What to do when a recruiter thinks you’re overqualified

In a perfect world, we’d only apply for jobs that are the perfect fit for our skills, education, and experience. However, long-term unemployment, career gaps, a crowded job market, and the desire to pivot professionally often encourage people to apply for jobs they’re overqualified for. About 36% of people have applied for jobs they think they’re overqualified for, while another 56% of people have considered it.

Recruiters are often unwilling to hire overqualified candidates since they feel they’ll be uninspired, unchallenged, and unlikely to stay in the role long term. If you really want the job, you’ll have to learn how to convince the recruiter you’re not overqualified but actually a better fit than they realize. The following strategies can help you show a recruiter that you’re the right person for the role.

Remain positive

Hearing a recruiter suggest that they feel you’re overqualified can feel like an instant black mark against your name. Remember, though, the recruiter knew your qualifications before they invited you for an interview. If they felt your qualifications were a deal breaker, they wouldn’t have invited you to interview. Knowing that the recruiter saw something in your application that indicates you’re a good candidate can help you stay optimistic and ace your interview.

Ask for clarity

Determining a candidate to be overqualified can be a common excuse for recruiters. Asking for clarity can help you learn about their real concerns, which you can then address. You could say:

• “I’d hate to think you might perceive my experience negatively. What concerns you about my qualifications being too much for this role?”
• “I’m glad you shared your concerns with me. What would it take for you to feel confident hiring me at my current skill level?”

These questions acknowledge the recruiter’s feelings before asking them to reconsider in a neutral, non-confrontational way.

Stress your commitment to the role

When recruiters say you’re overqualified, they’re usually more worried about your commitment to the role than any piece of paper you hold. You can alleviate their fears by stressing your interest in the job. Here are some ways you can accomplish this:

• Explain that you’re looking for long-term employment.
• Note the reasons why you think this position has long-term potential, such as training opportunities that make you feel confident you’ll learn new skills.
• Mention a passion for the business and its industry or a preference for junior responsibilities.

Explain how you’ll stay motivated

The recruiter might also worry that you’ll be unmotivated in a job that doesn’t make use of all your qualifications. Addressing this concern head-on can put the recruiter’s mind at ease. Here are some ways you can show your motivation and drive:

• Note ways you can stay motivated, such as learning about the business and how it operates or finding opportunities to mentor employees.
• Explain your belief that people who keep learning and finding positives in their roles are less likely to move on quickly.
• Give examples of ways you found opportunities to grow in your previous positions.

Promote past long-term roles

The recruiter may also worry that you’ll move on quickly from a role you’re overqualified for. If you have a history of staying in roles for long periods of time, you can use this to your advantage. Consider these ideas:

• Talk about your history of staying with companies for many years.
• Focus on the elements that encourage you to stay, such as positive workplace cultures and effective management.
• Emphasize times you stayed with companies in less-challenging roles, such as working at the same retail job after graduating from high school and while attending college.

Be sincere

It can be tempting to use humor to deflect uncomfortable emotions, like feeling overqualified. Resist the urge to make a clever quip like “You’re right. I’ll be out of here the moment that cushy management gig comes up.” Comments like this, even when they’re tongue-in-cheek, can reinforce a recruiter’s worst fears. Instead, speak with sincerity when you express your desire to land this position. Your earnestness can convince the recruiter that hiring you would be a good choice.

Be honest, but not too honest

Sharing your reasons for applying for a role that may be beneath your qualifications can help the recruiter understand your position. For example, you might say that you understand a job may seem like a step down from your past roles, but you’re looking for a position that can give you a better work-life balance. Just don’t be too honest. If you applied for an entry-level position because you thought it’d be easy money or you’re desperate for any job, you don’t need to disclose the details. Focus instead on the positives you see in this role.

“Speak with sincerity when you express your desire to land this position. Your earnestness can convince the recruiter that hiring you would be a good choice.”

Remain flexible on salary

Highly qualified candidates tend to command higher salaries. Stating that you’re flexible on salary can address another potential recruiter concern. Here are some tips to guide you:

• Stress that a role that helps you feel like you’re making a difference matters more to you than the money the job offers.
• Aim for the higher end of the employer’s salary range, but accept that this may be less money than you’d attract at a role that’s a better match for your qualifications.
• Negotiate for non-monetary ways to offset a lower salary, such as working from home to reduce your transportation costs.

Stay open to future growth

Insisting that this job is what you want in the long term can seem insincere if you are an overqualified candidate. Being open about a desire to grow in the future is more believable and likely to keep you under consideration for the role you’re looking for.

State that while the specific job may not suit your needs in the long term, you feel you could learn a lot and potentially grow into new opportunities with the business. This approach reinforces your commitment to the company and desire to work together with the team. When discussing growth, try to reassure the recruiter that you could steadily advance through the business, not that you’re expecting a rapid rise.

Accept the recruiter’s decision gracefully

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, you can’t change a recruiter’s mind once they decide you’re not the right fit. If the recruiter seems uncomfortable with your persistence or unwilling to hear you out, accept their decision gracefully. Your acceptance may encourage the recruiter to call you back to interview for a role you’re more suited for. While you’re waiting, keep applying for other roles and create a profile on CareerBuilder so employers can find you and appreciate the qualifications you bring to the table.

Knowing that a recruiter sees you as overqualified can feel like the end of your chances to secure a job, but don’t lose hope. These strategies can help you learn how to convince a recruiter you’re not overqualified to ensure you’re ready to handle the situation and get a fair chance at the career move you want.

More tips to help you get the job you want

What if you’re not even getting interviews? These common resume problems may be to blame.

Being overqualified isn’t the only barrier to landing the job you want. These tips can help you explain away issues in your past jobs.

Don’t give up after a rejection. These tips for reapplying to a company can increase your chances of landing the gig you want.

Who said you can’t go back? These tips can help you rejoin a business after getting fired.

Ready to level up? Here’s how to talk to your boss about your career ambitions.