Did you climb the corporate ladder and find it was leaning against the wrong wall? Tired of 80 hour weeks or being in airports constantly? Did you get a degree that makes it harder to get a job? Do you want to go hunting more? I know a lot of people who managed to get a huge responsibility (and pay) cut.
One essential thought: Your resume has one job….to get you an interview. It is not a confessional booth.
If you are overqualified but want the job anyway, make a new resume. Put in what you did that directly relates to the job. Leave the rest out. Get over your job wounds. Your future boss doesn’t need to know your deepest sorrows. You don’t have to say that you led a team of 40 people in your last job. You need to say what you did that applies.
What you think of as a job title is used by screeners and managers as a job summary. In one or two words they see what you did. Since that is how screeners and managers use it, so should you! If your job title hurts you, then make an accurate title that helps. Describe what you do using your job summary (title). When you fill out the job application right before an interview you can put your official title. Never lie. Don’t deceive. Be accurate. Use the “job title” spot as a summary in your resume. The manager reading it does.
Over-educated? Choose from these resume options: a) no education section, b) an “Applicable Education” section, and c) put your advanced degrees under “Hobbies.”
You can get a job you are overqualified for. Make sure you are honest in everything you say and present to an employer. Then blow your new boss away with how well you do your new job.
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Something To Do Today
Look at all the job titles on your resume. Are they effective summaries of what you really did? If not, change them.
Tomorrow: Job Boards: What if there are 6 ads for the same job?