The last words that Gen X would use to describe themselves are “too old” or “overqualified.” Unfortunately, this economy has left a lot of people who historically should be approaching peak earning potential scrounging for jobs below their previous pay grade.
If you’re a highly qualified professional looking for a job – any job – there are several things you can do to fend off the “overqualified” label. First, you have to acknowledge how employers see you. They are worried that you’re going to demand too much money or that you’ll bolt as soon as something better comes along. They may even feel a bit threatened by your vast experience and/or education level. Once you’ve anticipated these concerns, the following tips should help you mitigate them:
1. Revamp the Resume: Of course you want to tailor your resume to a particular job opportunity, but be sure to focus attention on the specific skills you have that this job requires. Experience can take a backseat, and anything prior to the past decade can be relegated to a brief synopsis buried near the bottom.
2. Carefully Craft the Cover Letter: It’s your perfect chance to enthusiastically explain why you really want this job, what you can bring to the company, and why they can count on you to stick around. An honest, well-researched cover letter can make a personal connection with your prospective employer that simply can’t be achieved within the resume format.
3. Interview Agelessly: You have to leave those dates of employment in the resume so as not to arouse suspicion, but you don’t have to talk about them. Avoid referencing your many years of experience and instead focus on your flexibility – how quickly you adapt to meet ever-evolving workplace challenges.
4. Settle for the Salary: You don’t have to accept below general market value for the position in question, but you certainly can’t demand what you used to make. The first priority is to get your foot in the door. With your qualifications, the merit raises will come!
In this economy, flexibility is one of the most marketable skills, and it’s something most Gen Xers have definitely acquired along the way. With some subtle resume tweaking, talking points and salary expectations, even the most overqualified candidate can have a successful job search. Remember, employers can really benefit from having your depth of experience at the table – or in the cubicle.
This guest post was provided by Erin Palmer from Bisk Education. Erin works with Villanova University’s PHR certification programs. Check out Villanova’s resource center for articles such as profile of a career as an HR coach. Erin can be reached on Twitter @Erin_E_Palmer.
