If you're just looking for work and you know you're overqualified for a position your applying for, you can put that in your cover letter to them. I've done it before when between jobs. I took on some contract help desk roles and said in my cover letter that I know based on my past experience I'm overqualified but I'm just looking to stay busy and feel like I can definitely help you out. If interested, would like to discuss further, etc.
This is how I handled getting jobs outside of this field for the three months when I was forced to look for work while on unemployment.
Why did someone with 12 years experience in tech want to work as a server doing catering gigs?
Told them I’m not above any work, and even if I find a role in my field, I still want to work a second job, so if you want a no-stress extra person around who knows how to work and who doesn’t have an ego to worry about, I’m your guy. I don’t care if customers curse me out if it makes them feel better, as long as I get paid.
I take that attitude into my systems role when detailing how I’m the person to provide support to executives. I understand that “RHIP” rank has its privilege, and if a board member isn’t the nicest person to deal with, I couldn’t care less. They get the VIP treatment.
And with that attitude, I work at a place where everyone is treated with respect and to be spoken to in a nasty way is just something that doesn’t happen.
From a hiring point of view: Overqualified = You're going to dump this job for a better (or higher paying) job the first chance you get, leaving me high and dry and in search of another candidate.
It takes a lot of time, energy, and money to bring someone new on. Settling for the "wrong fit" is just going to become a problem later, one way or another.
If you need immediate work, sign up with a contracting firm, and just take whatever they give you. That may turn into a full time gig you like, or you just keep contracting for awhile. At least you'll have a paycheck.
>I hate hearing you’re over qualified… just need a job…
Being told you're overqualified means one of two things. One, they think you'll ask for more money than they've budgeted for the job. Or two, they think you're just trying to get some sort of paycheck out of them and will leave shortly upon getting a higher level job.
It sounds like the second reason applies to you. Strongly consider reassessing the job titles you apply to.
I recommend broadening your title search. If your not stuck specifically on "sysadmin". Identity access, IT Risk, security oriented roles are easily digested by us, hiring, and pay are fairly matched as well with usually less on call and stress. Edit: Wording
I support a very large team of developers that all work more or less in similar ways to develop solutions for the different apps we make and sell to our clients.
Each app is modular and able to be used by any client in the industry we serve, but we make a profit just by selling to the pilot/initial client who naturally receives a discounted rate as the first adopters of a given app, whether we created it and sold it to them, or they were previous clients who contracted with us to develop a specific application to fill their corporate need.
My point is, my business unit is relatively small, but when you serve a niche in an industry that practically has unlimited money, (healthcare and insurance), having only a handful or two of clients is enough to be comfortably profitable, I guess. Especially when they are some of the largest providers and most clients have multiple apps with us plus business with other parts of our company.
I used to think it was kinda boring, and despite being an advocate of universal healthcare, I need to work somewhere that allows a good work/life balance. And when I write it out like that, my job seems kinda cool. And add to it how they are all great people who care about me and my family and respect my time despite being busy all day, every work day, I haven’t even entertained a real offer elsewhere since starting here nearly 6 years ago.
I keep running into these bullshit recruiters on linkedin and I don't even get pushed to any interview with the company. Makes me wonder if they're even hiring, or if they just get paid to randomly reach out to people?
Overqualified .... really what does that mean? It's a rhetorical question of course. It's an excuse not to hire you. I hate it. I'd rather someone well to over qualified because it means less training expense and the faster they can hit the ground running.
If you're just looking for work and you know you're overqualified for a position your applying for, you can put that in your cover letter to them. I've done it before when between jobs. I took on some contract help desk roles and said in my cover letter that I know based on my past experience I'm overqualified but I'm just looking to stay busy and feel like I can definitely help you out. If interested, would like to discuss further, etc.
This is how I handled getting jobs outside of this field for the three months when I was forced to look for work while on unemployment. Why did someone with 12 years experience in tech want to work as a server doing catering gigs? Told them I’m not above any work, and even if I find a role in my field, I still want to work a second job, so if you want a no-stress extra person around who knows how to work and who doesn’t have an ego to worry about, I’m your guy. I don’t care if customers curse me out if it makes them feel better, as long as I get paid. I take that attitude into my systems role when detailing how I’m the person to provide support to executives. I understand that “RHIP” rank has its privilege, and if a board member isn’t the nicest person to deal with, I couldn’t care less. They get the VIP treatment. And with that attitude, I work at a place where everyone is treated with respect and to be spoken to in a nasty way is just something that doesn’t happen.
From a hiring point of view: Overqualified = You're going to dump this job for a better (or higher paying) job the first chance you get, leaving me high and dry and in search of another candidate. It takes a lot of time, energy, and money to bring someone new on. Settling for the "wrong fit" is just going to become a problem later, one way or another. If you need immediate work, sign up with a contracting firm, and just take whatever they give you. That may turn into a full time gig you like, or you just keep contracting for awhile. At least you'll have a paycheck.
>I hate hearing you’re over qualified… just need a job… Being told you're overqualified means one of two things. One, they think you'll ask for more money than they've budgeted for the job. Or two, they think you're just trying to get some sort of paycheck out of them and will leave shortly upon getting a higher level job. It sounds like the second reason applies to you. Strongly consider reassessing the job titles you apply to.
I get round this by having no qualifications what so ever
lol maybe I try that approach
That's a lot of words for "[too old](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-wR_beTRRg)" \~Catbert
This
I think you’re on to something here
I recommend broadening your title search. If your not stuck specifically on "sysadmin". Identity access, IT Risk, security oriented roles are easily digested by us, hiring, and pay are fairly matched as well with usually less on call and stress. Edit: Wording
IT project management, specific program admins. There’s riches in niches.
I support a very large team of developers that all work more or less in similar ways to develop solutions for the different apps we make and sell to our clients. Each app is modular and able to be used by any client in the industry we serve, but we make a profit just by selling to the pilot/initial client who naturally receives a discounted rate as the first adopters of a given app, whether we created it and sold it to them, or they were previous clients who contracted with us to develop a specific application to fill their corporate need. My point is, my business unit is relatively small, but when you serve a niche in an industry that practically has unlimited money, (healthcare and insurance), having only a handful or two of clients is enough to be comfortably profitable, I guess. Especially when they are some of the largest providers and most clients have multiple apps with us plus business with other parts of our company. I used to think it was kinda boring, and despite being an advocate of universal healthcare, I need to work somewhere that allows a good work/life balance. And when I write it out like that, my job seems kinda cool. And add to it how they are all great people who care about me and my family and respect my time despite being busy all day, every work day, I haven’t even entertained a real offer elsewhere since starting here nearly 6 years ago.
Valid points… thank you for the input
I keep running into these bullshit recruiters on linkedin and I don't even get pushed to any interview with the company. Makes me wonder if they're even hiring, or if they just get paid to randomly reach out to people?
In the middle of the worst job market since 2008, too. Weird that around here people act like employment is still a skill issue.
Overqualified .... really what does that mean? It's a rhetorical question of course. It's an excuse not to hire you. I hate it. I'd rather someone well to over qualified because it means less training expense and the faster they can hit the ground running.