What would be a good response for people who may comment that you're "over qualified" for the job?

“Then I guess I’ll do a great job!”

They’re probably mostly concerned that you won’t be as interested in the work as they want you to be, or that the pay won’t be as high as you’re used to, since they assume you could be doing better things. As long as you express that you understand what the job is and that you’re still interested, it will hopefully quell that concern.

Thank you! Great response, @Mariah. I have more education, skills and experience than I need to do this job? That’s a good thing!

I think something different. I think they will be scared you’ll leave for another job, one you are educated for (teaching, selling real estate).

I think they’re not giving you a problem that you’re meant to solve by coming back with the right answer. Rather, they’re saying that they don’t want to hire you and giving you a reason that sounds like something positive.

That’s how I understood it, anyway, when I used to hear that answer.

One time, when I was really desperate—young, on my own, and too long out of work—I applied for a blue-collar job in a factory. The interviewer said frankly, “You won’t get hired for this kind of work. If you have to apply for a job like this with the qualifications you have, we figure there must be something wrong with you.”

Eventually I did get hired by somebody who looked past the formulas, and I stayed there for eight years.

But, gosh. Why would they even set up an interview with me? They can see from my resume I’m over qualified.

That only happened to me once, long ago. I guess I’m concerned rightnow that that may be the reaction when they see my resume…and won’t even give me a chance to interview.

I suppose it’ll really depend on the person’s thought process interviewing you. If he / she thinks you can’t be bossed around because of the many qualifications that you possess they might be reluctant in hiring you. That’s just one more perspective i would like to add.

It’s NOT a good thing to be overqualified.

I’ve been screening resumes for an entry level position the past couple of weeks and have routinely passed on many resumes that are very overqualified. My concerns about hiring an overqualified person are (based on past issues):

1. The concern that they will always be looking for a better opportunity elsewhere
2. They may be set in their ways and have a harder time adapting to the way our office works
3. There may be friction with their peers who may have more seniority then them but are much less experienced. Jealousy, frustration, conflict can arise, or even conflict with them and management (especially if they have more experience as a manager than those managing them).
4. There’s also the concern that they’re reducing their responsibilities because they’re just not good employees. They couldn’t hack it, have bad/difficult personality traits or are completely burned out. None of which are appealing qualities in a prospective new hire.

Compare this to someone who has just the right level of qualification: They’re enthusiastic, eager-to-learn new things, thrilled with their compensation, wiling to put in a ton of energy every day, fit in with the culture of the office, not second guessing how things are done, or constantly comparing your business to their past employers. Etc.

Generally speaking, I“d rather take an under-qualified person with a great attitude for an entry-level position than an over-qualified one. You can always train someone new from scratch and show them exactly how things should be done. That is much easier than trying to break old habits and dealing with frustration/resentment.

The most important thing to stress to a future employer is that you’re excited about the position you’re interviewing for and that you wouldn’t want a higher level position if offered to you. You need to have a good reason for why you’re applying for a position that’s beneath your skills and experience (I’d make this clear in your cover letter). Give the interviewer specific examples of where your past experiences, or professional contacts/relationships could be assets to the company and help them solve problems they may not even realize they have or improve profitability.

^^ totally agree.

If it was a potential employer, I would clam up and take it or leave it, depending on just how I felt after the interview. If it was just some person I was talking to, I would probably say something like, “Ah, what do you know?”

I realize it’s not a good thing @gorillapaws. That’s why I’m looking for ways to take the edge off of that fact.

This is an opportunity to express your great interest in working for that company in particular.

Now is also the time to confirm that they promote from within.