3 Reasons Overqualified Candidates Don’t Get Frequent Job Offers In Nigeria
There is this general belief in Nigeria that many overqualified candidates don’t get job offers. This holds sway as many people are now consciously avoiding making the best out of their academics because of this belief that they will not be given their dream jobs.
The thing is, why would companies ignore the best brains from their departments in the higher institution? Something is obviously wrong. Very wrong I must add.
How can you spend that whole time trying to be top of your class only for one third-class MD to tell you that you are not the man they are looking for? That sucks right?
Related: Five career tips you should know as a new graduate in Nigeria
There is no need to get all worked up. There is no smoke without fire. It is either something is wrong with you or with the whole system. Either way, we intend to guide through understanding the system so that you will be able to change your game.
The problem sometimes is usually not because you are not good enough but because you are part of the overqualified candidates.
Here, we have put all the reasons for this anomaly into three broad causes. So, you don’t have to border. All you need to do is to get up and put yourself together. Make the necessary adjustments and you will be okay.
The Three Reasons They Have Been Telling You No As Overqualified Candidates
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Your application got Thrashed or completely overlooked
You have probably been concentrating your efforts on telling them about your academic qualification that you forget that you have to also tell them about yourself. You focus on your first class first degree and master’s degree and forget your personal abilities.
You will be regarded as an overqualified candidate. Employers go through a lot of resumes at a time. Make yours interesting. They have to be very clear. Everything about you should stand out.
Your degrees are not all that is needed. You need to re-evaluate yourself.
You should get a professional qualification or portfolio. Everything could become an issue because this is the 21st century. It could even be your online presence that is affecting you. Watch it.
You have to show the passion and willingness to work. In other words, you have to be eager. Being eager to work is what will make less-qualified candidates get a job ahead of overqualified candidates.
Speak with human resource managers of a company and you will be amazed at what separates you from the man who got the job.
2. You have not told the organization what you can offer
Overqualified candidates are usually not interested in telling the company they will want to work for what they can offer them. They are usually not leaders. Organizations are looking for leaders and if you lack that ability, no matter your level of qualification, you might not be taken.
Here we are talking about what you will tell them to prove your worth. You have to understand their goals (short term, middle term, and long-term) by going through their mission and vision statements.
Find a way to put yourself in their shoes and think of ways to advance their cause. This will endear you to them.
It is like finding a gap in the institution. Once that gap is located, you have to convince them that you are the answer to that gap. The job will be yours.
Manage and be confident through the presentation and you will be okay. Overqualified candidates always lose that confidence. Stay focused and confident.
3. Overqualified candidates are usually filled with boring skills.
The world has an equal employment opportunity (EEO) law. The organizations need something more than the basic skills required to do a job. It is very important you realize that.
For you to help a company get to the next level, you need to have certain skills. Overqualified candidates are usually content with their basic knowledge. You have to change all of that.
I will demonstrate this point by showing the result of the study conducted by Harris Interactive. The study polled 2,076 hiring managers and human resource professionals from across multiple industries. The question was if they had two equally qualified candidates, which factors would make them more likely to consider one over the other. Below is the result.
The candidate with a better sense of humor: 27 percent
The candidate who is involved in his or her community: 26 percent
The better-dressed candidate: 22 percent
The candidate they had more in common with 21 percent
The more physically fit candidate: 13 percent
The candidate who is more on top of current affairs and pop culture: 8 percent
The candidate who is more active on social media: 7 percent
The candidate who is knowledgeable about sports: 4 percent
The truth remains that these factors have nothing to do with the actual jobs but the employers care about them. They will help in the general well being of the company. Be wise and get some.
