What a kick in the pants it is to learn that you weren't hired because they think you have too much experience. This happens more often than you think since titles and job duties can vary drastically. What one company calls a "Manager of Software Development" could be synonymous with "Lead Developer" in another or even a "Director of Software" someplace else. This creates the illusion of being overqualified.

Learn how to avoid being turned down for the wrong reasons.

The key in heading this off is to first know if you are subject to an overqualified label and what the manager's concerns will likely be. Then you can work to position yourself more effectively in order to be considered.

How do you know if the overqualified label applies to you?

• You have a total years of experience that exceeds the tenure requirement for the job.
  
• You have a current job title that ranks higher than the open job's title and may even match or outrank the Hiring Manager themselves.
  
• You have a smaller focus on the required skills for the job with the majority of your current skills focused on more elevated / managerial duties.
  

Why types of concerns will employers typically have with overqualified candidates?

• Concern of Challenge: they are afraid that since you have already been exposed to more advanced or managerial work that you will become bored quickly with a role perceived to be less difficult.
  
• Concern of Focus: they are afraid that, even if you take your management hat off, you will try to resume a leadership role anyway and assert yourself inappropriately to run things.
  
• Concern of Retention: they are afraid that taking this step back represents a concession and short term career move that will have you ultimately leaving at some point in the future to pursue your prior position's stature, focus and income.
  

So how do you handle this?

• Clarify your intentions. Consider placing a statement within your resume objective that addresses your receptiveness to other titles and types of roles. As well, make sure to verbalize this again during the interview.
  
• Clarify your role. If you are a Manager or Director, but wish to be considered for a more hands-on position, simply flip the order of your functional bullet points to place the more active responsibilities you had first and deemphasize your managerial responsibilities.
  
• Clarify your focus. If you are concerned they may misperceive the breakdown of your role and label you as a hands-off person, consider placing a % mark next to each primary responsibility so that they can see how you spent your time.
  
• Clarify your rationale. Many times there is an excellent reason for wanting to accept a lower title/role. Some good ones are: you miss being more hands-on or this title and role is actually the same level as what you are doing now or you see some other benefit in what you will learn in this role or in this company that makes this a palatable trade off, etc...Be prepared to explain this during the interview. If you don't, they will draw their own (and probably incorrect) conclusions.
  

Know why the overqualified label occurs, what the manager is thinking and how to position your resume and statements to avoid this stigma.