ASK HR: Seeming overqualified could undermine your chances of landing a job

Q.Is it possible to seem overqualified during an interview? How can I avoid that?

Dear Naomi,

Your question implies concern about the possibility of losing an employment opportunity as a result of seeming overqualified during an interview. If you seem overqualified for a role, it could indeed undermine your chances of becoming a successful candidate. By offering you a job for which you seem overqualified, a recruiter may fear that it would neither provide sufficient challenge to match your capability nor sustain your interest.

If you are indeed overqualified, you would presumably want to avoid seeming so in order to secure a job rather than have none at all. Bear in mind that while you may be granted the opportunity, such a role is unlikely to have your passion in tow, a vital factor for long term career success. If you must secure the job, then it is best to declare your qualifications coupled with an expression of your interest in the role and let the organisation make the decision in light of such disclosure.

If on the other hand you are qualified for a job, it would be unfortunate to seem overqualified as this would mean the recruiters would bear the wrong impression of your profile. A focus on honest sharing of the information required should in most cases convey a balanced view. Falling for the temptation to brandish your credentials or embellish your accomplishments will inflate the appeal of your qualifications, creating the impression of a mismatch between them and the role in question. 

In the long term interest of your career, it is prudent to apply for positions that largely match your qualifications. You will then have no need to understate your profile in order to stand a chance of securing a job. A job for which you are overqualified may not kindle the adrenaline needed for the marathon of your career.