Hiring managers are people and thus prone to vanities and bias so the findings in this study may not be 'all true' and this may vary based on the company and nature of the role. However, if you have been told that you are overqualified, here is how you can counter it in the future. But first, let's break down why you are likely to be labeled as 'overqualified.'

Overqualified is a pretext for something that the hiring manager might not be in a position to disclose, like:

• You'd be difficult to manage
• You're too old
• You have high salary expectations
• You are not a culture fit or
• Your expertise could be viewed as a threat to existing management

Here are three ways to counter it

1. Highlight the underlying reasons for taking 'a lower job'
South Africa's economy shed 2,2 million jobs in the second quarter of 2020, couple that with COVID-19, 4IR, and many other factors it means that more people find themselves in the market even though they are highly skilled. The reasons may vary. Highlight clearly to the recruiter why you are taking 'a lower job.'

2. You have more to offer
Once you make it clear why you are downscaling, assure the hiring manager that they can benefit from your rich experience as you can easily scale up when tasked with difficult projects, and are likely to complete them on time and efficiently. Say this without sounding arrogant and making it seem like the job is too menial.

3. Be flexible on salary
During your conversation with the recruiter or hiring manager, make it clear that you expect to be paid the current market rate for the position and that your previous earrings are not relevant to your current job search. There is a lot of factors that go into a hiring decision and being rejected for being 'overqualified' shouldn't stop your search.

If you are looking for a job as an IT, Finance, or Engineering candidate. Visit our website to register your CV and apply online. We are Market Leaders in Specialist Recruitment.