Reasons to Say “Yes” to a Job You are Over-Qualified For

Have you ever thought about taking a job for which you were over-qualified? Well, maybe you haven’t been in this position, or maybe you haven’t faced this dilemma. But, there are some of us who have. And, contrary to what you might think, there are so good reasons you might WANT to take that job that you are over-qualified for.

Those reasons include:

• Needing work experience
• Wanting to get your foot in the door
• Needing the money
• Loving the work

Why on earth would you even consider taking a job that you were over-qualified for? Or, why would you take a job that is not within your degree range?  The job pays less money than you should be making because of your credentials. So, why bother? The first reason that you might want to consider taking this job is because you lack work experience.

You just graduated from college. You have your degree in your hands and a smile on your face. Often, what you don’t have is work experience. And, unfortunately, there are some jobs that are not going to hire you without work experience.

They don’t know you. They don’t trust you. And, they are leery of hiring someone without work experience.

I can remember going to a job interview one time. Allow me to add that I was “actually a teacher” at the time, and I had work experience. But, the lady who interviewed me told me in no certain terms that she was not going to hire me. She justified her decision based on the fact that she didn’t KNOW me. She explain that the position that I was interviewing for was one that came with a state subject area test. She flat out told me that she was only going to fire someone that already worked in her district. (Really?!🙄). She invited me to apply for one of her middle school positions instead. I respectfully declined. If she hadn’t been so brazen, I might have given the other job some consideration.

Another reason you might consider taking a job that you are over-qualified for is because you love the company. Maybe, you absolutely love the company. Maybe, you love the school district, and this is where you want to work. By taking an entry level job, you are “getting your foot” in the door.

When I first graduated from college and was entering the teacher profession, one of my former high school principals offered me a job. The catch was that the job he offered me was a teacher’s assistant job. At first, I was extremely offended. I just graduated from college. I have my degree. However, I didn’t had any work experience. Even though he knew me and he knew I’d do a good job, I didn’t have the work experience. Plus, the district was looking for someone with some experience in that particular position. That was almost 20 years ago, but I can remember his words. He said, “Don’t despise the day of small beginnings. Get your foot in this door. Another job is going to come open.”

Another position opened up in another district. So, I got to work as a teacher. However, I would later wish I had taken the job as a teacher’s assistant because a door did open to my “dream job” in that district.

This is the same for volunteering. If you want to show the company where you want to work your work ethics and skills, there is nothing wrong with volunteering there. This will help to ensure that you are at the right place at the right time when your “ideal position” becomes available.

If you just need the money, then, it is okay to take a job that you are over-qualified for. Life happens. Things happen. Bills happen. Car notes happen. Mortgages come due. Sometimes, you might find yourself in a position where you need to work. And, unfortunately, you can’t find a job in your profession. So, what’s a person to do. You take the job. That’s what you do.

I’ve worked as a waitress when I was a nurse because I was in between jobs. I have also done substitute teaching despite the fact that I am a certified teacher.

When I had my youngest son, I was between jobs. I had resigned my teaching position due to medical reasons, and I wanted to take some time off. Once my son was born, I wanted to go back to work. Well, I had my son in October. October is in the middle of a school year. So, I couldn’t find a “teaching position.” My little financial nest egg had run out, and I needed to work. So, I signed up to be a substitute teacher. I didn’t make as much money as I did teaching, but I was able to go to work every day. Most of all, I was able to pay my bills.

So, if you need to pay your bills, don’t worry about whether the job is beneath you or not. Take the job. Pay your bills. Leave your pride at the door.

One of the reasons you might consider taking a job that you are over-qualified for is because it is your dream job. You really WANT the job. It may not be the job that you went to school to do. It may be a job that pays a heck of a lot less than what you’re used to making, but it is your dream job. This is the job that you would do if you didn’t have to pay your bills. And, sometimes the time is just right to get the position. You might have to do some cutting back or rearranging your finances. But, this is a once in a life-time opportunity.

If you’re passionate about a job, whether you are over-qualified for it or not…

If you can survive financially…

If this is what you really, really want to do, go for it! There’s nothing wrong with accepting your dream job even if you are over-qualified for it.

Why should you consider taking a job that you are over-qualified for? Some of the best reasons were discussed above. I hope this gave you some reason to pause. And, maybe the next time you are offered a job that is “beneath your pay grade”, you’ll give it a moment of consideration.

Happy Teaching!!!

Article to read also:

Should You Apply for a Job if You Are Overqualified? by Helen Harris

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/should-you-apply-job-overqualified-get-hired-by-linkedin-news/