Over qualified!!

DaveW007

Since being laid off by Lloyds TSB earlier this month I have applied for about 130 jobs.

I want any job, I really don't mind what I do as I see that any job is better than no job.

As Jobseekers benefit is only about £64.00 per week this is not enough to live on and doesn't even cover my mortgage.

What is really frustrating me is the amount of potential employers who tell me I am over qualified or have too much experience!!

I'm sure I'm not the only person who has come up against this.

Could this be a friendly way of telling me I'm too old I wonder? I'm only 42 and don't consider myself old.

Apart from take out a lot of my experience & qualifications from my CV what else can I do?

debtfreein4years

keep trying! you will always be overqualified for the jobs that just want you to have english and math standard grades/gcse's and coupled with the fact that you have worked is just a bonus. most employers seem to look upon qualifications and experience as a measure of trying to guess if the person will be bored in the job and will move quickly to something more challenging. you just need to make your covering letter all about being ready for a new challenge and looking forward to learning all about a new company and how you can transfer your skills earned previously to this employer.

its a hard slog but you will get something eventually.

jessbob

Yes, Dave

I am constantly being told I am too qualified and experienced as well. I am applying for anything as well, but hardly ever get to interview stage, and when I do they all state their concern that if I was offered the job I would leave as soon as I found a job in my usual field.

It is soul destroying !

henm01

I was in banking for 20 yrs and have been made redundant. I did not use any agencies and applied directly to the businesses. I have been successful and secured another job. I adapted my CV to suit the job role - if it was for a more clerical role, I took out my management experience etc.

I was actually told at one interview that I was over qualified so I learnt from that and really down-played my skills if required. This has meant I have had to start at the bottom and will have to work my way up the ladder again.

No way, are you too old. I am the same age - so hope not!!!!

Please don't give up, there are jobs out there but there are more people applying for them.

Could you enhance your CV?
I went on a Next Steps workshop which assisted with CV writing, interview techniques etc. The guys tore my CV apart and with their help, I now have a great looking CV.

Good luck.

jessbob

henm01 wrote: »

I was in banking for 20 yrs and have been made redundant. I did not use any agencies and applied directly to the businesses. I have been successful and secured another job. I adapted my CV to suit the job role - if it was for a more clerical role, I took out my management experience etc.

I was actually told at one interview that I was over qualified so I learnt from that and really down-played my skills if required. This has meant I have had to start at the bottom and will have to work my way up the ladder again.

No way, are you too old. I am the same age - so hope not!!!!

Please don't give up, there are jobs out there but there are more people applying for them.

Could you enhance your CV?
I went on a Next Steps workshop which assisted with CV writing, interview techniques etc. The guys tore my CV apart and with their help, I now have a great looking CV.

Good luck.

Well done !!!!!

Is there a fee for these people to sort out my CV???

DaveW007

henm01 wrote: »

I was in banking for 20 yrs and have been made redundant. I did not use any agencies and applied directly to the businesses. I have been successful and secured another job. I adapted my CV to suit the job role - if it was for a more clerical role, I took out my management experience etc.

I was actually told at one interview that I was over qualified so I learnt from that and really down-played my skills if required. This has meant I have had to start at the bottom and will have to work my way up the ladder again.

No way, are you too old. I am the same age - so hope not!!!!

Please don't give up, there are jobs out there but there are more people applying for them.

Could you enhance your CV?
I went on a Next Steps workshop which assisted with CV writing, interview techniques etc. The guys tore my CV apart and with their help, I now have a great looking CV.

Good luck.

Thanks for your advice and also that of the others on here too.

MY CV whilst professional written for me was done about 5 years or so ago. I just amend it where necessary.

I guess that things change as do the format and layouts of CV's too.

To me my CV looks ok but I'll have to try and get a 2nd opinion though. Just looked on https://www.direct.gov.uk and they don't offer Next Steps in Wales!! I'll contact the one closest to my home town of Bristol and see if they can help

AlwaysWorking

DaveW007 wrote: »

Since being laid off by Lloyds TSB earlier this month I have applied for about 130 jobs.

I want any job, I really don't mind what I do as I see that any job is better than no job.

As Jobseekers benefit is only about £64.00 per week this is not enough to live on and doesn't even cover my mortgage.

What is really frustrating me is the amount of potential employers who tell me I am over qualified or have too much experience!!

I know what you mean...I just want to work, but can't even get an interview. I got a rejection letter yesterday for an admin role I'd applied for...it only asked for 4 GCSEs (I've a degree, blah blah). It wouldn't have paid much...but it would have paid the mortgage and at the minute that's all I care about. I'm not saying I wouldn't leave if the property market picked up and I could get something in my field....but that could take a long time and until then I would give 100% to ANY job...regardless of how mundane it was.

DaveW007

AlwaysWorking wrote: »

I know what you mean...I just want to work, but can't even get an interview. I got a rejection letter yesterday for an admin role I'd applied for...it only asked for 4 GCSEs (I've a degree, blah blah). It wouldn't have paid much...but it would have paid the mortgage and at the minute that's all I care about. I'm not saying I wouldn't leave if the property market picked up and I could get something in my field....but that could take a long time and until then I would give 100% to ANY job...regardless of how mundane it was.

I'm just the same. I totally agree.

Sorry if this is going to upset anyone but if I were told I was the wrong colour, sex, age etc that is clearly discrimination.

We are all being discriminated against though at being over qualified surely?

Horace

When I started my working life back in 1980 it took me ages to get a job because I was repeatedly told I was over qualified which was a joke because the next job would say that I hadn't got experience but I couldnt get experience because I couldnt get a job:rolleyes: I think that now with so many people looking for jobs then employers will look at those people with the least qualifications to pay them the minimum they can get away with.

Tailor your CV according to the jobs that you are applying for - you need to dumb it down if you are going for a lower grade job. Also when you get the job description which is sent with the application go through it - note down where your qualifications and experience fit and note down some examples as these will help you with the application form and makes a good prompt when you get to interview stage.

I am so glad that I no longer have to apply for jobs - there is a lot to be said for self employment:D

Good luck.

counterfeit

I find the whole thing very frustrating.

I have not worked for 5 years due to looking after our kids before they were both full time in school. Now I am available for work and have filled in hundreds of applications. I have had 2 interviews in a year (both with DWP).

Agencies tell me that my time off will stop employers looking at me, whereas the feedback I get from potential employers is that I am way over qualified for what I am looking for. I am by trade a Tax Advisor but I am happy to just get a job doing filing.

After such a long time away from the work environment I literally want anything to do where I can interact with other adults. I am bored at home and I am annoyed at the discrimination in all its forms. If I was a black jewish lesbian I would walk into a job tomorrow but because I am a married white British man I can't even get an interview.

Right - time to get down off my soap box and fruitlessly apply for another 30 jobs.

shop-to-drop

Some jobs don't even ask what qualifications you have. Tesco for instance. No mention on application form or at interview. May be worth a try to keep you going.