The question may seem far-fetched, but in fact it has a place. The fact is that recently a large number of qualified personnel have appeared on the labor market, who cannot find work for a long time (yes, yes, employers are qualified personnel).
There was even a special term: overcvalified. In an attempt to understand the situation, I addressed this question to headhunters and HRs, and here are the main reasons “against” they voiced to me:
- Too long and expensive to retrain
- Lack of motivation
For example, Dell practically does not recruit people with experience, suggesting that retraining existing staff is much more difficult than training a university graduate with no work experience. Indeed, very few professionals, having a solid base of knowledge, are ready to learn something new. Usually they turn into dragons, which carefully guard their treasures, not allowing anyone around for a kilometer. The parable of the full cup in action!
Some employers rightly believe that such a specialist will simply not be interested in working in a company in a position lower than the corresponding one. And as soon as the applicant satisfies his basic needs in accordance with Maslow’s pyramid, he will look for more attractive conditions. On the other hand, this may mean that the employer is sure that he does not have wow projects that could captivate such an employee for a long time.
What should an employer do? If the reason lies only in a suspicion of lack of motivation, then it is better to hire such an employee and put him on a difficult, failed project that no one is able to pull out. In the worst case, you will receive a more qualified team and a range of solved problems. And at best - a new top manager.
What should an applicant do in such a situation? The following advice can be given:
- Create home projects, demo versions.
- Go to conferences and meet potential employers.
- Register on professional platforms and start communicating with employees of other companies.
- To eliminate dissonance in interviews, explain why a professional of this level is willing to work for less money or in a smaller position.
- During interviews, clearly articulate your motivation to work.
- During interviews, try to focus on how you can help the company in the short and long term. If you don’t know, ask the recruiter yourself.
- If finances and circumstances allow, do not agree to the first offer that comes your way, otherwise in six months you will have to look for a job again.
- Never stop learning and developing. Movement is life!
And you take overcvalified employees or look for integity?