture of that company
• there are changes you need to make to your interview approach i.e. body language, that you are not aware of are ready to change.

Sometimes the reasons given for not getting a job do not make sense to you.  Employers are not only looking for someone with the right skills to do the job.  Considerations of personality, fit with team,  leadership style, communication approach and cost are all things assessed during the interview process.  Whilst at the outset of a recruitment campaign a person with the right experience is key, business drivers change.  If the role has to work within or lead a team a wider set of criteria will be looked at to ensure they secure the correct applicant to fit within their organisation.  You may be successful through the initial interview stages, however, a final interview may uncover characteristics that will not fit.  It is understandable to feel disheartened, especially if you experience this on a number of occasions. Perhaps it is time to seek help from a professional to help identify how you can tweak your approach or re consider feedback you have received previously and look at what changes you can make.  Perhaps consider the skills you have that are transferable across industry sectors and widen your search.