How To Get An Interview

One of the things that people applying for jobs worry about is appearing over or under qualified for the position!  They worry that it  might mean that they won't get the interview which could lead to the job they really want.

It is therefore incredibly important that you ensure that your

resume demonstrates how  your experience and other qualifications make you perfect for the job. This is not about telling lies or including things which you have not done.  This is about ensuring that you take the time to focus your resume on the specific requirements for the role.

The reality is that in today's economy there are many over-qualified candidates for just about every type of job.  Whether it's a blue collar job or a top executive positions it is definitely an “employer’s market” with there being fewer jobs than potential employees.

If you think that you may be over-qualified for a position, it might make a prospective employee think that you’d become bored with the job or leave when another, higher paying and more challenging job comes your way. The cover letter and resume itself should stress that this is the position you want and would be best for.

The cover letter of your resume is the perfect place to let a future employer know that you’re overqualified before he reads the actual resume. When you briefly describe your qualifications, you can parallel your experience to the job position being offered.

Then, even though your resume might distinctly show that you’re overqualified for the job, the employer will take into consideration how those qualifications can be instrumental to the position.

For example, if you were a senior accountant for a Fortune 500 company and the position you’re applying for is a small business in need of one accountant, you can stress that because of your vast experience you’re more capable of helping the business grow.

Your experience with a large firm gives you the advantage of being able to take the company from small dealings to mega deals and accounting practices.

You may want to tweak your actual resume to stress the experience you can bring into the company to help it grow rather than the fact that you’ve had a lofty and high-paying position within a large firm.

If you think you may be under-qualified for the position you’re seeking, it’s important to point out how the experience you’ve had exactly fits what they’re looking for. Even if the experience you’ve had is minimal, a little creative writing might get you in for an interview.

Enthusiasm can go a long way, too. Personalize by saying something positive you’ve learned about the company and tell them why you think you’d be a good fit. This is easier done in the cover letter section of the resume, but the meat of the resume can provide the reader with an idea that even though you seem under-qualified, your willingness to learn might make you a good candidate.

You can also stress in the cover letter of the resume that you may have some experience that would qualify you for other jobs in the company and, if so, you’d like to be considered for another position more appropriate to your qualifications.