Job Interview Advice

The new job market has obviously changed. This is nothing new. For those out there who are on the prowl for another job, there's no doubt that you're finding yourself in a quagmire of applications, job listings, job fairs, resume updates and critiques (there's a load of BS if there ever was one), and then, on the occasion when you slip through all the cracks and crowds, the interviews. It seems that in this market where jobs are so scarce and hungry wannabe employees are everywhere, just reaching the point where one might obtain the actual interview is a momentous achievement.

But there's a certain art form to this process, isn't there? While there's no question that one who is applying for a major position; let's say, for a position potentially earning six figures and up, need to look, sound, and project all the best of what they are. One must be the projector of incredible quality and ability, particularly in these competitive times. Gone are the days of having the six-figure talent and being able to demand the corner office, 13 weeks of vacation, and the hottest secretary in the zip code. No, the present state of economy demands no-nonsense super human abilities from just about everyone.

But if the applicant is not applying for that upper-crust slot, but perhaps applying for a working-class, entry/low/mid-level position, then one has to dance a very delicate dance. Why? Let's assume that a particular applicant has a few years of entry-level management experience behind them in some sort of industry, but their position has been reduced so much that not only are they out of work, but similar positions are just not on the radar. The next obvious course to pursue would be to go back to what that person once managed and supervised. They know it well enough to have once been placed in a position of authority over it, so it would appear they'd be a fine candidate to resume the empty slot in these competitive times.

So it would seem.

But some are finding this scenario to be a precarious tight wire they must traverse carefully. The reason is that applicants of today are forced to take positions well below their former abilities and experience if they're going to get a job at all. Someone who may have once earned close to six figures just might have to settle for something bringing in less than half of that, at least for the time being. Then, those who once earned in the 40-50K range after being promoted from their entry-level position after years of demonstrating exceptional abilities just might have to go back to floor, and the rank and file.

If they can, and only if they're careful.

The prospective employer of today is looking for the best qualified candidate for the position. But think about that; would someone well overqualified be the best one for the job? If our former manager was standing in line among numerous people, all of whom have good experience in the role needed filling, but he's one among just a few of them with a resume showing he has far more of a background than the rest of the bunch, would he be the best candidate for the position in the eyes of the interviewers? In all honesty, perhaps not and this is why.

Our former ladder-climbing achiever surely still has his eyes on that ladder, right? Someday, he just might desire to get to where he was in order to eventually grow and achieve more from there. This is admirable and demonstrates the skill and ambition wanted by most companies who also want to achieve more. But, for right now, the best fit may not include someone overqualified simply because they could be a flight risk. To many potential hiring companies, hiring the overqualified could mean having to replace personnel as they find new opportunities. While this phenomenon to some degree would be expected (few make a career out of the fry station in Wendy's), it would not be appropriate to hire large amounts of top-heavy employees (and there are a lot of them out there), particularly if the operation in question has a limited ladder of opportunity. In short, they could lose a lot of great employees and be left scrambling for what's left in a job market far more dynamic once the economy improves.

It would be painful for the job seeker to hold a marvelous interview just to be told they're overqualified and therefore not the best candidate. In fact, our guy in question here must be careful to manipulate his resume in order to prevent (yes, prevent) it from looking like it's made of gold. Our fellow may have to minimize his past management experience and salary while maximizing how much he did and accomplished in the position he is seeking now. This is a strategy that should be considered in the bizarre market of today. Does he want to lie? No, of course not, but it might be a smart strategy to limit the sale of oneself until after the job has been attained. This goes back to the wise advice of getting one's foot in the door. A glaring example is that a fine dining restaurant manager isn't going to apply for a part-time fast food job should his job disappear. In part, this is because he knows that unless they're desperate, they won't take him (they knows he'll leave quickly and just be a know-it-all until he does), and even if they do, he won't stay long at all. Instead, he might apply for a management position in fast food, bringing a lot to the table and having much to offer, particularly for a struggling store.

If this seems odd or less than ideal, then keep this in mind- The individual hiring you just might be concerned about their job, too. The last thing they want to do is hire their replacement, at least until they're ready to move on.