The ads say, "Must have ten years-plus years experience and a boat load of different technologies and languages."

That's the mask that the job market puts on itself through the screening process. You've expanded your target market and sought out jobs that were not quite "the right" level, but still get rejected and sometimes told that you're "overqualified."

That anyone in this market would say that, "I want somebody underqualified" or just on par would be pretty silly.  Silly or not, older professionals often hear that answer during interviews. But such job seekers can adopt strategies to cope with these rejections.

The current job market has increasingly become a talent-deficient marketplace, even with the current unemployment levels.

Tactics

For instance, the recent corporate scandals give job seekers an opportunity to position themselves as experienced and ethical, as reflected by their past roles. Firms these days put a high premium on their reputation, especially at the more senior levels, so it's in an employer's interest to demonstrate that "someone of impeccable integrity is watching the store."

Candidates should strive to gently coax more information out of interviewing managers. When interviewing prospects, employers often probe to determine whether a person would accept a job at the level above the job they're interviewing for. The "skilled" interviewer may think they have backed them into an honest answer... their true positioning is revealed!

A well prepared interviewee may well ask if the employer seeks top skills and experience in a given role.  In any case, be sure to stress that the job fits your career goals as well. Employers are -- sometimes rightly -- leery of someone taking a position that's a huge step back for them, rather than an onward-and-upward career move.

Some employers worry that highly experienced applicants might jump ship if something more suitable comes along.  In this case "overqualified" is a form of  risk management for the employer.

Strategy: Clearing The Air on False Perceptions

As a job seeker, you have to overcome employers' ingrained misperceptions and ill-conceived screening tactics. Do so with facts and excellent communications skills...present yourself in a positive, forward looking manner.  Be honest.

Hiring managers sometimes more favorably view applicants who are willing to take a step down to make an industry switch. Express your willingness to learn a new business, get trained in new areas of products and services... look for related uses of strengths you already have.

Your Worth IT, Aren't You???

Some job candidates may be concerned that the "overqualified" label may be a code word for age discrimination. It's possible that some candidates are passed over because they seem out of touch with business conditions, or because they aren't up on the latest industry lingo, or their knowledge is DATED.

• Keep abreast of the latest jargon -- talk their talk, and walk your talk!
• Be concise and to the point. Use relevant information, not old war stories.

Arrive at interviews with the mindset that they're already employed by the firm and have 20 new ideas to help make money or increase market share. Set yourself apart by asking insightful questions, give insightful ideas and get the other person talking about the business and industry. Listen first...That gets them excited about you. Employers are looking for people who are energetic and passionate, can get things done and are intelligent. If you get them excited, the question of whether you're overqualified will never even come up.

"The man who does things makes mistakes, but he never makes the biggest mistake of all -- doing nothing."

Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)
statesman and scientist