In today's ultra-competitive nursing employment market, many applicants have been told that they are overqualified for some positions. What exactly does 'overqualified' mean? It can mean several things.
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Employers are demanding experience in this day and age. But how does a person amass the necessary work experience if no one will hire them? This is the $64,000 question.
Many hiring managers will unapologetically tell applicants they are overqualified for a job. What exactly does this mean? Numerous people have gotten laid off in this jobless economic recovery, and soon after they apply for certain jobs, they are informed that they are overqualified. Being told you're 'overqualified' can puzzle even the most astute job seeker. So what is the true meaning behind this phrase? Well, 'overqualified' often implies several factors, especially in our litigious society when saying or doing the wrong things during the pre-employment process can result in a lawsuit being filed against companies.
The interviewer wants candidates who will perform the duties for the least amount of money. Most importantly, the interviewer wants to hire someone who will likely remain at the place of employment for some time, and not simply bail when the first better job opportunity arises. In other words, for entry-level positions, management looks for candidates who appear to need the job and won't immediately jump into the next gig when they receive a better offer. Hiring, onboarding and training new employees is a costly and time-consuming process, and when these people eventually quit, finding and getting a replacement trained is also costly and time-consuming. Managers seek to minimize their chances of repeating this revolving-door process. This is a big reason why it can hurt one's chances of getting certain jobs when there's specialized education or credentials on the resume. If future employers suspect that a candidate will not stick around long, they see no sense of urgency to hire the person.
Interviewers prefer the candidate who will competently get the job done -- and at the same time, badly needs it. The BSN-educated nurse with six years of experience at the same hospital, $68,000 in federal student loan debt, a $10,000 credit card balance, and two young children is likely to stay put for a few years. The debt-free new grad from a local ASN program who still lives at home, drives a paid-off used car, and has no student loans because his parents paid for his education lacks the symbolic ball-and-chains that are likely to keep others tethered down to the job. So when a hiring manager encounters an unemployed new grad RN who applies for a position as a dietary aide, housekeeper, patient care assistant or sitter, the manager is often doubting that the new nurse will stay put for the long term.
So how does an applicant avoid appearing overqualified if he desperately needs a job? There are ways to get around this problem. First and foremost, the job seeker must downplay any education and credentials on the application. Mention it once, but do not expound on it. Second of all, if you are granted an interview, it would greatly help your case to emphasize how much you need the job. For example, mention that you have outstanding student loans to repay. Third, reaffirm that you've researched the company, liked what you've seen up to this point, and plan to stick around for a few years because you really want to be a part of this great organization.
Obviously, the term 'overqualified' is occasionally utilized as a politically correct justification for real reasons that some biased hiring managers cannot openly say due to the legalities involved, such as "she looks as if she is about to deliver her baby," "that guy's gold teeth look ghetto," "she appears to be 70+ years old and frail," "I cannot stand listening to her funny accent" or "we just did not like how you came across to us." There is not a whole lot you can do to prove these things. The best action you can take is to dust yourself off, try again, learn from the experience, and attempt to display yourself in a more favorable light during future interviews.
