What Does it Really Mean to be “Overqualified”?

No matter when you decide to read this. You can obviously tell by the date of this post, that this was written during death streak of COVID 19. A time of mass layoffs, bankruptcy, and casualties of all sorts.

It was also during this time that myself and many other business coaches/consultants heard the same message, “I was laid off and now every where I go for work I am told that I am overqualified.”

So I wrote this article with hopes to shine light on an evergreen problem that won’t be going away anytime soon.

Unemployment…and what you can do about it in the event that it is ever you caught in between this rock and hard place.

For context, I am an entrepreneur and because of the amount of compound knowledge I have acquired concerning leadership, business, branding, marketing, sales, and human behavior, there is a zero percent chance that I will ever be employable by anyone other than my employees.

So in no way shape or form is my conversation to lure you into any particular train of thought. In fact, the stubborn entrepreneur in me does not like the fact that I have to write a blog like this. And would much rather keep quiet to secure more of the market for myself.

But the King in me has a heart that sinks when I consider the fact that there is a PhD candidate that will read this in the near future, because he can’t understand how he could end up without a job after all his time, effort, and money spent in education.

If that guy just so happens to be you, then I say you should be leveraging your intellectual property and network to produce a product or service… you should not be working for anyone. i incline you to click the following link below to get started on your journey as an Influencer:

For everyone else’s sake, I digress…back to the subject at hand. When someone says, “You are over qualified”; what they are really saying is, “Your knowledge base exceeds what is required for this job. By taking it there is a chance you will be very unfulfilled in a really short period of time.” Sometimes, they are saying, “I am intimidated to hire you because there may be a chance you threaten my position!”

So the first thing you have to do is…don’t take it personal!

“Your knowledge base exceeds what is required for this job. By taking it there is a chance you will be very unfulfilled in a really short period of time.”

Instead, look at it for what it is. You are settling for less than what you are actually capable of.

I know this feeling, as I bounced around for a while early in my career. However, a large portion of this was due to the fact that I had not yet realized my full potential.

At one point in history, I may have been able to say there were geographical limitations, but that is no longer the case because we can learn any skill we need with the click of a button.

So where does this touch ground for you? Hopefully you can find clarity and direction in the following action steps for landing your dream job! Then leave a comment and let us know what you think.

Five Action Steps to Take When Looking for a Job

Look Little & Local

Focus on local, small-to-midsize companies. The first thing you can do to ensure you are valued is stay away from big business. Many people are attracted to larger companies because of the facade of security. But clearly that is not the case. Start your searches local and look for small to midsize companies. The reason for this is because there is naturally a larger need for you to fill. Even further, it gives you a better opportunity to grow in your skillset and profession.

Gain Leverage

Be willing to work for free. The same way grocery stores offer a taste sample to you as browse the idles of the store. You can do the same thing. It is an act of confidence, catches the attention of senior management, and reveals a lot about your character. But the best part about it all is that it gives you leverage when it comes to salary. Only do this if it is a job you really want!

Produce Content Aligned with a Problem You Solve

Create material concerning a big problem the company is facing. Remember, you are compensated according to the complexity of the problem you solve. People inherently believe you have the answer to a problem when you are able to talk about it better than they can. This can be done for free, but creating a blog, an ebook, or even a podcast.

Brand Yourself

Update your social profiles. Remember, I am an entrepreneur and business owner. I am constantly searching social media to get an understanding of who my employees are in all areas of their lives. I can promise you every other employer is doing the same.

Hire a Business & Career Coach

Hire a coach. This one may sting a little, but you were probably laid off because you failed to meet the level of productivity required for the company to buy-in to you. Failure is often the result of the lack of two things, accountability and community. A coach can help with this.

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