It makes sense that firms would prefer to recruit applicants with the highest levels of expertise and experience. However, that isn’t always the case.

Emily believed that the best way to get her dream job was to apply for an entry-level administrative position and work her way up. She was qualified for the position because she had five years of experience working for other international organizations and the position was available at a significant entertainment company in London. The company’s employment staff contacted Emily within days, so the strategy appeared to be effective. However, the news was not all awful. According to the business, she had an amazing CV and was a top candidate. However, they informed her during the interview that she was overqualified and would rapidly grow bored in a position that was beneath her level of experience. The business promised Emily a new position as a compromise. The stance ultimately failed, though. Emily was not only left in a job she wanted to leave but also in a Catch-22 situation where she was too qualified for an entry-level post in her desired field but not qualified enough to apply for a position with a title similar to her present one.

On the surface, it would seem to be a success for a business to hire a worker who is better than the requirements for the position. But in reality, things rarely work out that way. Employers frequently turn away candidates because they have too many skills and experience, even in markets where expertise is in short supply.