Suppose you hear about a job that you are overqualified for and you are considering whether to reach out to the hiring manager. The job market is not improving quickly enough and you have been out of work long enough, with the stress of your obligations weighing on your shoulders. After you have reviewed the job description, you know with your skills that you can easily fill the hiring manager’s needs. So why not apply? Here are some things to consider when you are weighing the pro’s and con’s relative to actually applying: 1. Will you be able to lower your expectations of where your career is going? 2. Will you be able to handle a position that you do not use all your skills and still be fulfilled and happy? 3. Can you handle the financial difference in your salary? If you have answered yes to all of these questions, then consider one more: Will you feel you are taking a career step backwards? If the move would be a bit lower on the career ladder than you would prefer, then do yourself, (as well as the employer), a favor and continue your job search elsewhere. If you do decide the job is something that you could work with as an overqualified applicant, you need to be prepared to address certain areas with the hiring manager or you will not get to the interview stage. This can be accomplished in a well written cover letter highlighting the following points: 1. The compensation is one of the primary points that will stick out to the hiring manager. The rate of pay is based not on the actual skills held by the candidate, but by the skills required of the candidate. This is a clear expectation of employers. For example: Do you think if you are a doctor who needs a side job at McDonald’s, that you can expect the salary of a doctor when you are flipping burgers? You will want to let the hiring manager know up-front that you are flexible with the salary due to your interest in the position. 2. Another concern that the hiring manager will have is the worry of how serious you will be about the position. The worst thing you could portray would be that you are only interested in the position because you have to pay your bills, even if that is the case. Employers will not be interested in hiring an employee if they feel that they will have to replace you when you leave for a more advanced job in the near future, especially since you are overqualified. You need to clearly outline why you feel this position fits into your long term plans. A few examples of this include: You would like to be with the company for a long time with hopes of advancement, your prior experience would fit nicely with the position being offered, and that this position is not as stressful as previous positions so you feel that you could have a well balanced work/life schedule. With these tips, you will keep the hiring manager from overlooking your application and will let them know that you have thoughtfully considered the pros and cons. Investing in a Lifetime of Success, Angela Roberts www.craresources.com
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