Found your dream job, but worried that you might appear overqualified for it? Sometimes having the best resume in the applicant pool can keep you from getting a gig. Seems ridiculous, right? However, employers often worry than an overqualified candidate will bore easily in a position that seems below their experience level.
So how does one get an employer to see past a stellar resume and take a candidate seriously even if he or she has far more experience than is required for a position? We’ve got a few ideas.
Show enthusiasm during your interview.
Nothing says “overqualified” more than a candidate who appears bored and pretentious during an interview. Instead of trying to impress your interviewer with your extensive work history, impress your interviewer with your enthusiasm for the company.
Employers want employees who care not only about the paycheck, but about the work itself. Doing your research on the company before you show up for your interview and impressing your potential employers with your knowledge shows a drive and determination that anyone would want to have on their team.
Say you’re excited to learn more.
If there’s one attitude that impresses every employer, it’s this one: be excited to learn more. While appearing confident in your skills and abilities is of course necessary in landing a job, showing employers that you’re excited and ready to learn more skills is key in proving that you’re willing and able to grow in a position. And guess what? If you can grow in a position, you’re not overqualified.
Talk about your goals.
Everybody should have goals, and that includes employees. Filling in your potential employers on what you hope to achieve in the position, as well as what you hope to help the company to achieve, can be a great way to demonstrate your desire for a position.
Remember, employers fear overqualified candidates because they don’t want somebody lazy filling in a position that could otherwise be filled by an enthusiastic and energetic candidate. If you’ve got goals, then there’s no way anyone is calling you lazy.
Focus on your relevant work experience.
Just because you’ve got a laundry list of work experience doesn’t mean that your employers need to hear the whole of it. Instead, focus in on what past professional experience relates directly to the position that you’re applying for.
It’s great that you’ve gone above and beyond the prerequisites for any given position, but if you’re already appearing overqualified for a position, it may be best not to highlight any unnecessary excess.
Explain why you’re the perfect applicant.
Last but most certainly not least, take the time to explain to the interviewer why you think you’re a perfect fit for the job that you want. Nothing is quite as compelling as somebody advocating for themselves when it comes to determining a candidate’s desire for a professional position. If anyone can make clear to potential employers why candidates should be hired, it should be the candidates themselves.
This article was originally published on Remote.com