Is there actually such a thing as being overqualified for a job? As it turns out, Thrivas, a leader among staffing agencies in Tampa FL, has found that our clients feel there is such a thing. As you learn how to answer interview questions, you’re going to discover that if this statement comes up during your interview, there are two things you need to keep in mind.
In the first place, this isn’t the interviewer being nice. If you’re not qualified for the job, the company isn’t going to be looking to soften the blow. They’re not going to be caustic about it, but they’re not going to go to any great lengths to spare your feelings.
In the second place, being told you’re overqualified for job does not mean you’re sunk. There are indeed interview answers that can be utilized in this situation. There are things you can say that will not only keep you in the hunt, but quite possibly increase your chances of being hired. Learning how to answer interview questions goes well beyond simply knowing what to say. You also need to learn when the time is right to say the things that are going to impress employers, and bring you that much closer to getting the job you’re after.
Being Overqualified
In order to avoid losing out because you’re apparently overqualified for the job, there are things you can do before and during the interview. There are also interview answers that can steer things away from this topic, if it seems like things are getting close to that suggestion, or if the interviewer has already said it.
Keep these tips in mind if you would like to avoid or overcome the “overqualified for the job” interview obstacle:
- Stay away from jobs that are well below your qualifications. Unless you absolutely have no choice, avoid job interviews for positions that are dramatically below you current experience level/salary range.
- Make it clear in the interview that you’re not just looking for a temporary position. Interviewers can become concerned that an applicant is only looking at the job as a means of tiding them over, until something better comes along. Throughout the interview, do not give the interviewer any reason to consider this possibility.
- If the overqualified for job statement does come up, relax. Use the opportunity to calmly and confidently explain why the job is by no means beneath you. Mention the challenges and responsibilities within the position that appeal to you.
- Ask for clarification. If the issue comes up, simply and very politely ask for details, then address those details appropriately.
Thrivas staffing agency hopes this helps!
Find a job by searching below
- Laundry Attendant - PT
Penn National Gaming — Columbus,OHPenn National Gaming - - Responsibilities: Washes, dries, folds, and inspects hotel linens and towels in accordance with established quality, safety, and chemical usage standards; Applies pre-treatment and spot-cleaning solutions...
- Electrical Estimator
Ace Electric — Plain City,OHOur Mission: To Identify, Hire, Train, and Retain the Very Best People. Could that be you? If you're ready to join a growing company where your work contributes to the...
- Programmer/Analyst: III (Senior)
The Judge Group — Whitehall,OHLocation: Whitehall, OH Salary: Depends on Experience Description: Summary: Senior Programmer on Anti-Money Laundering/Bank Secrecy Act (AML/BSA) enterprise Fraud software...
- Earn Money Playing Games – Remote Game Tester (Up to $500+/Game)
Babki LLC — Bexley,OHWe're looking for passionate gamers to join our elite group of mobile game testers. Get paid to play and test the latest games. $500+ average monthly pay 5–10 hours per...
- Onsite APM QA / QC
Hilscher Clarke Electric — Columbus,OHJoin Hilscher-Clarke as a full-time Onsite APM QA/QC in Columbus, Ohio, where we're more than a team – we're more like a family. At Hilscher-Clarke, our people embody our core...
- Class A Shuttle Driver
Performance Food Group — Columbus,OHPerformance Food Group - JobID: 1391238 [Shuttle Driver / Route Driver] As a Shuttle Driver at Performance Food Group, you'll: Operate company vehicle to transport goods between facilities; Load and...
- Full Time - Receiver/Stocker - Overnight
Lowe's — Columbus,OHYour Impact at Lowe'sAs a Receiver/Stocker, you help keep the store clean, safe, and ready for customers by accurately receiving freight, stocking shelves, and organizing merchandise and top stock. You'll...
- Special Agent, $40,000 Recruitment Incentive
The United States Secret Service — Columbus,OHRecruitment Incentive: Applicants may be eligible for a $40,000 recruitment incentive in accordance with regulatory requirements. Click apply for complete details on the recruitment incentive details and...
