Positions applied for and discrimination laws

Cerealfreak

I am fed up of receiving responses from companies advising me that I am overqualified/overexperienced, is this not covered under discriminatory laws?

Just to help people out before the questions come in, this hasn't just been one or two companies this has been a lot, my recent work history is 5 years with the same company, a Major IT company, I left under complete VR reasons and have refs to confirm etc which are normally submitted or offered with my 2 page CV, which was compiled by professional CV agency.

I'm not concerned over my ability for positions I apply for I am just really curious re overqualified/overexperienced response.

Thanks in advance

getmore4less

Customise the CV for the positions you are applying

Dumb down if you are over experienced.

Companies are looking for people that will stay so are carefull about overqualified/experienced people that may move on quickly or want more money.

LittleVoice

You could try arguing that it is age discrimination because only someone of your age would have the amount of experience which they find is "over". However, I doubt you would get far with that.

What do you think they mean by "overqualified"? Is that qualified as in pieces of paper or just another word for level of experience?

If the jobs you are going for don't require anything like the level of qualifications/experience you have then cut back what you are claiming on your CV. That is if you are really content with a lower level job and won't be looking for another job immediately - which is what employers worry about when taking on someone who is genuinely overqualified for the job.

It may actually be the drafting by the "professional CV agency" which is the problem. They will always try to sell (or even oversell) your skills and experience - to make you seem the best thing that could walk through a recruiter's door. Unfortunately, recruiters may well be looking for someone with potential but not already to have worked at two grades above.

Also, if you are using a CV prepared by someone else, you are probably not customising it for each job for which you apply. Do you submit your CV electronically or just on paper?

What do you mean by having refs which are "normally submitted or offered"? If you are actually sending additional pages, then don't. And written testamonials aren't really worth much - a company will want to obtain references direct from the referees.

Cerealfreak

I really don't know what they mean, it just seems to be a stock response? Naturally I will always be looking for a better job, but am happy to accept one at a grade or two below if there is potential I am happy to accept the pay cut.

I am due to start an MBA soon but have only been accepted on the course because of my business experience, my highest official quals are GCSE's and NVQ's so can only assume it is used in place of experience.

I didn't think it would be covered anywhere, just frustrated in applying for so many positions only to be told basically I'm to good to do it, that should be my choice.

I always slightly change my CV to make the necessasry skills stand out, I know that's important. As it is generally IT or BPO positions I go for CV's are always requested electronically with covering letters.

With regards to the references sometimes they are requested with applications as Character refs as my previous employer will only provide a standard HR ref, covering start and end date and positions held. Officially my previous managers (all bar one also took VR) can't provide work refs but a couple have agreed to provide character ref covering technical abilities etc.

Sod it, back to the search, thank you both anyway much appreciated I guess I will have to learn patience in this aspect, I've never had the problem of finding a new job, this is a whole new experience for me. I have always gotten the job(s) I have gone for.

Ewarwoowar2

"Over qualified" is a stock phrase used for years to cover age discrimination. In many cases, it means that "you're too old, we want someone younger and cheaper". However, unless you're prepared to put in a written complaint to the company and/or take them to an employment tribunal, there's very little you can do.

IMO, employers' opinions of people's qualifications are going to have to change. As unemployment rises, many highly qualified people are going to be looking for relatively low paid jobs. Also many highly qualified older people are going to be looking for such work to supplement their retirement.

firesidemaid

as recruitment and selection goes, if you meet the essentials for the job/person spec then you should be offered an interview, unless lots of applicants meet these then they should interview applying the desirables also.

the job/person specs should be written so as to make this seledtion easier for the employer (and to be able to cover/protect them from being discriminatory).

you really do need to make each job application as tailored as possible - it's what an employer would expect, and if you don't you run the risk of 'missing out' something essential.

LittleVoice

Cerealfreak wrote: »

I am due to start an MBA soon but have only been accepted on the course because of my business experience, my highest official quals are GCSE's and NVQ's so can only assume it is used in place of experience.

How old are you?

NVQs are awarded at 5 levels (L4 being undergraduate level), so they could be much higher than your GCSEs.

If you are mentioning the MBA, don't, if you think this will be hinder your job search - especially as it is quite a time commitment.

If your CV includes your date of birth, remove it. Don't include the year you achieved your GCSEs or the dates you attended school.

If you are over 35 and your early career is irrelevant, drop it - or at least mention it in a "prior to the above" kind of way without mentioning when it started.

Cerealfreak wrote: »

Naturally I will always be looking for a better job, but am happy to accept one at a grade or two below if there is potential I am happy to accept the pay cut.

How are you presenting this (the need for potential) in your covering letter?A recruiter will expect someone to want to progress - but not too quickly.

Cerealfreak

How old are you? 28

NVQs are awarded at 5 levels (L4 being undergraduate level), so they could be much higher than your GCSEs. 2 at Level 3

If you are mentioning the MBA, don't, if you think this will be hinder your job search - especially as it is quite a time commitment. - OK

If your CV includes your date of birth, remove it. Don't include the year you achieved your GCSEs or the dates you attended school. noted

If you are over 35 and your early career is irrelevant, drop it - or at least mention it in a "prior to the above" kind of way without mentioning when it started. I only cover the last 6 years on my CV as it's only relevant for the jobs I'm going for, before that I was in catering, if questioned about that, the majority was management/head chef stuff I started in hotels when I was 14, so by the time I was 18 I was a duty manager and other simlar roles.

Grovester_2

I found this.

For the most part people did not understand my CV. On 1 position the employer told the agency I'd be more suited to an IT role, despite knowing very little about IT. Other agencies simply said I didn't have the relevant experience, but, I knew I did.

The end result, had a CV template and spent a while cuting and pasting so (without lying) I had an entry on my CV to match the specs in the advert.

Very time consuimg, but, it worked. You have to adapt each application, both CV and covering letter.