How to cope when you are overqualified for a job
by
Caroline Jalango
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More Details at: http://www.motivationzone.com
Are
you professionally overqualified for your job? Are you having trouble
finding a job that fits like a glove? Have you settled for a job that
has no relation whatsoever with your professional skills?
When
you are professionally overqualified, there are usually lots of
stressful issues, which have to be dealt with. You may be forced to
adjust your entire life and mold it to fit your current situation. This
can be very stressful, frustrating and can even lead to depression.
It
is therefore important to equip yourself with some tips on how to cope
during this period when you feel like you have been hit under the belt.
6
coping tips for overqualified you.
1.Talk
to your boss.
You
may have to schmooze to do this; you have to do what you have to do to
get where you want to be. Don’t be shy about telling your boss or any
other significant person in your organization about your other
professional skills.
Let
them know that you would be interested in applying for other positions
within the company, which match your skills better. Ask your boss to let
you know about suitable positions that are open. Inquire about policies
relating to internal candidates seeking to fill vacant positions within
the company. Speak out…Mother luck may just smile on you!
2.Prepare
to mentally re-adjust.
Life
is tough as it is and being professionally overqualified means that you
have to have the right mental attitude to adjust to your situation.
Mentally
re-adjusting involves accepting your position and planning how to deal
with it. You have to be prepared to not only deal with being a direct
report to a boss who may be less qualified than you but also a leaner
paycheck and a bruised ego.
You
may also have to trim your resume and down play your qualifications to
suit your current job description. The ability to maintain a positive
attitude will do so much for you in terms of preserving your sanity. It
never hurt anyone to look on the bright side.
3.Search
for a more suitable job.
One
good thing about being overqualified is that there are always other
options available. Mount an aggressive job search, update your resume
and keep all your relevant job related documents ready.
Begin
to research your industry while look at current job listings on the
Internet. Check for job openings posted in the classified section of
your local newspaper and contact temporary employment agencies that hire
professionals.
Be
aggressive about your job search. Find out what additional skills
employers are looking for and what you need to do to get a cutting edge
over the rest of the job seekers in your field. Network with people who
can give you leads about job availabilities in the sectors that interest
you. Don’t give up.
4.Don’t
be afraid to start afresh.
It
is sometimes easier to get a clear perspective of what you really want
to do when life is not going as smoothly as you expect. Take time to
search your soul and take an inventory of what matters most in your
life.
If
you feel that you may have a better chance in another professional
field, don’t be afraid to start a new. New beginnings can be a welcome
relief especially if your current skills are standing in the way of
better opportunities.
It’s
never too late to start a fresh. Be prepared to adjust your life to new
experiences and other opportunities
5.Join
a professional association.
Volunteer
or seek membership in a professional association that addresses issues
in your field of expertise. This will keep you abreast of the latest
developments in your field and keep you intellectually challenged.
Making
contributions to the association and being actively involved in its
activities will give you a chance to indirectly pursue what you are
qualified to do. It will also give you a chance to meet and network with
stakeholders who may widen your chances of getting hired in your
preferred field.
6.Consider
it a learning experience.
There
are many lessons to learn from being professionally overqualified. Apart
from acquiring new job skills, you may discover that you have strengths
in other fields which your never knew you had.
Sometimes
it takes hardship for the best attributes we have to surface. This may
also be an opportunity to view things from another perspective.
Keywords: Motivational articles, overqualified, how to articles, career, jobs, employee
About
the Author
Caroline Jalango, Riverdale, NY, 10471
Caroline@motivationzone.com
http://www.motivationzone.com
Caroline is a life coach, women's coach, writer and motivator. She
empowers women to discover who they are, explore what they can be and to
take action to achieve their goals. She can be contacted for a free
coaching session. Caroline@motivationzone.com
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