- Register Clerk - Urgently Hiring
Disability Solutions — Hilliard,OHDave & Buster's - Columbus/Hilliard is looking for a full time or part time Register Clerk to join our team in Hilliard, OH. As a Register Clerk, you'll manage a...
- Recent Grads Class A Driver Willing to train
Class A Solutions — Columbus,OHRecent Grads Class A Driver Willing to train We do not want to offer you just another truck driving job, but a long-term, prosperous career in the transportation industry. we...
- Delivery Drivers Home Daily
Ace Hardware — West Jefferson,OHCDL A Driver West Jefferson, Ohio - Distribution Compensation Details: Drivers earn on average $103,000.00 a year! Drivers also have the potential to earn up to an additional $2000 per...
- Student Support Specialist
New Story Schools — Dublin,OHWe believe every learner deserves a safe place to grow. At New Story Schools, teams unite academics and therapeutic supports to help students ages 5–21 build skills for life. If...
- Part-Time Vet
Banfield — Columbus,OHIf you are a current associate, you will need to apply through our internal career site. Please log into Workday and click on the Jobs Hub app or search for...
- Behavior Specialist - Autism Intervention Center
Empower Centers — Columbus,OHBehavior Specialist - Autism Intervention Center POSITION TITLE: Behavior Specialist REPORTS TO: Mental Health Clinical Supervisor; Director(s); Clinical Supervisor(s); Behavior Analyst/Behavior Consultant; Other managers as directed. POSITIONS...
- Food Prep Person
Golden Corral Restaurants — Grove City,OHGolden Corral - 2005 Stringtown Road - Responsibilities: Prepares prep items according to product specifications and recipes.; Maintains inventory of prep items and updates guides.; Labels, dates, and rotates bulk...
- Structural Designer needed in The Great State of Ohio
Contract Lumber — Columbus,OHStructural Designer Pay Range: Negotiable based on...
- Lead Mechanical Engineer HVAC
Jobot — Columbus,OHRelocation Offered to the Twin Cities + Autonomy + Purpose + Impact + Scale + Variety This Jobot Job is hosted by: Chelsea Piekarski Are you a fit? Easy Apply...
- Forklift Operator - Full Time - Afternoon Shift
XPO — Columbus,OHWhat you'll need to succeed as a Forklift Operator at XPOGet a feel for the role. Watch this short video to see a day-in-the-life on an XPO dock.Minimum qualifications:* Be...
- Warehouse Selector- SYGMA- Columbus, OH
SYSCO — Columbus,OHCompany: US3086 Sygma Columbus (The Sygma Network, Inc) Sales Territory: None ...
- KITCHEN PREP
Bob Evans — Columbus,OHBob Evans - - Responsibilities: Follows recipe and storyboards to prepare foods according to proper preparation methods; Ensures proper food handling and sanitation procedures are followed; Maintains a clean and...
- Assistant Manager
Valvoline Instant Oil Change — Groveport,OHWhat You'll Do: As an Assistant Service Center Manager (ASCM), you are the right hand of the Service Center Manager. You are responsible for taking the lead in helping build...
- Housekeepers
Olentangy Motor Inn/ Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea — Columbus,OHSalary Range: (USD) Annually Full time Housekeeper benefit package offered: Benefits begin 30 days after you startMedicalDentalVisionLife InsuranceCritical and Accident InsurancePTOHotel Discounts What to expect as a Housekeeper: Have a...
- Buca di Beppo Pantry Cook
Buca di Beppo — Columbus,OHBuca di Beppo - 60 E Wilson Bridge Rd [Kitchen Staff / Grill Cook / Line Cook] As a Pantry Cook at Buca di Beppo, you'll: Contribute to the success...
- Prep Cook
Olive Garden — Reynoldsburg,OHOlive Garden - - Responsibilities: Deliver and flawlessly execute recipes to meet guest expectations; Maintain highest safety and sanitation standards; Support kitchen operations; Assist in food preparation and cooking as...
