Being rejected for being ‘over-qualified’ hurts

An unemployed individual submits an application form for an advertised job and anxiously awaits a call for an interview. Alas! The call comes — but instead of the anticipated news, the individual is told: “Thank you for submitting your application. We have reviewed it but have found you are over-qualified for the job.”  

With the applicant now feeling deflated and overcome by a renewed sense of hopelessness, the caller than adds insult to injury by saying to the applicant: “You certainly have a glowing resume and we commend you on all your accomplishments! We wish you well in the future.”   

My first question to those individuals who speak in collective terms is — who is “we?” I know of quite a few cases where “we” is the identity of one sole person who alone has the power to make the decision but instead hides behind the mask of pluralism.  

Being overqualified has truly got to be one of the most feeble excuses one can give. If quality and experience are what an employer wants, then it would seem to reason that having someone with more than enough experience would be to the employer’s benefit.  

If an “over-qualified” person wants to accept the job and settle for a lesser salary than he might ordinarily receive if he were “normally qualified” or as the ads read, “suitably qualified”, then that should be up to the individual — until they find other employment.  

Who knows — an “over-qualified” individual may like the job so much they may decide to stay. What a win for the employer!

Is the excuse of over-qualification given to keep the post ideally suited for someone else the employer may have in mind?  

I think so.  But I haven’t heard of too many stories where a rejected applicant called to find out why there were not the selected candidate for the job — besides being “over-qualified”, of course.  

Last year I found myself in a position of unemployment and applied for four jobs in the newspaper knowing I was capable of doing them all quite well.  

The rejection letters rolled in and I found myself getting angrier and angrier, mostly because I felt my qualifications and experience were overlooked or that I was considered too “overqualified”.  

Trying to seek answers for the reasons behind the decisions proved fruitless and exhausting — and when I found out who actually got the jobs I was even more vexed.  

I reached a point of feeling like this island home was not mine and that all my years of hard work were in vain. I had never been unemployed in my life!   

I found out that the Reefs needed an on call housekeeper, applied for the post, and got it. Now I was really mad.  Was this all the work I could find in my island home despite my experience, outstanding reputation and qualifications as a seasoned educator?  

But friends and family quickly reminded me to be grateful that I at least had a job. Management did ask if I would be comfortable working as a housekeeper with all my experience and qualifications to which I immediately told them I would be. I began it and enjoyed it while learning of the value of housekeeper — something I had always taken for granted.

Then came the call to inform me that I was the successful applicant for a post I had applied for and wanted more than any other. I was elated. 

I was asked to stay on at the Reefs for part time evening work. I’ve always had at least two part-time jobs.  \Working at the Reefs is a new experience — and I enjoy it.  

The Reefs is an awesome place to work certainly living out its motto make everyone — guests and staff alike — feel perfectly at ease. 

I love my full time job too. Every day I am given a new opportunity to live out my dream as an educator.  

For those of you who are still out pounding the pavement, not knowing how you will pay that next bill, I encourage you through all your stress to pray, and believe that a full-time job awaits. Employers, I encourage you to stop using the excuse of “over-qualification” and give applicants a fair chance at employment. 

Shawnette Somner is an educator and mother. Email: [email protected]