Age Discrimination or Over-Qualified

Does over-qualified mean age discrimination?

If I had a dime for every time someone told me they didn’t get an interview or a job because of age discrimination, I would be a wealthy woman.

Is it truly the applicant’s age that is the issue?  Does over-qualified mean you are too old?

I can’t say that true age discrimination does not exist, but I can say there are many meanings to the expression “over-qualified” that have nothing to do with the candidate’s age.

When you have 20+ years of experience and submit your resume for a junior level position, how do you think you will be perceived?

Unless you include in your cover letter a statement that you are aware you have more experience than is required, but would like to get on the hiring manager’s radar for something more suitable, you can bet the person reviewing the resumes will see you as “desperate.”

I’ve been told by candidates that they know it’s a junior level position and they will be happy earning an eighth of what they were earning, they just want to be working.  There’s nothing wrong with that. In fact, I think it’s admirable. Unfortunately, no matter what your reasoning is, it still is difficult to convince a hiring manager that you are sincere.

The hiring manager is also certain that while you are saying you are happy at this level, it is extremely rare for someone to turn down a better offer, should one come along.  More employees than you might think, calculate the salary paid and what they believe they should be earning and then work as if they just accepted a part time position.  Some do this without consciously knowing that’s what they are doing.

I have an expression I use sometimes instead of saying “over-qualified.”  “Submitting your resume for this position is like sending a Sherman Tank in to kill a flea.”  At least it makes my “over-qualified” candidates smile!