Building a Great Resume – Make Sure You’re Not Overqualified

Are you overqualified for a position? Many job descriptions can sound very similar, even if they are for roles at different levels within a company. Standard titles such as analyst, specialist, and manager can mean completely different things and command vastly different salaries, depending on the company. When you also take into account that many job descriptions today are multiple pages long, the process can seem very exhausting when you are building a good resume for a career change.

By effectively showing your value, you might be able to position yourself for a promotion or a raise. However, it is best to determine if you’re not a good fit for the position before accepting it or building a good resume for it. Follow these five steps to ensure you aren’t overqualified for a role before dedicating yourself to building a good resume for a position!

Look at the Requirements in a Job Description

Before reading a potentially extensive list of job duties, find and read the requirements section. If you have a Masters degree and the role only needs an undergraduate degree, you should start heavily scrutinizing the decision to apply. While this may sound obvious, some professionals with higher education level degrees have been hired for positions where they are doing technician-level work. In addition to education, analyze the needed experience and focus area requirements of the job. If you exceed what is being requested, that is another sign you might be overqualified.

Review the Hiring Preferences

Most hiring posts also include aspects that are favored by the employer for candidates to have. They may mention special training, skills, credentials, and industry knowledge within a description. If you are targeting higher positions, roles that are a good fit might outline an extensive list of preferences that can help you in building a good resume. On the other hand, if there is a smaller list of preferences, the possibility of you being overqualified increases. What are some shared preferences you’ve observed in relevant job role descriptions?

Compare the Responsibilities with Your Ideal Position

When deciding on if a job is the right fit, it’s best to have a clear idea of the role you’re looking for. Many people identify this as a “dream job” or an ideal position. Find a description online that you feel is a perfect fit for you, copy the description and save it somewhere for easy access. Then, compare the responsibilities from that dream job to the other jobs you’re thinking of applying for. This helps you stay focused on important details during the job search and can help you while building a good resume. While having an example for comparison is essential, be sure to stay open minded to positions that might appear slightly different or have another focus area.

Identify Salary Information

When many people think of being overqualified, compensation and salary are some of the primary things that come to mind. Unfortunately, most hiring descriptions no longer include salary expectations, requiring more effort to estimate these details. Additionally, it’s common for the jobs with the same title to command different salaries depending on the company. To estimate a salary, check online search databases and websites for salary information based on your geographic region, education, and experience level. Compare this to salary information available from the specific company. You probably will not identify exact figures, but this can help you decide if the salary range you work out is equitable with what you have to offer.

Ask Targeted Questions During Your Interview

As a final step, create and ask some targeted questions during an interview. This can confirm whether or not you are overqualified for a role. For example, who would this position report to within the company hierarchy? What support measures or levels would be on hand to ensure the completion of job responsibilities? What can the interviewer tell you about the background of other people who succeeded in this role? These types of questions and the answers provided by the interviewers can be helpful in decision-making. What are some other questions you might ask that might be in alignment with your ideal position?

When going through a job search or building a good resume for your career change, it can be difficult to tell if you are overqualified for a position. You can take some steps to avoid accepting a position that isn’t a good fit or wasting your time on building a good resume for a job you don’t want. When reviewing a job description, jump to the requirements section first. If you match with the requirements, find the preferences listed for the role. Compare the responsibilities to the description of your dream job. Taking proactive action in searching for salary details online can also help you identify your interest level. During an interview, asking targeted questions can offer necessary insight. What measures will you take to ensure that you aren’t overqualified for your next role?
 
 
Fly High Coaching can help you soar to your full potential and find your dream job. We offer career coaching services, interview preparation and resume makeovers to support your success. Contact us today to get started with our expert career coaches. Check out our Land Your Dream Job 101 course for more information on how you can secure your desired job change.