Do you really want the job, but are actually overqualified for the position?
Then you should consider a few things when applying.
Do you have a lot of specialist knowledge and professional experience, have you perhaps already held a higher position and now want to apply for a job that is significantly below these requirements?
Are you perhaps even prepared to accept a lower salary?
This often arouses skepticism among companies.
Overqualification can even be the decisive reason for rejection, writes the
ArbeitsABC
portal .
However, with a few tricks you can increase your chances of being accepted.
Overqualified in the job?
This can be a conscious decision
According to data from the
Federal Employment Agency,
in 2019 around four million employees worked in a job for which they were overqualified.
While some people involuntarily end up in a position that is below their level of training, some make a conscious decision to do so.
This can have a variety of causes.
Stepstone
Magazine
lists the following reasons:
+
Anyone who is overqualified for the position they are applying for should speak openly and honestly about it.
© Westend 61/Imago
Getting into your dream company:
If you can't get straight into the position you want, you should think about targeting a position for which you are overqualified.
From there you can work your way up to the position you actually want - and already have your foot in the door of your dream company.
Unemployment:
A way out of unemployment is sometimes to take a temporary job for which you are underqualified.
It is usually easier to find a more suitable job once you are back at work.
Cut back:
A position for which you are overqualified may offer more freedom.
This can be particularly important when priorities in life change (for example when starting a family).
Back from a leadership position:
If you no longer want to be exposed to the stress of a leadership role, you can apply for positions that match your personal strengths but involve less responsibility.
Change of industry:
People who want to radically change industry or make a lateral entry are often forced to accept jobs for which they are overqualified based on their level of training.
The reason is obvious: there is a lack of experience in the new professional field.
Sometimes it can simply be the dream job that you are applying for despite being overqualified.
However, HR managers often have reservations about such job candidates: they could be too expensive, pose a threat to the manager or be permanently bored - which leads to them quickly quitting or possibly developing boreout syndrome.
In order to refute the respective prejudices, it is crucial to implement the right application tips,
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“It is important to stick to the truth and address overqualification aggressively,” says career advisor Emine Yilmaz in an interview with Die
Welt
.
Applicants can summarize their reasons in just a few words in the cover letter - regardless of whether they are of a professional or private nature.
However, according to Yilmaz, you should limit yourself to the essentials without going into too much detail.
Focus on motives and motivation
Personal motivation is particularly important, emphasizes
Stepstone Magazine
.
Explain what exactly appeals to you about the position and why exactly you should hold this position.
In addition, the employer should have the impression that you want to do the job permanently, not just as a temporary solution.
You should therefore go into detail about why you like the company and why you can imagine a professional future there.
Ten things that will immediately disqualify you in a job interview
Ten things that will immediately disqualify you in a job interview
A tricky point is salary.
If you are already asked about your ideas when applying, you can do a little research to find out what the usual salaries in the industry are and the position being advertised.
This means you don't run the risk of making excessive demands that could deter HR managers when looking through the documents.
If your salary expectations were not asked, you can still mention the information in the application to increase your chances of an interview, advises
Stepstone Magazine.
When it comes to the interview, you should have internalized your reasons for applying, emphasizes career expert Emine Yilmaz in an interview with Die
Welt
.
A job candidate who can set priorities and make a conscious decision for a position and an employer away from thoughts of status has good arguments in store for his or her hiring.
Category list image: © Westend 61/Imago