Personal Development
Hiring Myth: Overqualified

by: Terrie Lynn Bittner

“Well, you can certainly do this job, but you’re overqualified. We don’t hire anyone who is overqualified.”

The Reasoning

Why don’t managers hire overqualified employees? They have been taught these people won’t be happy in the job. Overqualified employees will be bored, frustrated, and underpaid, and will leave the company as soon as a new opportunity comes along.

The Opposition View

That certainly might be true, but it is also true of exactly qualified people. Most employees will leave a company when a better opportunity comes along, unless the company has worked hard to earn employee loyalty. Many people are more motivated by the privilege of working in a great company that treats people well than by a higher paycheck in a mediocre or poor company. After all, if you have to spend eight or more hours a day at a job, why not choose a great company?

So, is this a myth or is it true?

Like most myths, there is some basis of truth. Some people do take a position with the intention of leaving as fast as possible. Others accept the position, stay with the company, and move on. To fully understand how to apply this knowledge to your own hiring, you need to understand why candidates apply for lower-level positions, and how to decide when to take a chance.

Why do people apply for positions they’re overqualified for?

Instead of automatically excluding overqualified employees, spend time finding out why they have applied for this position. Following are several possibilities:

  1. The candidate may need a job quickly, because money is tight. This is a perfectly valid reason. If you had a family to care for and bills to pay, you would take a lower paying job as well. This is a very responsible attitude—the candidate is expressing a willingness to work for what he needs. You want responsible candidates. If he is overqualified, he will be a prime candidate for promotion when openings are available, but in the meantime, you’ve had the opportunity to test him, and to see how he works out in your company. You also have a chance to prove you are a great company, and one that promotes from within, so it’s worth the sacrifice to stay. Are you up to the challenge?
  1. The employee may have decided to become less high powered. Today, many people are realizing high powered careers, despite their income and prestige, are just not right for them. They want more time with their family, less time on the road, more time for service projects or hobbies. The only way to achieve this is to move to a less demanding level of management. This does not suggest that the candidate is unmotivated, only that he is seeking balance in his life. An employee who is balanced is actually a better employee, because his stress levels are lower, reducing work-caused illness, and he tends to be happier on the job.
  1. The candidate may desire to change fields. He is wise enough to know he will have to step down many levels in order to learn a new field.
  1. This particular job appeals to him. Some candidates simply look for jobs they know they will enjoy. If their financial needs are minimal, and they aren’t dependent on title for their self-esteem, they don’t worry about stepping down a few levels. They are more interested in a satisfying position than in a specific title or income.

As an interviewer, find out why the candidate is willing to take a lower position. If the reason feels acceptable to you, take a risk. An employee who is flexible is a good asset to a company. One who chooses jobs for their appeal and isn’t motivated by power will not use underhanded techniques to steal your job from you. One who is determined to provide for himself will work hard at any task assigned, and may prove to be a long-term benefit, particularly if the company can show room for growth in the future. One who is changing fields is curious, and interested, and will want to learn everything you’re willing to teach. All in all, this is a risk well worth taking.

About TML Business Services LLC

TML Business Services LLC has over 27 years of senior management experience and more than 12 years of strategic business analysis and project implementation experience. We have been providing risk analysis and software integration services to business and government agencies since 1998 and are available to discuss your needs with you. No two engagements are alike and using our proven methodology, we can provide the level of service your company is seeking. Contact TML Business Services LLC today and get started on a path to realizing your company's vision!