So I just moved back home an am desperately looking for a job. Recently I managed to land an interview with this hotel and was super excited because I REALLY wanted the job. I brought extra resumes, had my own writing tools, asked the right questions, and even took the bus just to get there fifteen minutes early. It took them two weeks to reply just to say no and before that even happened I made sure to call them, email them, and even went in person to talk to anyone in charge of the hiring process. In the end they just told me they were moving forward with another candidate. I am either under-qualified for the jobs I apply for or over-qualified. I just want to know what I can do to be better in interviews and finally get a job.
I had a great phone interview last Tuesday with a director from a company that was extremely close to the job I was doing before I got laid off. I emailed them directly on September 30, then found the same posting on LinkedIn, so I applied again. I then followed up on my original email. During the interview he mentioned that it was my follow up that got me the interview because when he read my original resume he thought I was overqualified. At the end of our interview he reassured me that I would get a call back either way, because he strongly believed that a personal follow up was the right thing to do. How did I find out that they are no longer considering me? By an email I received this morning from LinkedIn. Sorry for babbling, but I’m beyond depressed and frustrated.
Over the last year, I have applied for hundreds of local jobs, many of which I would certainly be considered "overqualified" for, and worse, in a highly competitive market with two military bases in the area. It's an act of God just to have my application seen by an employer - two companies I actually did get an interview for each had over 400 applications on Indeed alone.
My confusion lies mostly with my experience when getting an interview! I meet with the owner or hiring manager, and they are super excited to have someone like me be interested in working for them. I have many different skills, and can often help them go to the next level in many parts of their business. They go on and on about finally being able to do ..... I leave the interview feeling sure I've got the job, and I get a call telling me that they went a different direction, and that they found me overqualified.
I had addressed as many concerns as I could think of - Looking for quality of work over ambitious compensation or duties, looking to be rooted within a company for longevity, and feeling comfortable with staying within the parameters that they need for this person.
I am 48 years old. Is it an age thing? I am told I look to be in my 30's. Overqualified really? I felt that in all cases we nipped that in the bud. What the check is going on here?
So, I just received my MBA this year, which I am personally pretty happy about. But I have been having a very hard time landing worthwhile interviews and absolutely no job offers. I have found that I have now been getting passed on jobs because I am overqualified. Yet, if I apply for a slightly higher position I am under-qualified. So my question is, should I just remove it from my Resume?
With the invention of Automated systems has come the delay of finding jobs. It’s far easier for companies to sift through selected resumes and ignore the majority of those submitted to them. Atlanta is a city full of ATS it seems. It’s also a city full of recruiters who are quick to chat you up and then disappear without a trace. Last December I was laid off. In the late March/ April time frame I thought I had a job lined up. The company didn’t end up filling the job. Since that time I have networked like crazy, submitted tons of resumes, rewritten my resume several times, taken good and unfortunately some bad advice when it comes to resumes, but no one can seem to help me increase my chances of landing interviews. I even called one place after applying six times with two different referrals only to be told they get a lot of applications. They completely ignored the “Can I do anything better question “. I had gotten one video interview and never any skills tests. Frustratingly enough another organization that I was referred to told me I was over qualified as I have an MBA. This frustrates me to no end as I now am working a ten dollar an hour part time job just to make ends meet. I also volunteer at two different places. My point is that I’m willing to work and work my way up if need be.
I’m curious as to anyone else’s experiences in Atlanta. I finally understand ATS systems enough to know you can’t use fancy fonts, have check marks or special boxes on your resume. I know that you must use several resumes as to match specific key words, etc.. I suspect my resume is now reaching the weeding out phase on occasion but I still get nowhere. I’m convinced Atlanta’s job market is more challenging than most as I have lived in other cities, even Las Vegas was easier in 2008 in the recession. I can’t be alone in my thoughts am I? If anyone has any advice or thoughts I would be happy to listen.
After being laid off as result of investor buyout, merging 2 companies together, 4 yrs of double domain upheaval, new business model, hardware changes, major software swapping, remote contractors being remotely supported and an on call phone shared by 3 people making work/life balance nonexistent, I was finally hit by tenured personnel being replaced by contract workers like in most other departments. Was so much that it was almost a relief to have 3 months severance pay for sabbatical purposes but now have been in job search mode for 6 months and just not sure where I am. Nothing but 2/3 pay contract or contract to hire prospects doing what I was doing. Have tried to get other jobs closer to home where work/life balance of no commute time and money offsets the lower pay, ones I'm capable of doing but no experience making a living doing on resume. Just a lot of interviews leading to nothing. Not sure if 33 yrs in IT is it or over qualified appearance of bolting back to other job offer or no resume experience or what. Doesn't seem I can even score entry level stuff. Kind of lost as to what to even try for at this point.
My displacement happened after 21 years with the same company at the age of 47. A new CEO, a changing of the guard, so to speak. I have struggled for the past 6 years. I am either over-qualified or under-qualified (generally based on specific industry experience). I can learn any technology and have successfully managed technical people, complex global projects and successfully transitioned between vastly different industries. However, in a recent interview I couldn’t correctly identify 25 IT acronyms, which were hurled at me in rapid succession. Is this what my decades of experience are boiled down to? In spite of the fact that specific IT applications can easily be learned, it is usually the lack of specific knowledge that seems to be my downfall and yet for several jobs I have been told, “You are clearly over qualified. Why would you want this job?” How do I explain that I am either over qualified or under qualified? How do I convince employers that I would look forward to being appreciated for the skills I bring to the table, even if it means I need to start at the bottom? I would welcome suggestions.
After working for a company for 11 years, being told you are one of there most valuable employees, always goes above and beyond and to find out that people coming in and being there for 1 to 2 years maybe last makes more then year and even as of today still you are the most lowest paid employee. When brought to previous boss, recent boss, and VP was told my weak points are I don't reach out often, but never once mentioned this to me in any of my reviews. Reviews were always exceed expectations, no goals and when I did reach goals still finding more excuses to not compensate me well. I was even when I approached appropriate people that if I was happy find a new job. This came from someone who handles employee relations. Always introduced as the most knowledgeable employee with most experience on team and to always come to for guidance. How do you even think that this is ok?? I have been looking for a job for well over 2 years now, and going on interviews and still have not found a good job. I have an Associates Degree, no gap in work history, been at same job now going on 11 years, Manager for 7 years PT while working my full-time and still no hope in finding a better job. I pray everyday god bless me with a better opportunity because the pay is so low for me to take care 3 kids with one kid just graduating sometimes i feel like giving up. This can't be life when employers don't want to hire good quality workers. I have even paid hundreds of dollars to get my resume professionally done and still no job yet.
Cannot get work because I am over qualified!!