Sourcing Community,

Have you seen the chart Mike Wolford posted on his Linkedin? It depicts the job opening demand for recruiters and that it is about where it was in June 2021. He then asks the question if we are having a summer uptick in jobs or a summer burnout? Interesting.

For those who don’t know, I am also a co-host on the Boolean and Brews podcast and this chart was discussed in an upcoming episode. As we bantered about it, the term “overqualified” was a hot topic as well. So much so, I decided to go further with what I think it means in this newsletter because I know many of you are open to new opportunities. I also know several of you will hear it as an excuse why you were not hired. Oh, the irony.

Sure, on one hand it is a compliment that someone thinks you are too good to be working for them, but on the other hand you still have to eat and being overqualified is not putting food on the table.

In case the term “overqualified” has been an enigma wrapped up in a mystery for some of you, let me suggest what employers really mean when they throw that word around. And as recruiters, I would LOVE to know how true or false my allegations are.

Let the demystification begin… (Insert the sounds of monks chanting here)

• You’re going to drop them as soon as a better job comes along and no employer wants to get somebody “broken in” only for him or her to leave in a short period of time and go through the process all over again. (If you are single and looking to get married, you may be able to identify with this one better than the previous example.)

• With your experience, no doubt you would be an expensive hire and they are not trying to spend any money, especially on your paycheck. If it’s not your paycheck, then raises designed to get you back to the compensation you are accustomed to or even sick leave.

• You’ve been there and done that and you’re going to get bored with the job as it is beneath your talents. Not only will that make it hard to motivate you, but also you might become something like an apathetic virus infecting the rest of the crew.

Dealing with these issues and fears will take a great deal of tact and care, but remember that you are the most qualified choice; you just have to convince them of that. I suggest you…

• Tell them how much money your experience will save them and give examples where you improved profit margins and business processes.

• Point out that you are looking for a “home” and not a “job” and that you believe in what they are doing so much that you are willing to take a cut.

• Stress how much of a team player you are and how that as an “overqualified” worker you overwork to get the job done, something exemplified in your resume, references and letters of recommendation.

Like anything else it is a sales pitch. But at least by addressing the issues mentioned above, you can muster a good defense with a strong first striking offense.

Good luck out there!

Jim Stroud
Your SourceCon Editor 

P.S. Time is rapidly running out on the 2-article Sourcers Anonymous deal. Take advantage of it while you can.

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