- Prepared Foods Production Team Member (Deli / Culinary Prep) - Part Time
Whole Foods — Columbus,OHWhole Foods Market - - Responsibilities: Assists with production for all Prepared Foods venues; Ensures all prepared foods are properly labeled, dates, initialed, covered, and rotated; Performs opening, mid, and...
- Maintenance Technician
Plaskolite — Columbus,OHTitle: Extrusion Technician I Job Category: DIRECT LABOR Requisition Number: EXTRU001175 Job Type: Full-Time Columbus, OH, 43219, United States Description JOB TITLE:...
- Pilot - CBP Air Interdiction Agent
U.S. Customs and Border Protections — Bexley,OHNEW RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION INCENTIVES! Air and Marine Operations (AMO), a component of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), offers skilled Pilots interested in law enforcement an opportunity to work...
- Owner Operator Development Program
Brassica — Columbus,OHBeing an Owner Operator at Brassica is about EntrepreneurshipLeadershipMentorshipCraftsmanship, and Relationships It's about building your own business and earning half of the bottom line.
- Customer Care Manager
The Whittingham Agencies — Cincinnati,OHCrafting Brighter Futures for Businesses & Families across the US At the forefront of specialized financial services, we help families safeguard their assets and...
- Prep Cooks
O'Charley’s — Reynoldsburg,OHO'Charley's - 2272 Baltimore-Reynoldsburg Road - Responsibilities: Prepare back-of-house ingredients and maintain prep stations; Cook menu items to spec and uphold quality standards; Maintain kitchen cleanliness and sanitation standards;...
- Warehouse General Utility - Night Shift Mon-Fri
Abbott Laboratories — Columbus,OHAbbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses...
- Cook
Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio — Columbus,OHLutheran Social Services of Central Ohio - JobID: 500-34-205968-0-3679414-0 [Kitchen Staff / Grill Cook / Line Cook] As a Cook at Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio, you'll: Ensure meals...
- Account Executive - The Seamster Agency
Goosehead Insurance — Columbus,OHAbout Goosehead Since 2003, Goosehead Insurance has been disrupting the insurance industry by giving clients the power of choice, utilizing a smarter marketing approach, and delivering world-class service. This is...
- Dietary Aide (Server)
Wallick Communities — Hilliard,OHDescription Server...
- CDL-A - Intermodal truck driver
Schneider — Columbus,OHIntermodal truck driver Average pay: $1,290-$1,580 weekly Home time: Multiple Times Per Week Experience: All CDL holders OverviewHaul...
- Retail Merchandiser
The Retail Odyssey Company — Groveport,OHWe want you to help us shape the future of shopping experiences and deliver on our purpose of connecting people with the products and experiences that enrich their lives. Joining...
- Prep Cook (Reynoldsburg)
Texas Roadhouse — Columbus,OHTexas Roadhouse - 5940 East Main Street - Responsibilities: Reading a prep sheet; Following Texas Roadhouse legendary recipes; Keeping the walk-in refrigerator clean and organized; Maintaining and using the equipment...
- General Maintenance
Walmart — Grove City,OHWalmart Stores | Medical, Dental, Vision, Rx + 401(k) with match + PTO + 100% Reimbursement of Tuition & Books | 3880 Southwest Boulevard | Responsibilities: Perform preventive maintenance and...
- Dash Cafe - Cook (Eldorado Scioto Downs - Columbus, OH)
Caesars Entertainment — Columbus,OHCaesars Entertainment - - Responsibilities: Identify and properly identify various foods and understand proper handling, preparation, and storage to guarantee safe products; Perform skilled kitchen duties including pantry and salad...
- Catering Driver
Giant Eagle — Columbus,OHGiant Eagle - 840 West 3rd Avenue - Responsibilities: Ensure that communications from the sales team are being performed and executed at a high level.; Ensure proper food safety programs...