Too Much Experience, Too Many Skills

On the face of it, being over-qualified for a job might appear to be a good thing. A candidate with more experience would logically be placed at the top of the applicant pile. And for an employer, hiring a worker who surpasses the job requirements would seemingly be a coup.

However, that’s generally not how it works out; in fact, being over-qualified can sometimes be a reason for employers to rule candidates out. Perhaps counterintuitively, employers often reject candidates based on an excess of skills and experience, even in a market where talent is hard to come by.

• Employers may also be more likely to be accommodating to younger over-qualified workers because their motives for a downwards move can be more easily justified.
• A candidate who is too good for the role will be only an asset to the business in the short term unless there are excellent...