Because job search, and especially interviewing, are self-marketing and sales activities, you’ll have to think like a sales person when answering questions and overcoming objections during an interview.
When you’re invited to an interview, you’ve been selected based on your apparent qualifications, as described on the resume and, perhaps, a telephone or screening interview. Once in the interview, you’ll be asked probing questions, and objections will be raised about your experience and qualifications. It’s up to you, the interviewee, to work hard to overcome any objection to your candidacy.
If the overqualified issue comes up, you’ll need to work through it by stating that you don’t believe you’re overqualified, and you would like to continue the discussion to see how you might best fit in and contribute to their team. Often the word “overqualified” is simply a code word for possible high salary expectations and the person is probably looking for too much money.
Some companies have a practice of paying lower base salaries than the market. If you share your current base salary with an interviewer from that type of company, you’re immediately at a disadvantage because you’ll be categorized as “overqualified”. So it’s essential to answer during an interview that the position and opportunity are most important to you and try to overcome the objection the company representative raised.
Also, you may respond by asking if there’s a perceived salary issue behind the overqualified statement. If the answer is yes, ask if the person could share the salary range for the particular position you’re discussing. Then indicate that the range would be OK, depending upon the entire package of benefits and incentives. Don’t get yourself into a position of negotiating with the interviewer, just comment that although salary is important, what’s more important to you is contributing to the success of the team or company. In other words, get off the topic and back on to what you can do for the company.
Your objective during the interview process is to receive a job offer. After you have that offer in hand, you’ll be able to enter into a negotiation discussion from a position of strength.
I hope this discussion helps you overcome the “overqualified” comment in your next interview.
When you’re invited to an interview, you’ve been selected based on your apparent qualifications, as described on the resume and, perhaps, a telephone or screening interview. Once in the interview, you’ll be asked probing questions, and objections will be raised about your experience and qualifications. It’s up to you, the interviewee, to work hard to overcome any objection to your candidacy.
If the overqualified issue comes up, you’ll need to work through it by stating that you don’t believe you’re overqualified, and you would like to continue the discussion to see how you might best fit in and contribute to their team. Often the word “overqualified” is simply a code word for possible high salary expectations and the person is probably looking for too much money.
Some companies have a practice of paying lower base salaries than the market. If you share your current base salary with an interviewer from that type of company, you’re immediately at a disadvantage because you’ll be categorized as “overqualified”. So it’s essential to answer during an interview that the position and opportunity are most important to you and try to overcome the objection the company representative raised.
Also, you may respond by asking if there’s a perceived salary issue behind the overqualified statement. If the answer is yes, ask if the person could share the salary range for the particular position you’re discussing. Then indicate that the range would be OK, depending upon the entire package of benefits and incentives. Don’t get yourself into a position of negotiating with the interviewer, just comment that although salary is important, what’s more important to you is contributing to the success of the team or company. In other words, get off the topic and back on to what you can do for the company.
Your objective during the interview process is to receive a job offer. After you have that offer in hand, you’ll be able to enter into a negotiation discussion from a position of strength.
I hope this discussion helps you overcome the “overqualified” comment in your next interview.
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1 comment:
Hi Jim,
I ran across your information on LinkedIn and thought I would network with you in regards to a position I am working on internally for my organization. We are an outplacement company looking to hire someone for our Greenville, SC office. The person we are looking for must have outplacement experience on the delivery side (not sales) and they must be open to relocating to Greenville, SC. If you think of someone who may be a good possibility please send them my contact information or I will be happy to contact them directly (confidentially if you like). I appreciate your help and please let me know if there is anything I can do for you. Have a great day.
Warm Regards,
Laura Myers
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