THE PARADOX OF OVERQUALIFICATION

The root of overqualification for a work opportunity stems from the lack of role development and creativity.
If someone is “overqualified” for a role, but a cultural match for an organization then calibrate the work
opportunity accordingly.

It seems so obvious but over my tenure the countless times I have heard this rebuttal as a reason an
individual didn’t get the opportunity proves otherwise.

The lack of creativity and flexibility of the traditional hiring framework creates these unnecessary
challenges within the talent life cycle. The missed opportunities that arise from this type of behavior within
hiring sends ripple effects across the company and outside.

The company that seeks to hire the perfect individual, is one that is almost guaranteed to hire the wrong
individual.

Why?

Because there are no such things as a perfect individual or fit. Overtime, with strong leadership and an
intelligent personnel framework, the individual who has the professional profile* for the work opportunity
can thrive. No scouts knew what kind of player Michael Jordan would be or vice versa all the busts of top
10 draft picks that never lived up to their potential.

Dr. David Cook has an interesting equation about performance. PERFORMANCE = potential –
interference. It is not enough to just hire the “perfect person” but to find an individual who has the
potential necessary for the work opportunity at hand, and then leaders remove interferences when
possible, and help the individual remove the interferences they create in their minds.

Overqualification should never be a reason to not hire an individual. The only true reason to not hire
someone is that they don’t have the professional profile that was designed for the role.

It would be silly to plant a lemon tree in the Midwest. The environment does not cater to the needs of
such a seed. The same thought process can be adapted to companies…what kind of individuals can
sprout in your environment or which ones cannot? As a leader or company, you cannot cater to everyone.
The companies that pretend to do this end up catering to no one.

Rather be authentic and hated by a few than fake and hated by all. For most individuals can respect an
individual or company that is authentic regardless of if they agree with what they are authentic about.
However, we are disgusted by the individual or company that wears a plastic mask and think we are
fooled. We may be foolish about many things in life, but authenticity seems to be one of those things we
are quite attuned to.